Servas Australia Newsletter February 2018

Transcription

1 FROM THE PRESIDENT I would like to acknowledge a group of Servas members who may sometimes go without recognition but are indispensable when it comes to the efficient functioning of our wonderful organisation. The members I speak of are those who carry out interviews of prospective new hosts and travellers. A big thank you to each and every one of you from Servas Australia. If you feel you would like to be part of this group then you would be welcomed most wholeheartedly. Guidelines are available to assist in performing these important tasks. Like all positions of responsibility in Servas, you need to be a well-established member with at least two-years continuous membership. If interested contact your Regional Host Coordinator or Travel Officer to offer your services. In peace. Colin Finger Acting President Servas Australia SERVAS AUSTRALIA INC 2018 AGM Notice is hereby given that this year the Servas Australia Inc AGM will be held at Swiss-Bel Hotel 218 Vulture Street, South Brisbane, QLD on Saturday 24 March 2018 commencing at 5.00pm If you are planning to attend the AGM, please advise the Secretary by by Friday 23 March by to secretary.australia@servas.org.au (so that we can arrange seating). A sit-down dinner will be held from 6.15pm following the AGM at Café 63, Conference Room and Terrace, located at the Swiss-Bel Hotel. Please contact Hilary Wiffen by at qldhosts@servas.org.au to confirm attendance. Parking near Swiss-Bel Hotel is available outside the hotel, and the hotel carpark is at a cost of $15 flat rate. There is free weekend parking in nearby streets. A Board Meeting is to be held on Sunday 25 March at 10am at the Brisbane Square HQ Library, 266 George Street, Brisbane Members are welcome to attend this meeting as observers. Parking is available at George Street: King George Square Car Park. Funding for Key Workers to Attend 2018 AGM Following discussions at the Board Meeting on 7 February, it was decided that, on a one off basis, to encourage key workers to attend and be involved in the AGM weekend, application can be made to the Board to fund the travel of Key Workers to the Brisbane AGM in Please contact the Treasurer, Ernie Catchlove at treasurer.australia@servas.org.au if you are a Key Worker and interested in attending the 2018 AGM in Brisbane. NOMINATIONS FOR KEY POSITIONS Nominations received to date are: SA Travel Officer: SA Host Officer: Keith Barry John Wishart ACT Travel Officer(s) Elizabeth Done and President Secretary Gerin Hingee Derek Curnow Lauren Gordon We have no nominations, and are still seeking expressions of interest for the following positions: WA Host Coordinator NT Host Coordinator/NT Travel Officer Many thanks to those who have nominated. No Further nominations can be received for the position of SA Travel Officer. SA Host Officer and ACT Travel Officer, as these nominations must be received 60 days prior to the AGM. However, nominations may still be received for all other positions up until the time of the AGM. As per Rule 23.6, if there is only one nomination for a vacant national elected position, the person nominated shall be deemed to be elected. February 2018 Page 1

2 FROM OUR PEACE SECRETARY 70 th Anniversaries for SERVAS and the UN Declaration of Human Rights! Last week, Danielle Serres, SERVAS International s Peace Secretary wrote to SERVAS Australia encouraging SERVAS members worldwide to acknowledge these two major anniversaries and share our projects for 2018 celebrations promote, engage, reflect! Danielle wrote, that for the Universal Declaration of Human Rights celebrations will start on 10 December. SERVAS will start celebrating its 70 th anniversary during SERVAS International Week, centred around 21 st September, International Peace Day. Why do we care about these anniversaries? Most Australian members are aware that SERVAS was formed in 1948 with the ethos of human rights (and responsibilities). In that same year, the UN General Assembly adopted the Universal Declaration that expresses the basic rights and fundamental freedoms to which all human beings are entitled. It is heartening to know that Australia was a founding member of the UN and played a prominent role in the negotiation of the UN Charter in 1945, and also one of eight nations involved in drafting the Universal Declaration adopted in This was largely due to the influential leadership of Dr Herbert Vere Evatt, the head of Australia s delegation to the UN. In 1948, Dr HV Evatt became President of the UN General Assembly. I wonder what we know of the history of SERVAS Australia? As an NGO, SERVAS International has consultative status at the United Nations through the Economic and Social Council (the only UN body for participation by NGOs). It contributes to awareness raising about UN principles and activities, e.g. such as the International