46-47:Issue 2 27/04/2009 11:00 Page 46
Province of Australia
Australia
T
he vision of Mothers’ Union in Australia
is to share Christ’s love by encouraging,
strengthening and supporting marriage and
family life.
The Province of Australia covers the world’s Australia’s Parenting Programme has been
largest ‘Island Continent’. The province has 23 established in many dioceses. A large
dioceses, many of them with small number of facilitators are trained so they can
populations and covering vast dry areas. cover the huge distances.
Australia’s geography and climate are diverse In recent years Australia has received many
– a narrow, heavily populated eastern coastal refugees and immigrants. Dioceses have
strip, mountain ranges, grasslands, and a established contact with many Sudanese
large desert region covering much of the people and are creating transition
centre and the west. Much of the country is programmes to help with re-settlement.
often drought stricken. Water is a valuable Branches have been established among the
commodity. Karen and Sudanese people, while some
have preferred to join local branches for
Members travel vast distances to attend support.
conferences and meetings, some many
hundreds of At branch level, members are involved in all
kilometres each aspects of parish life. They provide pastoral
way. It takes care in many areas – court hospitality;
up to seven hospital visiting; knitting trauma bears;
hours organising children’s craft programmes. The
flying Diocese of Sydney employs two workers who
time for undertake family-orientated work in needy
some parishes. Many members are involved in
to Liturgy Teams. All are encouraged to
travel understand the mission for the Church in the
to future, and to plan and implement activities
National that will promote growth. Members are
Council mostly ’senior’ but there are pockets of
meetings. younger members where the ’Challenge of
Change’ is being faced. North Queensland
Mothers’ Union has a large indigenous membership.
Fact File
Population:21,590,000 Mothers’ Union members: 8,500 Mothers’ Union was estab-
lished in Australia in 1892 at Christ Church, Collingswood in Tasmania
46 www.themothersunion.org
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