Templer Record
Published monthly in AUSTRALIA since 1946
(originally “CIRCULAR of the TEMPLE SOCIETY in AUSTRALIA”)
More on the
Israel Trip
CONTENTS August 2012
REFLECTIONS....................................2
Blessing..........................................2
Text: Luke 11:33.............................3
Discussion Forum about the TS ....4
The Pearl of Great Price ................6
REGIONAL MATTERS ...................... 7
Notes from the RC ......................... 7
Social Care ..................................... 7
‘Mingle’ for Carers ....................9
MEMBERS AND FRIENDS ............ 10
Birthdays ..................................... 10
Births ........................................... 10
Marriage ...................................... 10
New Member ............................... 10
Bereavements ...............................11
Queen’s Birthday Honour ............11
Sonnwendfeier............................. 12
Oma & Opa’s Kitchen .................. 13
Bentleigh News............................ 14
The Truth..................................... 15
Israel Trip .................................... 16
A different sort of pilgrimage . 16
An Aussie on Israel ................. 17
Impressions of Palestine......... 18
SYDNEY.............................................24
SOUTH AUSTRALIA.........................25
YOUTH ..............................................26
City Exploration...........................26
Saturday Night Bowling ............. 30
Friday Night Fun ........................ 30
Bendigo Discovery Weekend...... 30
KIDS’ CLUB ...................................... 31
Upcoming Events ........................ 31
Disco Night .................................. 31
TTHA .................................................33
NOTICES ...........................................35
Coming Services ..........................35
Flower Roster ..............................35
Oma & Opa’s Kitchen ..................35
German School Winter Concert ..35
Crafts............................................36
Spirituality in Australia ...............36
THE HERITAGE PAGES.................37
Sarona’s New Era ........................37
Tatura – Where did you get off? 40
LAWNMOWING ROSTERS.............42
In deutscher Sprache:
Segen............................................. 2
Ein schöner Sonntag .................... 5
Geborgen in Gottes Hand........... 34
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
REFLECTIONS
SEGEN
Gott, der Herr, schenke dir Kraft auf deinem Weg.
Kraft aus der Höhe und aus der Tiefe,
damit du deine Berufung spürst
und deinen Schritten traust.
Der Herr schenke dir Mut auf deinem Weg.
Mut zum Hören und Stillwerden,
damit du dir treu bist, wenn du sprichst
und wenn du handelst.
Der Herr schenke dir Freundschaft auf deinem Weg.
Gott schenke sie dir im Gebet und
in der Nähe zu Menschen.
Gott halte dich in seiner schützenden Hand. Amen.
BLESSING
May God give you strength for your journey.
Strength from on high and from deep below,
so that you’ll be aware of your calling
and trust the steps you take.
May you be given courage for your journey.
Courage to listen and to become still,
so that you will be true to yourself
in what you say and do.
May you experience friendship on your journey,
in prayer and in closeness to others.
May God hold you ever in the palm
of his protecting hand. Amen
Free transl. H.U.
From a card at the Borromeo Sisters’ Hospice in Jerusalem
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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TEXT OF THE MONTH – Luke 11:33
In Praise Of Imperfection
No one lights a lamp and hides it in a cellar, but puts it on the lamp
stand so that those who come in may see the light – Luke 11:33
The Guides sing a song which reflects the imagery in this Bible verse; it was a
favourite of mine as a young Guide (we were called Brownies in those days):
This little light of mine, I’m gonna let it shine…
Hide it under the bush, oh no, I’m gonna let it shine …
Don’t you blow my little light out, I’m gonna let it shine …
For me, this song symbolised a bright shiny future, where my light –
meaning my ‘good turns’ (acts of helping), my caring, my energy – would
shine out to the whole world. All of us who sang that song would help make
the world a better place and, consequently, the world would be good to us. It
was a song that signified the limitless optimism of childhood.
