Reconciliation Dinner, Sat 14th June, 2008
The 2nd Annual Combined Churches Dinner was held at the Salvation Army Hall in Ada St. Around 120 from churches and community had a great night of food, fellowship & friendship. This year's theme marked Aboriginal Reconciliation Week just past, and Aunty Phyllis Pitchford, a Tasmanian Aboriginal Elder, spoke about her experiences growing up on Cape Barren and Flinders and what it has meant to be what she terms "A Proud Tasmanian Aboriginal." Click on the thumbnails below to see the pictures.
guests arriving dinner dinner
table table table dinner
guests mingling
Presbyterian Pastor Greg Munro welcomed everyone and introduced the evening, suggesting two good reasons why Christians should mark Aboriginal Reconciliation Week. Pastor Jenny Templeton of Hilltop then welcomed and introduced Aunty Phyllis and said a prayer of thanks for the meal.
 tables
main course
Left, Right & Above: Guests arriving for the dinner mingle and socialise before lining up for the main course.
dinner

careful consideration

Elsie deep in thought
Aunty Phyl talking
Left, Right & Below: After the main course, Aunty Phyllis asked us to acknowlege and respect her ancestors as traditional custodians of the land, and spoke of her experiences as a Tasmanian Aboriginal, as people listened attentively and asked questions..
talk
listening intently
Aunty Phyl in full flight
Ben & Jessie
Joy Doug Right: The dessert table was well patronised! desserts
Graeme Bissett
Right & Below: After dessert Aunty Phyl was presented with a portrait in oils of her, with traditional cultural symbols of ochre, shell necklaces and muttonbird
receiving painting
Presentation of Portrait
receiving painting
Phyl & Jenny T
with Vicki Knight
with Liz Pinner
Liz & Phyl
Phyl & Liz Pinner
Left: Liz Pinner dedicated an artwork and a prose poem to Aunty Phyl.
with Sandra Chugg
talking with Keather
With Keather Allenby
Aunty Phyl caught up wth some old school friends from Nabowla days, such as Keather Allenby (left) and Peter Partridge..
Tim Watson
Left: Capt. Tim Watson of the Salvation Army closed the night with a reading from 2_Corinthians 5:16-21, which speaks of the message and ministry of Reconciliation that God has given to Christians.
Tim Watson

Tim finished with a prayer.

P.S. Thanks to all who supported the Chaplaincy offering: about $170 was raised on the night from spontaneous donations.