Day of Peace for inspiring people to recognise and participate in peace activities. Australia has remained a supporter of human rights through negotiations, ratification of treaties and incorporation into Australian laws. As a quiz question, can you name 5 significant steps Australian Governments have taken to improve Australia s protection of human rights? (Answers: Some Australian SERVAS members are members of Amnesty International which has human rights and refugee programs: Merchants of Death : concerns about $3.8 billion arms sales overseas Such condemnation from the Sisters of St Joseph of the Sacred Heart and the Independent and Peaceful Australia Network (IPAN) followed the Australian Government s announcement in January. A media release from the Sisters listed their concerns and eloquently expressed that: It is a matter of great concern and sorrow that Australian overseas aid has dropped to its lowest level ever, while at the same time plans are underway to increase the sale of weapons. IPAN s media release also described the flaws in the Government s plan for a $3.9 billion Defence Export Facility to assist domestic arms industry companies wanting to find overseas markets saying it requires a serious rethink. IPAN says that Australians have demonstrated on many occasions their opposition to arms trade fairs as they don t want to go down the path of militarisation of society Like the Sisters, IPAN urges that our foreign (and domestic) polices should be focussed on dialogue with and support for countries to address the causing of violent conflicts and offer resources to help create the conditions of peace - not our country boosting the arms race. Nature: good places to visit and to conserve/restore In support of SERVAS International s Making Connections program, I d like some help with suggestions about what programs SERVAS Travellers could undertake in Australia, such as volunteering in some existing program assisted by a longer-stay with SERVAS Hosts. February 2018 Page 2

3 24 March AGM and Dinner: As Queensland Host Coordinator and one of your representatives on the Board, I would encourage you to attend our AGM and dinner which is being held at 5pm in the conference room of the Swiss-bel Hotel, 218 Vulture Street, South Brisbane, near the Mater Hospitals. This is a great opportunity to meet Board members, key workers and hosts from other States, some who have planned a holiday in Queensland to coincide with our AGM. Some SERVAS Australia members are involved in Land Care, enjoying bush walking, and even nature conservation. For example, recently I ve been out for a few days to different sites in Western Sydney s Cumberland Plain enjoying picnics, Citizen Science, and cleaning up a degraded creek that flows into a wetland for migratory birds (flying 14,000 km per year!). Chloë Mason National Peace Secretary, SERVAS Australia Peacesecretary@servas.org.au chloemason@bigpond.com NEWS FROM QUEENSLAND Only limited parking is available outside the hotel and their undercover car park in Christie Street, South Brisbane, incurs a charge of $15. There is free weekend parking in nearby streets or $5 All Day parking in Brisbane City Council s King George Square Car Park which is only a few minutes walk from the City Hopper (a free service) and Citycat ferry terminals at North Quay. South Bank 2, where the Citycats arrive and depart, is about 20 minutes walk to the hotel. From there to South Bank 3 City Hopper Ferry Terminal, enjoy a 5-minute walk along Southbank s bougainvillea arbor to the Swiss-bel Hotel in Vulture Street. Public transport is recommended with the Mater Hill Bus Station only 5 minutes walk from the hotel, Southbank Train Station is 7 minutes walk from the hotel. We look forward to welcoming you to Brisbane! November 2017 Lunch I would like to thank Suzanne and Michael Anderson for hosting our November lunch in Brisbane, which was attended by 17 hosts. We welcomed 2 new hosts and 2 travelers from Germany plus one possible new host. It was great that Vicki and Paul Nielsen (our membership officer) were able to join us so we could express our appreciation to Paul for helping us all onto and using Servas On-line. Future Lunches Hosts on the Sunshine Coast hosts often organise their own lunches at a park in their area and I would be interested to hear from hosts south of Brisbane and the Gold Coast as to whether they would like me to arrange a lunch either at someone s home or in a park, or at a cafe/resort on the Gold Coast. This would give Northern New South Wales hosts an opportunity to meet hosts from Queensland. This get together could take place in November and I would appreciate your comments on the idea. July 2018 Lunch Anne and John Tennock, Ferny Grove, have kindly agreed to host our next lunch on Sunday 15 July 2018, so please note your calendars and diaries accordingly. Hilary Wiffen Host Coordinator, Queensland qldhosts@servas.org.au February 2018 Page 3