The other thing I remember about singing at Brownies is that we all were
happy to sing out loud, even if we couldn't hold a note. No one asked us not
to sing or to sing quietly, we were just asked to participate as well as we were
able. The Guiding Movement encouraged us to participate and experience all
sorts of activities, even if we weren't good at them; and we did participate
and experience – we didn't stop and think ‘I'm not perfect at this, I won’t do
it.’ We were encouraged to let our light shine, even if the flame may have
been imperfect.
This child-like lack of self-consciousness and allowance for imperfections is a
useful attitude to take into adult life. We need to be prepared to take the
chance to do things we may not be perfect at, or to implement a system that
may not quite be perfect. If we only ever act when we have every box ticked
and every knot tied, it is possible that we would never challenge ourselves to
do anything new. It is the learning that comes through improving on
imperfections that is most important.
In the world of information technology, there has been a change in the
perception of acceptance of imperfections as a strategy for improvement.
When I first started using computer software in my employment, companies
would never publicly release new software, or a software upgrade, until it
had been rigorously tested and retested through a number of stages. More
recently, software developers are more inclined to release new software at an
earlier stage in the development, sometimes called the ‘beta’ stage, to the
public. They know the software may still be imperfect, but they rely on the
users to provide feedback, to do the testing as only the end user can, to
improve their product. The public is accepting of the imperfections, because
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they know that by providing constructive feedback, improvement and
development will occur.
In our own lives we can be accepting of the imperfections of other people,
systems and services. We can help improve them by providing useful
feedback. By being accepting of the fact that we, too, do not need to be
perfect, we are more likely to take up new challenges and let our inner lights
shine to benefit ourselves and others.
So let your light shine, even though the flame may look a bit weak or wobbly
– imperfect – at times.
Renate Beilharz
DISCUSSION FORUM about the TS
On the first day of the second half of the year, about 30 members and friends
met in the Chapel to discuss under the theme How we have changed – then
and now. How has our faith evolved; how can it best be shared?
Working from Helga Uhlherr’s observations to a 1993 seminar on what
has/has not changed in the Temple Society, groups were formed to consider
a number of selected statements about the Templer community and its faith:
Welcoming new people new ideas/thoughts
Emphasis on community living
Community life is now more restricted to leisure activity than daily
work and school
Decreased familiarity with the Bible and a different focus for services
More interaction in all areas of life with non-Templers
Increased agnosticism and atheism
Religion is no longer a central part of our lives
The groups were engaged, sometimes animated (facilitators needed?) and it
was encouraging to witness the range of opinions expressed and ages in
attendance. Some of the conversations were recorded and should make
interesting listening.
All participants were invited to provide feedback on the forum [see next
article] and, so far, a number of additional points have been made:
Give choice in a modern, progressive way
Give younger people a mentor, as they are interested in knowing more
It is important to be inclusive – others also share the values of our
community
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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Have a problem-solving corner
People need to feel love, acceptance and appreciation
We need to engage visibly in the wider community, advertise our
achievements (highlighting the good being done) and demonstrate our
worth
When explaining the Temple Society, we don't have anything to
compare it to
Discussion time with the Elder after services (maybe a more formal
setting than over coffee)
It is likely that the Elders will try to schedule more discussions like this into
our yearly calendar. Look out for them and also for the couple of Elder
discussions (to which all community members are invited).
A big thankyou to everyone who took part and also to Nanne (with help from
Katja) for the freshly-baked pretzels enjoyed for morning tea. Don’t you now
wish you had come?
Mark Herrmann
WAS FÜR EIN SCHÖNER SONNTAG
Feedback on the Discussion Forum
Überraschenderweise bekam ich eine Einladung zu dem Seminar/Diskussion
Forum am 1. Juli in der Chapel in Bayswater. Das Thema war How we have
changed – then and now. How has our faith evolved; how can it best be
shared?
Mark Herrmann hielt eine kleine Ansprache, wir bekamen in kleinerem
Format 15 Fragen über was sich in der Temple Society verändert und was
sich nicht verändert hat. Dazu gab es drei rote Punktaufkleber für jeden
Teilnehmer, um das jeweilige Interesse zu bekunden. Auf die großen Plakate
an der Wand konnten wir unsere Punkte geben um zu sehen, was die
heutigen Interessen sind. Danach wurden kleine Diskussionsgruppen gebildet. Die 15 Fragen basierten auf Kommentar von Helga Uhlherr im Mai 1993.
