Opinion

WE wanted to do an epic journey – or another one in Lyn's case – and Everest Base Camp was definitely off limits! A chance conversation with then Archbishop Battersby gave us the idea of a pilgrimage, which seemed to fit our criteria of "epic-ness". We were never going to manage 36 days off together, but there were 20 days ...

THE list of inaugural members of the International Association of Athletics Federations Hall of Fame is nearly complete. So far, Australia is represented by the inimitable track and field "Golden Girl" Betty Cuthbert whose speed and spirit enchanted us in the 1960s. The Olympics have given us so many riveting images across the decades – of courage, endurance and achievement ...

FORTY years ago, the crude and cruel social boundaries of homophobia and racism abhorrently shaped dominant ethical boundaries in Australian society. They are both offspring of prejudice generated by the human fear of difference. Related to such basic aspects of humanity – our sexual and racial identity – they are capable of stimulating deep anxieties. Homophobia in particular is often ...

I have been married to my bicycle-riding husband for more than 30 years and I still don't get it. How can all that pain and sweat be so satisfying? He likes competition and he likes challenging himself. He has ridden across the Simpson Desert and East Timor. At school I was always in the B team for softball, hockey and ...

IT used to be the rule not to talk about religion or politics at a dinner with people you don’t know. These days I add sport to that list. Not because I don’t have an interest in sport, I do. I love certain sports but they are usually the sports (e.g. gymnastics) that don’t get any media attention and the ...

ON behalf of the Uniting Church in Australia, I offer our thoughts and prayers for the safety of the asylum seekers affected by the latest tragedy off Christmas Island. Our prayers are also with the rescuers as they do all they can to help the survivors. The tragedies of today and last week have once again drawn our attention to ...

JESUS said, "I have come that they may have life, and have it abundantly." John 10.10 is a favourite verse for many people, including me. I went to it for a theme for the three years of this Assembly. The verse is translated in different ways. In addition to the NRSV version that I just used, the NIV has it ...

FOR me, stewardship with regard to people is simply based on the song If I can help somebody. The lyrics say: "If I can help somebody as I pass along … then my living will not be in vain." Stewardship of the earth is not difficult as God's beautiful creation is all around us. That reminds me of other songs: ...

WE were brought up to do things for other people, to work and care for others. We were told to go out and serve, so for me volunteer work is a natural part of life. During the 35 years I was a volunteer with the Blue Nursing Ladies Auxiliary, we raised a lot of money (more than one million dollars ...

AS a volunteer I feel that I get back as much from others as I give. Being part of organisations such as Lifeline and the SES is like being part of a big family and the thing about families is that that they look out for each other, support one another and each member benefits from this. Stewardship is about ...