4 TRAVELLERS TALES A Visit to Umea, Sweden The Spirit of Friendship, Peace and openness is alive in Sweden. I stayed with Servas Host, Inger, in her third storey apartment overlooking the treed suburb of Berghemsvagen, not too far from the University I worked at 25 years ago. My host, a youthful retiree from a career in medicine, was so gracious. We dined together over a lax meal on her period dining table and shared memories of peace and Servas. She offered me her bedroom and she slept in her office! Like most Swedes she was shy but engaging in sharing her beliefs. I found that in a second bedroom she was providing shelter to a young female refugee from Afghanistan. My host epitomized the generosity of Swedes in taking refugees. She practiced 'Peace'. A wonderful stay that broadened my horizons. Dr Ashley Burrowes Rainforest Action Network Greenpeace, Red Cross, SERVAS, California CPA Society, AGA, CA Australia New Zealand, SERVAS MEMORIES Ben and I have been Servas hosts and travellers for over 20 years and, looking back, some people stand out. Our very first Traveller was a young English woman who followed the Moslem religion her parents were Pakistani, migrating to England after the Second World War. She was a teacher and was backpacking round the world and our conversations were very interesting as she was living her own life but didn t want to upset her parents. She made the point that she didn t want to marry a Moslem man. During our first few years with Servas, we were living on our yacht so Travellers had to cope with confined quarters. We hosted an English couple in Sydney on Pittwater. They had never been on a yacht before and really enjoyed it. As they left, they suggested that if we went to England we should visit them and three years later we did. It was high summer, beautiful weather and Vin owned a hot air balloon and asked us if we would like a ride. We jumped at the chance and it was a wonderful experience! In 1999 we sold our yacht and went to England and bought a canal boat. We invited an English Servas friend to come and stay and she said we should join Servas UK and promptly organised it. Through this connection, we made many friends including one couple who were walking the Grand Union Canal. They asked us if we would take them through the 1 ½ mile Blisworth Tunnel (there was no walking path, as in the old days the horse was taken over the top and the boat people used to leg it by lying across the boat and walking sideways through). Of course, we did and have remained good friends ever since. In 2012 Marian contacted us to ask if we would be in England later that year so that she could organise a party for everyone who had walked with them on the Grand Union Canal. We attended the party and it was fun reminiscing, several of the group were also Servas. In 2008 we decided to visit New Zealand and ed a Servas Host near Taronga but they said unfortunately they would be away. However, before we contacted anyone else, another arrived explaining that they were having a French Servas couple in their house (it was a month s house swap) and they would like to Host us! It was a fun experience speaking broken French in a New Zealand home. Other stand-out happenings were being hosted in Potsdam by a woman who had lived through World War II and the Cold War when Potsdam was part of East Germany; taken flying in a single engine twoseater plane over East Anglia, and being taken to a wonderful candlelit choral concert of mediaeval music, accompanied by stringed instruments of the period in Leominster Priory. With Servas one never knows what fascinating opportunities will appear! Yours in Servas Jean Spencer FINDING MY HOME IN AUSTRALIA - or 'Confessions of a Servas Virgin' Be not forgetful to entertain strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. Hebrews 13.2 I don't remember exactly when I first heard the word 'Servas', but I have a vague memory of an American traveller coming to stay at a house I shared many years ago in Bristol, England. More recently, I met a Spanish couple who played an administrative role for Servas in their own country. It was only with the prospect of travelling in Australia - a land where I had few contacts apart from a sister in Melbourne - that I decided to find out more about Servas. What did the organisation have to offer me, I wondered? February 2018 Page 4