Ich nahm an zwei Diskussionsrunden teil. Einmal zu der Frage, was sich
nicht verändert hat: Emphasis on community living und dann was sich
verändert hat: More interaction in all areas of life with non-Templers. Für
mich war das Ergebnis sehr informationsreich, in jeder Weise. Information
über die ‘eingefahrenen’ Ansichten der Templer und auch über die neueren,
weitreichenden, offenen Versuche, nicht-Templer für den Glauben und das
aktive Gemeindeleben zu bewegen.
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Es sollte nicht nur älteren, interessierten Menschen, sondern gerade den
Jüngeren mehr Möglichkeiten geboten werden, ‘Näheres Wissen’ zu
bekommen und zu einem aktiven Miteinander angehalten zu werden. Würde
dabei nicht auch gleichzeitig viel von unserer deutschen Kultur ins
Gemeindeleben vermittelt und erhalten bleiben?
Etwas anderes war noch schön an diesem Sonntag. In einer Pause bekamen
alle Teilnehmer von Marianne Herrmann selbstgebackene Brezeln, mit
Butter, und Kuchen. Ich fühlte mich damit wie auf einem Seminar in
Deutschland. Danke!
Gudrun Dimpfel
THE PEARL OF GREAT PRICE
It is still the dark and cold of winter and there seems to be more than usual
inner and outer turbulence in the lives of many individuals, families and
society. To offer a ray of hope, here is an image for the transformation of
suffering into a value of the soul – the pearl of great price (or the alchemist’s
gold).
A pearl begins as a bit of grit, a symptom or a bothersome irritant inside,
which no defensive shell can protect one from. Worked at day in day out, it
eventually becomes coated over until a pearl is created; this must, however,
still be fished up from the depths and pried loose. When the grit is redeemed,
it is best worn on warm skin to retain its lustre. What once caused suffering
is now clearly seen as a virtue, after inner work done patiently – such work
can’t be forced.
Just getting rid of a symptom or an unbearable irritant also gets rid of the
chance to gain what may one day be of greatest value. Like most worthwhile
transformative processes, hard and patient inner work is required. So hang
in there and may you grow into something of serene beauty and value.
Herta Uhlherr, with reference to James Hillman
Jeder, der an einen Sinn im Leben und an die hohe Bestimmung des
Menschen glaubt, ist im heutigen Chaos wertvoll, einerlei zu welcher
Konfession er gehört und an welche Zeichen er glaubt.
Hermann Hesse
Every person who believes that life has meaning and that human beings have
a high destiny is valuable in the chaos of today, regardless of which
denomination he belongs to and what signs he believes in.
Tr. H.U.
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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REGIONAL MATTERS
NOTES from the Regional Council
The budget process for the 2012/2013 financial year has been completed and
is again of concern, especially with the deteriorating returns from the various
investment markets. If we manage to do all the things we want and need to
do, we are facing a potential deficit of $181,246. This presents RC with
significant philosophical issues about how we as an organisation can afford
to continue as we are, and it challenges the TSAL Directors with the task of
how best to manage the situation and minimise the impact on our assets.
The new financial year also means it is again time to request your
contributions and donations. An invoice in the form we have been using
for the past few years is included with this TR. Non-members and friends are
asked to pay the subscription amounts as indicated and to consider making a
supplementary donation. Members are asked to consider what they are able
and prepared to contribute in the top section of the form. In so doing, please
keep in mind it is more beneficial to the TSA to receive donations rather than
‘contributions’, although our constitution still obligates every member to pay
an annual contribution (except by agreement due to financial hardship).
John Maddock, Administration Manager
SOCIAL CARE
Dear Friends,
We are looking forward to a very busy August in the Care Worker/TSA
calendar with the Women’s Retreat coming up. There is also another
MoneyMinded Workshop and Oma and Opa’s kitchen. I reiterate
that, just because all of these events are being run, I am never too busy to
help you out individually, whatever your age! If you have a question, need
some help with something, just feel a bit lonely and would like a visitor,
please do not hesitate to contact me! I hope to see you soon.
