Chaplains Chat 

I would like to begin my newsletter with an expression of sheer joy as we welcomed back to school all our precious students and families on Monday. Last week there was much preparation going on as we all worked hard with the intention of making this last term amazing and supportive for all our community. As I drove into the school early Monday morning and saw Andre and the ES staff hanging out the “Welcome Back Everyone” banners for you, Mr. Gibbons dressed up in one of his novel costumes and every staff member waiting in anticipation for the arrival of our students, I was reminded once again, what a wonderful community we are part of. In fact, what a wonderful family we are part of. 

How very important it is to feel connected and part of a community that cares. I was listening to the radio a few weeks ago and heard it mentioned that Yarraville, an inner western suburb of Melbourne, has been voted the 5th “coolest” neighbourhood in the world.  With the global pandemic and social restrictions in place, this local community has stepped up to help each other and share some joy amongst the uncertainty. Right now, more than ever, it’s cool to be kind.

When I heard this announcement, I became a little defensive and thought, “What about our beautiful local community?”  I have seen and heard of many stories where people, community and businesses have stepped up to help each other through this shared time of difficulty many of us are facing. I wanted to shout this out to the world.  So despite not being officially acknowledged as a caring, kind community across the globe, I want to say, “Woori Yallock Community, You are the BEST!!!” 

During last term, Wandin Rotary Group contacted me and asked if they could help support any projects we had to support our local families who needed a bit of extra support. After a conversation, they arrived with 10 Food Parcels of pantry items, a donation for us to set up a Pharmacy account for any families that may need to purchase any pharmaceuticals and may not have the finances and also support another project. Their kindness and support has been amazing and we are very grateful.

You may be aware that Second Bite, a Free Fresh Food Community Program, is offered every Friday morning at 10am our local Woori Yallock Presbyterian Church.  I am involved in another Fresh Food Program that we only started last Friday at the Wandin Senior Citizens Hall at 11am. It has been such an encouragement to have community members last Friday turn up last week and offer to contribute any excess produce from their very own gardens.  I spoke with the office manager from Wandin Yallock Primary School and she also said that they have some of their own produce and asked if we would like to have this on offer as well.  She also asked if we needed any more volunteers and offered to put this in her school newsletter. I was blown away by their kindness.

We have 10 weeks to get through together before the end of the school year. Let’s really pull together better than ever to love and support each other whenever we can.  Let’s fine tune our skills at noticing when others are not travelling so well and ask ourselves what we can do to help bring some joy and sunshine into someone else’s life.  It’s the ‘little things’ in life that can really make a difference. The little things like a phone call to say that you are thinking of someone, a card or some baked goodies left at the door of a friend in need.   And get your children involved in these acts of kindness and smile as you watch them come alive with excitement and joy as they anticipate the love that they are showering upon another. This is what our community is good at.  No, very good at. 

“For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone.”

Blessings,

Veronica