5 After nearly three months travelling here, and having enjoyed the hospitality of ten Servas hosts (plus assorted partners and friends), I realise a better question is: 'what do I have to offer Servas?' This article is a summary of my Servas encounters in Oz and a response to that question. I organised my trip around an approximate return journey from Melbourne to Brisbane and back again, clinging largely, though not exclusively to the coast. I began with hosts who lived not too far away, and whose interests - music, sustainability issues, social justice - matched my own. I was fortunate my initial stays were positive experiences as I quickly gained confidence ringing ahead to other hosts. There were logistical issues to tackle (I didn't have a car), but public transport - at least in the states through which I was travelling - is pretty good, and several hosts came to collect me from nearby train stations. Amongst the many wonderful experiences I had, which included the mundane, but rewarding elements of domestic life with my hosts, I enjoyed a jam session in Mont Albert, visited a permaculture project in the Dandenongs, took a coastal walk around Sawgee (near Coffs Harbour), shopped at an organic market in Sydney, and petted kangaroos in Brisbane. As I return to Europe (I will be living in Spain by the time this article appears), I know I have much to offer Servas. As a gay man, I have developed an open outlook; I am accepting of others, and curious about different lifestyles. As a Jew (with Buddhist and pagan leanings), I believe passionately in social justice and taking personal responsibility for the world around me. As a musician and writer, I value freedom of thought and expression, as well as celebration through creativity and community. But overarching all these 'identities' is the simple fact of being a human being: a traveller (in the broadest sense of the word) through this world. In the Jewish tradition (as in many others cultures) there is an injunction to extend hospitality to the stranger. To me, Servas and its hosts - exemplifies this attitude beautifully. Thank you! Jon Stein Not all the experiences were touristic: I also got to witness the announcement of the 'Yes' to gay marriage on the steps of the State Library in Melbourne, as well as attending a rally for Aboriginal rights outside the NSW parliament. Among my hosts were several older couples who had travelled or lived abroad and were now enjoying more settled lives whilst maintaining the spirit of adventure through hosting. Some were intent on taking me on their habitual 'tour' of local places, whilst others - particularly where one or other party was still working - left me to my own devices. my first hosts: Bruce and Andrea Packard with their dog, Kitty, from Mont Albert North, Melbourne, I only found one gay couple, though I suspect there are more LGBTQ people within Servas, perhaps shy about advertising their sexual orientation within an organisation, which, though progressive, could perhaps be doing a little more to attract a younger and possibly more diverse membership. Bruce and Andrea Packard, and Kitty the corgi, in Mont Albert North, Melbourne February 2018 Page 5

6 A SCOTTISH ADVENTURE Brian and I returned to the UK for first visit to the Edinburgh Tattoo, something that I had wanted to do for many years. It was a wonderful night after spending a day roaming around Edinburgh seeing the sights that included some of the fringe festival events. The streets of Edinburgh were not paved with gold but paved with people, and as the day progressed into night the throng in turn paid the city back by spending a fortune on entrance tickets, food, drink and whatever else the Scottish capital had to offer. Yes, I would go back to Edinburgh but not during festival time or holiday time. I would also have to say to anyone visiting anywhere in the UK, consider going out of school and public holidays. It made the accommodation much more expensive and we often had difficulty getting a place, especially in the first couple of weeks. Over the next few days or maybe a week, I lost track of time, coursing through Sterling, Perth, Scone, Crieff, up to Inverness and finally Ullapool. We visited Glamis castle, childhood home of the late Queen Mother. We meandered through narrow country lanes with yours truly as the designated driver and Brian the ever-skilful navigator. He would be telling me to go in one direction and I would say, "Oh look at that," and immediately make a radical right or left turn. He got used to me in the end and learnt to hang on. We kept to the small roads because they offered much more to see. A good tip for anyone wanting to visit the UK is to become an Australia National Trust member. That gives you reciprocal rights to all national trust properties throughout the UK, and it is soooo worthwhile. It even includes car parking. We visited the Royal Burgh of Culross, featured in The Outlander, it was absolutely picture-perfect. On to St Andrew (anyone for golf), and the beautiful seaside villages in between. Then up to Inverness, Culloden, Cromarty, Fort Williams and the headwaters of the northern lochs canals. We saw only a smattering of places from Stirling through to Ullapool, including castles and stately homes waterfront scenes, lakes (or lochs) finishing up with the