I am in the process of organising our annual Carers Week event and if you
are the carer of someone with a disability or an older parent/relative, you
will receive an invitation in the mail. However, if you feel you fit into this
category and do not receive an invitation, please contact me as we would love
you to come along! The date we have booked is Thursday 18th October.
There are still some places left for the Women’s Retreat and we need to fill
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these places for the event to go ahead without a significant increase in cost!
Please invite your friends and come along to this great weekend away!
The third MoneyMinded Workshop is being held on Saturday 4th August
in Bentleigh. Please phone me to book your place. The topic will be Understanding Paperwork.
Telelink will be held on 3rd, 17th and 31st August. This is a German/
Schwäbisch-speaking group. If you would like to participate, please contact
me.
Freebies and useful websites
www.weekendnotes.com I discovered this email newsletter by accident. It is
a great website with lots of fantastic ‘notes’ on a range of different things to
do and see. Not just for Melbourne, although you specify which info you
would like to receive! They also cover Sydney, Adelaide, Brisbane, Perth,
London and New York! Subscribe to their newsletter for your area!
The Basin Community House has an upcoming course titled ‘An introduction to Alternative Therapies’. The course offers introductory information
on a range of modalities, insight into what it is like working in these different
areas and pathway information for possible further study. It is also ideal if
you want to learn for personal interest. The format of this course will be in
two-week blocks totalling 20 hours (each session 2½ hours) inclusive for
ACFE Funded Cost $20 + $20 amenities + additional materials charge in
some classes. Classes will be on Wednesday evenings from 7-9pm in The
Basin. For further information please contact The Basin Community House.
Heart Foundation Walking (HFW) coordinators needed! Heart Foundation Walking will be offering free Area Coordinator Training in Melbourne
on Monday 13th August. HFW is a network of free community-based walking
groups with volunteer Walk Organisers to lead groups in their local area.
Area Coordinators may be from health or community centres, councils or
workplaces and work with the Heart Foundation to assist volunteer Walk
Organisers to recruit walkers and establish groups, in their local area. They
are provided with resources, training and support to begin and maintain
their group. They also receive complimentary merchandise as a ‘thank you’
for their role in organising a local walking group.
Walkers are provided with information outlining Heart Foundation Walking
and can choose to join the Walker Recognition Scheme which includes certificates and other incentives on reaching walking milestones (e.g. 25 walks).
You may like to visit the website www.heartfoundation.org.au/walking to
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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find out more about this initiative as updated information will be added on a
regular basis.
For further information contact Tara Henderson.
Martina Eaton, Community Care Worker
email: careworker@templesociety.org.au
‘MINGLE’ – Event for Carers
Dear Carers,
I have been informed of Carers Vic ‘Mingle’ events coming up throughout
Victoria. Unfortunately, this year I will be unable to attend any of them due
to other commitments; however, I am hoping you can find the time to make
it to one of these events; they are really fantastic and a great way to have time
out from your busy caring schedules!
‘Mingles’ are free events for family carers and all events start at 11:15am
and finish at 1:30pm. Registrations are from 10:45am. Morning tea and
lunch are included.
To reserve your spot (places are limited) book early. Register online at
www.carersvictoria.org.au Please RSVP for one event only!
Melbourne: Saturday 13th October, Melbourne Town Hall;
RSVP by 28th September.
Frankston: Thursday 16th August, Long Island Country Club;
RSVP by 3rd August.
Ballarat: Friday 31st August, Buninyong Golf Club; RSVP by 17th August.
Wangaratta: Thursday 6th September, Quality Hotel Wangaratta Gateway;
RSVP by 23rd August.
Warrnambool: Friday 14th September, Warrnambool Greyhound Racetrack; RSVP by 31st August.
Please don't RSVP through me. Feel free to send this information to any
other carers you may know.
