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Desert helps renew spirituality

Desert Spirituality participant Rev Heather Griffin heads for the hills
Four Desert Spirituality trips took Uniting Church members deep into the red centre during July and August.

Holland Park St David’s minister Rev Heather Griffin attended the “Feeling the desert” trip which travelled from Birdsville to Alice Springs.

After spending time with the Frontier Services Padre from Charleville and organising their supplies, the group met local Birdsville families with large pastoral holdings and those whose ancestors journeyed through the land well before Europeans even knew it existed.

“In both cases we learnt of their joys and struggles and of their spirituality,” said Mrs Griffin.

“We heard some of the Aboriginal stories of the desert and found out that those who were taught to sing their stories never got lost in the desert because the stories were, in effect, maps that guided them through the landscape.”

Photo : Desert Spirituality participant Rev Heather Griffin heads for the hills