ferry that would take us over to the Outer Hebrides. We loved the raw and rugged beauty of Scotland, especially the highlands, the more relaxed pace and, of course, the people. The cruise to the Outer Hebrides was calm, unlike many instances that we were told of. Stornoway, the capital of the Outer Hebrides was a very pretty town, not a city but a nice country cousin sort of place. We decided to head out to new Servas friends Munro and Janet who were crofters on the island. Funnily, their home in many ways resembled our place in Glencoe. We spent four fabulous days with them learning about crofting and how you have to be accepted before you can even buy your piece of land, then you had to maintain the land the crops and animals that grew on that property. Our journey through the Lewis, Harris Islands and Skye showed us a life born of stoic faith in the family and the community. It was beautiful: the rugged land dotted here and there with homes nestled into the hillside, a good companion by my side and the sound of pipes lilting away in the background. We saw the black houses, and Scotland s answer to Stonehenge, seals, a centuries old home from the iron age, all in a stony landscape interspersed with lakes. I have never seen islands with so many internal waterholes, and the beautiful coastline along the Atlantic Ocean. Skye was also dripping in beauty but being somewhat closer to the mainland it did not have quite the isolated feel that the others had. Back on the mainland we made our way around the lochs to Fort William and then along to Oban. We passed a chap standing on the side of the road dressed up to the hilt playing bagpipes. Down from Oban to Inveraray, then, due to an accident, had to backtrack a bit to Dalmally. The road around the lochs was beautiful but very narrow and very windy and due to the accident extremely busy. We headed to Glasgow a fascinating place for a few days, visiting the National Trust s Tenement House. The same lady had lived there with her mother from the very early 1900s until her death in the late 1960s. Nothing had been changed in the house since the day she arrived, so it was a real time capsule of tenement living. Including horse hair mattresses and little beds built into cupboards, (these were banned due to people, especially children, being suffocated when the door was closed). We also learnt what it was like living in new age tenement homes, as we stayed with a lovely family with two kids. We did not sleep in a cupboard but on a huge pull-out lounge. From Glasgow it was onto New Lanark, a woollen mill, where on site accommodation, church etc were specifically built to give workers better conditions. It was a very philanthropic move in its time back in the 1800s and apparently the many people that were housed and worked there were happy. It was also a chance for us to get back into the more tranquil countryside and easier driving along quiet country lanes. Then on to Gretna Green and the to the lake district but more about that and points southward in another tale. Anne Wilson February 2018 Page 6

7 , ARE YOU READY FOR SYLE-SERVAS YOUTH LANGUAGE EXPERIENCE IN ITALY 2018? I am Regional Coordinator for Lombardia (North Italy). In the past year we had very positive experiences with SYLE for young people, that we hosted in Italy, Ines from Chile, Bogi from Hungary, Dorota from Poland, Isabela from Brazil, Christa and Charlotte from Belgium, Daniel from Spain. SYLE has supported our new SERVAS YOUTH GROUP, that is deeply involved in welcoming Young Servas Hosts We all are strongly willing to repeat this opportunity for 2018 We have some families ready to welcome 4-5 young people from your country for 2-4 weeks, in Italy. At the same time, we have some young Travellers who may be interested to come to your country for SYLE.? For SYLE September/October/November/December 2018, contact me before end March Peace and Love Raffaella Rota Servas Coordinator And Youth Group Lombardia Italy. INVITATION TO SERVAS ISRAEL INTERNATIONAL MEETING LIVING IN THE NEGEV DESERT, THEN AND NOW MAY 21-27, 2018 Servas Israel invites you to a guided tour in The Negev desert in Israel, which will provide the unique opportunity to experience for yourself, first-hand and up-close the life in this desert then and now: We will visit sites in the Negev desert, with its ancient history, agriculture and modern research at Midreshet Ben Gurion, Avdat ancient city, Massada - its various communities, cultures and intercultural projects old and new - Kibbutz, Beer Sheva city, Bedouins, Nabateans, Ethiopians, Bilingual school,- its exquisite landscape and geology at Makhtesh Ramon, Zin valley/river, the Dead Sea - having fun at the Dead Sea and the Mediterranean Sea - participating in meetings, lectures and workshops, and personal presentations, and getting to know Servas friends from around the world. Servas Israel