Martina Eaton, Community Care Worker
email: careworker@templesociety.org.au
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MEMBERS AND FRIENDS
GEBURTSTAGE – BIRTHDAYS
Wir gratulieren herzlich zum Geburtstag unserer Mitglieder:
Herbert Schnerring
Günter Herrmann
Wilhelm Sawatzky
Helmut Beilharz
Walter Katz
Waldemar Beilharz
Norbert Sawatzky
Richard Hornung
Heinz Bulach
Hans Richter
Christian Imberger
Elisabeth Kuebler
John Hohnholt
und wünschen auch allen hier nicht angeführten Geburtstagskindern alles
Gute und Schöne zum neuen Lebensjahr – Happy Birthday!
BIRTHS
Ruby Ariel Rose Bell
Parents: Simon Bell and Nicole née Weller
A granddaughter for Hartmut and Rosemarie Weller
Saskia Elodie Mitsak
Parents: Emma Irving and Erick Mitsak
MARRIAGE
Wolfgang Frank and Lilian née Mateo on 15.6.2012
Congratulations to these families
NEW MEMBER
We welcome Neville Murray
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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BEREAVEMENTS
Serga Gigliotti née Brauer passed away at TTHA on 19.6.2012,
aged 90 years. Prior to taking up residency in the Home, she lived
for many years in the northern suburbs, establishing connections in
the local community there.
A memorial service to honour the life of Meta Beilharz was
conducted on 13.7.2012 by Herta Uhlherr in the Chapel. Thank you
to all who attended, and for donations made in her memory.
Friedrich (Fritz) Katz born 28.4.1924 in Haifa, resident at the
Tabulam & Templer Homes for the Aged since 2005, passed away
suddenly on 9.7.2012, aged 88 years. His wife Irmgard (née Weber)
died in April 2011. Their children Erika Herrmann, Barbara Daross
and Peter Katz, together with Friedrich’s siblings Hilda Beilharz,
Walter and Ewald Katz, and their respective families will miss him
dearly.
Mark Herrmann conducted the service on 16.7.2012 in the Chapel.
Condolences to the bereaved families
QUEEN’S BIRTHDAY HONOUR
In the 2012 Queen's Birthday honours, Associate Professor Tilman Ruff
was recognised as a Member (AM) in the General Division of the Order of
Australia.
The award citation states ‘for service to the promotion of peace as an
advocate for the abolition of nuclear weapons, and to public health through
the promotion of immunisation programs in the South East Asia-Pacific
region’ and acknowledges the valuable humanitarian work Tilman is
performing and committed to. We congratulate him.
Mark Herrmann
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SONNWENDFEIER 2012
Jörg and I, together with our son James, attended our first Sonnwendfeier
16 years ago. James was two years old, and I was eight months pregnant with
Jessica. We had a wonderful evening, participating in the lantern tour of the
Altersheim, eating dinner, drinking Glühwein and watching the bonfire.
I have clear memories of little James in his anorak standing at the front of
the Hall, drinking from his straw cup while listening to the Blaskapelle
playing. It was clear he enjoyed their music.
Wind forward to 2012. Recently James, Jessica and I were sent Certificates
of Appreciation for Volunteering and invited to afternoon tea to celebrate
this. Jörg did not receive a certificate.
Jörg became a TSA member in August 2011, so when volunteers were
requested to assist in preparing for the Sonnwendfeier 2012, I asked him if
he was interested in volunteering. He said ‘yes’. So I volunteered Jörg,
Jessica and myself to be at the Bayswater Hall at 2pm to help set up.
Several weeks later and Saturday 23rd June dawned, cold and wet! Jörg spent
the morning rugged up in thermals, jumper and winter coat standing on the
sideline watching James play soccer. On arriving home late morning, he
asked me what time we were leaving for Bayswater. I said 1:30pm. Jörg
thought I was kidding, he had expected we would be at Bayswater at 4pm!
He suddenly realised he would have no time at home to do the many things
he had expected to do!!
