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01/08/2009 Richard's Ramblings - August

I want to share with you some (slightly adapted) thoughts which occurred to me some years ago following one of our holidays while still living in Australia.

I think we managed to cover most of south-eastern Australia in the three weeks we were away, travelling about 2000 miles by car! Although there is obviously much more to Australia than southern New South Wales and Victoria, travelling from Mallacoota to Sydney, Mildura, Bright and then Sale via Mt. Hotham does give a good perspective on the nature of the amazingly diverse country in which we lived.

From quiet secluded Mallacoota to the rushing bustling pace of Sydney; from the dry arid desert country of the Mungo National Park north of Mildura, to the serene beauty of the Alpine regions of Victoria around Bright; from the undisturbed rain forest to the highly developed farming country, southern Australia is a diverse and contrasting land.

But, the diversity doesn’t end with the country itself: the people of that country reflect as great a diversity amongst themselves. Aboriginals with long history traced in millennium; Anglo-Australians with a long heritage traced through British & Irish history; Australian born off-spring of Greek and Italian decent; Asians for whom that country still holds promise of new life and hope; and now their children who only know Australia as home. It is a land of diverse people of diverse heritage!

At times I wonder about the future of Australia as a country - a country which, it seems, is not-so-slowly being sold off to foreign interests; a country struggling with its sense of identity, reflected in the republican debate; a country searching for its distinctive role and contribution to the community of nations.

In its diversity both geographically and socially/ethnically is, I believe, embodied the treasure to be unfolded in Australia’s future.

Whilst Northern Ireland may not embody the same degree of diversity, never-the-less it is in its diversity that, I believe, it too holds the key to its future.

Like all treasures, the treasure which holds our future is only treasure to those who see it, strive for its preservation, protect its worth and ensure the opportunity for its growth and development occurs.

How do we, those who hold the future in our hands at this moment in time, how do we ensure the moral ethical foundations necessary for our future are established, developed and preserved?

It will not just happen. What foundation do you build upon, both for yourself and your children’s future?

Rev Richard Johnston
August 2009

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