members will be happy to host you before and after the guided tours. Come enjoy Israel with us. Write to: israel@servas.org for details and registration. INVITATION FROM SERVAS RUSSIA 1st Servas Russia International Meeting May2018 Sverdlovsk region, Krasnoufimsk district, Ural, Russia Servas Russia, with the support of the Krasnoufimsk District Authority, invites you to our Servas Meeting (RSM) to share an enjoyable and educational week of social activities, getting to know the real Russian culture and daily life together with beautiful cities and nature areas of the Ural Mountains, having also the chance to meet old and new friends from around the world. Our theme for the meeting will be "Exploring the unique spirit and rich culture of Ural." Participants will enjoy the known Ural Russian generous soul, food, drinks, culture, churches, nature, banya (sauna) and more. The meeting will take place in Sverdlovsk region, Krasnoufimsk district, which is the recreation centre Cherkasovo (10 km from Krasnoufimsk town, 215 km from Yekaterinburg the capital of Ural and 1800 Km. or 2 hours of flight from Moscow). It's mainly a hilly country with few high peaks. The population is more than 4 million with a diversity of not less than 148 ethnic groups. Among them Russians, Tatars, Ukrainians, Bashkirs, Mary, Germans, Azerbaijanis, Udmurts, Belarusians, Chuvash, Armenians, Tajiks, Uzbeks, Jews and more. The Krasnoufimsk district itself is situated on the South-West of the Sverdlovsk region. Its population of 33,000 consists of 62% Russians, 20% Tatars and 16% Mary. During the meeting we will have the chance to meet their culture and daily life. Contact russia@servas.org February 2018 Page 7

8 INVITATION FROM ARGENTINA In Argentina we re organizing a CSE (Cultural Servas Exchange program) focused on Tango. It is a three weeks program. We invite candidates, females or males, who want to practice language and Tango in our country to contact their National Secretary so we can coordinate the participation and the dates. The candidate shall pay the ticket and the meals and extras during the stay (classes, tickets for the milongas, taxis, etc). People of Servas Argentina will give all kinds of tips and orientation as well as company many times, to the Tango classes and milongas. Also, Spanish classes will be scheduled. There are no special dates for this program. We will arrange everything depending on the candidate s trip. We ll take four programs per year. It s necessary that the candidate has some language knowledge as well as some practice in Tango before coming here. We hope that the candidate can offer different kinds of activities: could speak about his/her country, teach how to cook something, anything about his/her profession, but he or she becomes an ambassador of the country and he has to give things in return. We ve done the CSE program many times and it always was very successful experience. I hope I ve tempt you to do it. Please consider that we need some time to organize everything. Ana Manghi NS Argentina Servas Argentina To register your interest, contact the Servas Australia National Secretary, Lauren Gordon at secretary.australia@servas.org.au Servas Australia Board Members President (Interim) and Vic Region Representative Colin Finger president.australia@servas.org.au Secretary Lauren Gordon secretary.australia@servas.org.au Treasurer Ernie Catchlove treasurer.australia@servas.org.au Peace Secretary Chloë Mason peacesecretary.australia@servas.org.au Regional Board Representatives Sandra Daly ACT Barbara Mawson Tas Craig Melrose NSW John Wishart SA Hilary Wiffen Qld Coralie Mills WA The content, collation and distribution of this newsletter are undertaken by SERVAS Australia members for SERVAS members. NEXT ISSUE The next Newsletter will be compiled in May 2018 SUBMISSIONS Submissions Close: 30 April for the May 2018 Newsletter. s (word documents and highresolution photos via attachment) are preferred. PHOTOGRAPHS, MAPS, SKETCHES AND ANY OTHER ILLUSTRATIONS ARE VERY WELCOME. Contributions are subject to approval and size restrictions. Sorry, late contributions may have to wait until the following edition. DISTRIBUTION The Newsletter is distributed to all members by post or and is posted on Facebook and the Servas Australia website. NEWSLETTER CONTACT DETAILS SERVAS Australia News Editor: Geoff Sheldon newsletter@servas.org.au Your feedback and suggestions are welcome. SERVAS AUSTRALIA CONTACT DETAILS SERVAS Australia Inc. National Secretary, Lauren Gordon, secretary.australia@servas.org.au Web: www: servas.org.au Facebook: DISCLAIMER Every effort is made to ensure information is correct at the time of printing. However, no responsibility will be accepted for misinformation. The views and opinions expressed in this publication are not necessarily those of Servas Australia Incorporated or the Editor February 2018 Page 8