We arrived in a cold Bayswater Hall at 2:00pm. Already there was an army of
volunteers in the kitchen preparing dinner. So we three, with the assistance
of Dane Rainbird, Peter Etherington and Gary Imberger, set up tables and
chairs. Having previously always arrived to the Hall already set up, it took us
quite some time to work out exactly where to put the tables and chairs, to
still enable people to easily navigate their way around the Hall. We put on
the heaters and lights and tried to ensure the doors were kept closed. We
needed Jörg’s height to get the glasses out of the cupboard, before putting
them out on the tables.
Other tasks included: putting string on each of the glow sticks with the help
of Grace Wagner, wrapping cutlery into serviettes to make it easier for
people to carry them back to their tables along with a full plate of food,
setting up the serving area, putting out the dinner plates, serving spoons and
tongs, and a table for people to help themselves to cups of tea or coffee
whenever they wanted to. Later Jessica, together with other volunteers, ran
the hot dog and glow sticks table.
At last all was ready and people started arriving. There were many little
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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people warmly rugged up running around the Hall. Frequently it was their
grandparents who had brought them along. Everyone had a wonderful
evening, including James’ girlfriend, Kathryn. Jessica commented that
Sonnwendfeier was ‘cool’, and we all agreed. What particularly pleased the
children and me was how much Jörg enjoyed being an active member of the
TSA community. He felt at home and was comfortable talking to other
volunteers, even if he wasn’t sure of their names or to whom they belonged!
Irene Kemper
OMA & OPA’S KITCHEN – Thank You
On Sunday 15th July, the participants of the first Oma & Opa’s Kitchen
celebrated its conclusion with afternoon tea at the Tennis clubrooms in
Bayswater. Everyone enjoyed the opportunity to catch up again over coffee
and cake.
All the children were presented with a Photo Album/Recipe book filled with
photos of them with their ‘Oma or Opa’ preparing delicious food.
Thank you to all the grandparents and children who attended ‘Oma & Opa’s
Kitchen’. Also a huge thankyou to Renate Weber, we were very lucky to have
such a patient instructor who had a wonderful rapport with the children and
grandparents.
I would also like to thank our dedicated Care Worker, Martina Eaton. It was
her wonderful idea to create ‘Oma & Opa’s Kitchen’ and her hard work in
obtaining a grant from Knox Council, which made the program possible.
Anne Wied
All the families who attended the ‘Oma & Opa's Kitchen’ had at least one
representative at the afternoon tea.
A big thankyou to Anne Wied for all her work in taking photos and
presenting wonderful recipe books personalised for each of the children, who
had great fun participating in the cooking program. Thanks also to Renate
Weber for her expertise in the kitchen and relating so easily with the
children.
I strongly urge anyone who has children wishing to attend to get their names
down for the next group starting this month.
Heinz Wagner
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BENTLEIGH NEWS
A large number of members attended the Bentleigh Working Bee in July,
enjoying the sunny weather. Much was achieved, including car park
maintenance, painting and general gardening. As usual, members had lively
discussion over morning tea and lunch.
Many thanks to all those who attended.
At morning tea
Painting the bowling alley
Peter Ware
photos Peter Ware
In the car park with the compounding machine
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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THE TRUTH
In August 2011, after attending the 150th anniversary dinner dance, I wrote to
Mark Herrmann to thank and congratulate him and all those who
contributed to the planning and conduct of this event. I used the opportunity
to draw attention to my awareness and disappointment of the fact that
neither in Germany nor here during our celebrations did we give recognition
to the relationships that existed between the Templers and the Arab people
amongst whom we established our various settlements.
I expressed the view that the success of the many Templer enterprises in
Palestine in the period 1868 to 1948 depended to a considerable degree on
the cooperation and loyalty of Arabs employed by Templers. I further stated
that we should not miss the opportunity of recording as much information as
the memories of those Templers from Palestine could contribute to
preserving this record. I asked that my letter be forwarded to the editor of
the Templer Record. He undertook to do this.
When there was no response in subsequent TRs, I wrote a follow-up letter to
the editor in April this year, attaching a copy of Mark’s response to me.
A very odd, and to me a less than satisfactory note appeared at the top of
page 9 in the May TR. I took objection to this because it did not accurately
express my sentiments, it failed to name me, and it neglected to mention my
first raising this matter in 2011. I had difficulty in understanding why things
were done the way they were and discussed the matter with Mark.
