The Princess and the Pauper Woman – Ayisha (Part 1)

Peshawar, Pakistan. 1995 Grant and I are living in a block of flats. At 11:30 each day, five women gather for morning tea and a chitchat. Five women, with five different backgrounds and five different mother tongues. But each of us knows some Urdu, so it works. We all love Ayisha from Flat 2, the one with royal blood in her veins. She is refined, educated and quietly elegant. She buys her expensive perfume on …

In Everything Give Thanks

Reflection on my life and my work has made me realize that every action I have taken has been a building block for the future. I am the eldest of five and grew up on a dairy farm in the Brisbane Valley, Queensland. I went by school bus to the small school at Somerset Dam then on to boarding school in Toowoomba for my high school education. In May 1966, at the age of 16 …

On the back cover – April/May 2020

And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast. 1 Peter 5:10 (NIV) We do not suffer alone. Our heavenly Father has seen it all before. He watched his own precious Son carry the awful burden of our guilt, suffer agony, and die a cruel death for the sin of the …

As I see it – On reaching a Certain Age

Recently I decided to explore the aspect of significant women throughout my life who had influenced me in one form or another. My mother of course, but close to the top of the list was my Primary School Headmistress who I believe had significant influence on my future teaching career in both the State and in the Church. Moving to Melbourne to complete my secondary I met up with a number of Jewish students in …

 . . . through Christ who strengthens me!

Recently, our elder daughter, Thalia, got confirmed and, after months of agonising over which Bible text to choose, she settled very firmly on Philippians 4:4–7: Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends …

Holy Week at Lifeway

The theme for Holy Week services at LifeWay Church was No Other – exclusive claims from an inclusive God, and, on Maundy Thursday, 23 people gathered at Newcastle to enjoy a simple meal and take part in a reflective service No Other Love. The tables were invitingly set, due to hard work by Pastor Mat and his wife Elise, with beautiful flower arrangements by Ruth Mac Connachie enhancing the experience. The simple meal of mutton …

Disabilities – those we see

My brother, Robert Lindsay Faulks, came into this world at seven months gestation after my mum severely haemorrhaged. It was a long labour, and forceps had to be used, resulting in not only reduced oxygen to the brain, his beautiful head misshapen. The doctor at the delivery (a prominent professor) informed my parents that ‘he’ would not be any good and that they should just forget him and walk away. That was the start of …

Never too Old?

I wondered about that as I planned to embark on Graeme Lienert’s Holy Land Pilgrimage. I was just about 84 years old. With God nothing is impossible. With Graeme’s constant vigilance, my 73-year-old baby sister in tow, and a wonderful group of fellow Christians on tour, I was able to keep up with most of the full and exciting itinerary. Our young driver, Mohammad, endeared himself to all of us as he swung that huge …

The journey so far …

His doctor took his driving licence away! From that time on, my wonderful, loving, physically fit husband’s behaviour changed – running away, not dressing correctly, irritable with me. David went into respite care when I went to the USA with my daughter for the birth of another great-grandchild and a permanent place was found for him when I returned home. It has been 18 months of watching him slowly losing memory of family and friends, …

Living well with Dementia

I am 67, and I was diagnosed with dementia eight years ago. I believe I am living well with dementia. God has blessed me in ways that I could never have dreamt of eight years ago. Opportunities have been opened up for me (and my husband, Timothy) to be involved on the public stage as an advocate for people living with dementia, and for dementia research, and I have had amazing experiences. This is my …

A woman sits with her head on her hand, she appears to be depressed, looking for hope.

Dealing with Depression

I’m a really proud person. I don’t want to think I’m mentally ill. What I’ve realised is when you become unable to function, when you can’t work out the next step of the day, then that’s a sign, for me, of depression. Rosemary. One in seven Australians will experience depression in their lifetime. (ABS National Survey of Mental Health and Wellbeing). Rosemary is one of them. Rosemary’s family had a history of depression, but she …

The Lamp Lady

A report in The Times during the Crimean War gave Florence Nightingale the title, “The Lady with the Lamp”. Recognised as the “founder of modern nursing”, she has left a lasting mark on sanitation and healthcare. She was born in Florence, Italy, on 12 May 1820 to English parents. This date is now universally recognised as International Nurses Day. When she was 16, Florence announced that she felt ‘called’ to become a nurse. Her parents …