I wrote, mentioning among other things that we Templers, more than any
other group, should be able to empathise with the plight of present-day
Palestinians who, like us, have been displaced, dispossessed and subjected to
injustices. Mark responded with his contribution in the June TR, which went
some way towards expressing my sentiments. He additionally, in his article,
referred to the Balfour Declaration, which elicited a response from me. The
editor chose not to publish this.
As stated in Mark’s article, I formed my views from what I learnt in the
family home from parents, relatives and visitors. In addition, I have relied on
the writings of the Temple Society’s official historian Dr Paul Sauer, and
other research.
I conclude by saying that something any society must never neglect to do is
to honour and respect its own particular heritage. This now puts the record
to rights.
Eberhard Frank, S.A.
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ISRAEL TRIP
A different sort of Pilgrimage
People express amazement that I would spend 2½ weeks touring Israel —
with a German tour group! As you know, an explanation is never a quick one,
but I wanted to understand more about my heritage. With a mother,
grandparents and great-grandparents born in Palestine, I needed to learn
about the Temple Society and the settlements it established there.
My mother (Isolde Glockemann née Beck) seldom spoke about her
childhood. She lived in Sarona until July 1941 when, aged 10½, she was
deported with over 500 others to Australia. How did growing up next to the
Mediterranean mould her? My time to be enlightened came in May 2012
when, with 30 others, I embarked on the Gruppenreise der Tempelgesellschaft. Others had many stories from their parents or, amongst the
older travellers, first-hand accounts of their childhoods. I was sad that I had
nothing to recount – just some names of ancestors. But this was to change.
Living in Canberra, I currently work in ACT Heritage. In one former life I
had been a German teacher and was apprehensive whether I was up to the
task of digesting the voluminous commentary delivered by our
‘encyclopaedia on legs’, Jakob Eisler. His clear German was a delight and
those rusty German cogs in my brain slowly began to turn.
Denkmalschutz (heritage protection) was a word that resonated throughout
and linked intimately to my job. I was interested in the restoration and
maintenance, firstly of these Templer heritage-listed buildings, and of other
sites in Israel. I was interested in the adaptive re-use of these buildings,
An example of adaptive re-use in Jaffa/Südstrand; this museum is built inside
ruins
Photo Linda Roberts
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
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interpretation and how they are regarded today. A return to Sarona beckons
to see its new interpretation/visitor centre within the oasis that will be
Sarona Gardens.
Perhaps many of you are puzzled by the perceived oxymoron of heritage and
Canberra. (The Canberra region actually had European settlers before
Melbourne.) Certainly viewing Egyptian, Roman, early Muslim, Byzantine
and Crusader layers of history puts our 100th birthday celebrations for
Australia’s capital next year into a very insignificant light. We all marvelled
at ancient mosaics, Roman columns, fortifications, amphitheatres and much
more. Archaeologists were even working on site at Qumran. I also work with
archaeologists and am reminded that our Aboriginal heritage predates all of
this and provides Australia with the oldest rock art in the world—and it is
still striking!
The current spate of TV shows focussed on stories about people and places
has become big business. Time Team, Who do you think you are? Who’s
been Sleeping in my House? and others all contribute to generating million
dollar turnovers for www.ancestry.com and keeping heraldry, genealogy and
historical societies busy. My daughter joked that this was my Who do you
think you are? episode. So the conclusion?
I can see where my mother acquired her love of the beach and the sun, for
colour and a midday siesta, and why we didn’t have ‘meat and 3 veg’ and
grew a lemon tree. But there is more to learn. In a naïve way I ticked off
Sarona and Haifa from my list of family connections to Palestine, but found
more with Walhalla/Jaffa. There my grandparents, Urban and Lene Beck née
Imberger, celebrated their marriage at Café Lorenz – now Neve Schechter, a
Centre for Jewish Culture & Art, and on tour we attended its official opening!
Connections were also discovered to Jerusalem and a delightful one to
Betlehem where a great aunt, Anna Beck, cooked for the British, who had
taken over the community hall during the war. Tante Anna ended up
marrying George McIlwraith – explaining that Scottish ‘Uncle Mac’!
My pilgrimage to the Holy Land helped me better understand the Templers
and my heritage. I now flick through old albums with greater insight – one
that needs to be passed on. I urge you, too, to gather those stories – the
journey is worth it.
Linda Roberts
An Aussie take on the Israel Tour
I’ve just returned from a great trip to Israel. Why Israel, people ask. Because
my wife Ilse’s family (Edelmaiers) came from there, or more correctly, from
pre-war Palestine as her family is still inclined to call it. The trip was
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
organised through the Templer office in Stuttgart, Germany. There were 31
participants and I was the only one who did not speak German. But this was
not a drawback, as there were nine English-speakers from Australia and half
the Germans spoke good English. The balance had a few words of English
and with these and lots of gesticulating we were able to communicate. My
wife also helped with a few pertinent translations when required to clarify
obscure points.
In Israel we visited numerous tourist sites as well as Templer sites, some on
the beaten track but plenty more that were well off the track and seldom seen
by tourists or even the locals. These spots usually consisted of old
foundations and rocks that in the past had some significance. Although they
initially appear the same, the history of each is different and they were all
very interesting. How do I know this if our tour guide, Jakob, spoke in
German? Most of the sites were in National Parks and there were always
English pamphlets available.
I’m stressing the language issues as people have asked me how I managed
with my lack of German and – in case there are other non-German-speaking
spouses of Templers who are hesitant about joining future tours – it wasn’t a
problem. Besides, you don’t need to be able to speak German to appreciate
the natural beauty of the country, from the agriculture in the valleys to the
bare hills, to the hills that are being reforested with pines, to the arid desert
areas, the ancient towns and the modern cities. One other scenic and
nostalgic highlight was the clumps of gum trees that grow in Israel. We
didn’t see any koalas in them, but we did see a couple of gangaroos in a
park. The Germans called the trees Eukalyptus-Bäume, but by the end of the
trip, the Aussies had them saying gum trees.
If you go to Israel, take your swimming togs. I’m glad I did. 25-30 degrees C
every day, with dips in the Mediterranean at Tel Aviv and Haifa, in the Sea of
Galilee (amongst the gum trees) and, of course, in the Dead Sea.
The fact that the tour group had a common connection with the Temple
Society, no matter how tenuous, contributed to the camaraderie within the
group. Everyone mixed with and helped one another and we all had a great
and rewarding time. I would recommend the trip to anyone.
Neil Nicholson
Impressions of Palestine in 2012
Having always lived around the edges of my Templer heritage, I had never
really been much interested in going to Israel – too hard! Even the name you
use is problematic: Palestine when the Templers lived there, the land of their
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 19
birth from which they were dispossessed before there was a Jewish state;
Israel reflects the current political reality. Palestine may be historically
accurate from a Templer perspective, but it can now suggest support for the
Palestinian cause. The reality is, of course, far more complicated.
So how does a lapsed Templer born into the community, but not of the faith
or even a believer, decide to go to Israel, a land steeped in three major
religions, and with a group of mostly Christians? Several years ago, a Trefz
family tree compiled by Peter Lange of the TGD archive came into my hands.
It contained several names that I had never heard of in connection with my
mother’s family and set me on a path of family history research, in
which I have since enlisted the whole family. Part of that story involves my
great-grandfather, Christoph Trefz, travelling to Palestine in 1869 with the
first Templers, and three generations of the family living and growing up
there. It became important to find out more about this land and the
circumstances that led to a group of German pietists selling up everything
they owned and leaving everything they had known to move to the Orient
and build settlements in relatively primitive circumstances.
The opportunity to see first-hand where and how my parents, grandparents
and great-grandparents lived and to find traces of their existence was too
good to pass up. I had originally planned to retrace my father’s 1931 trip to
Palestine in a two-man kayak down the Danube River, into the Black Sea,
along the coast of Turkey and finally arriving at the Südstrand in Jaffa – not
that I was ever going to go in a kayak! But I couldn’t work out how to get
from Turkey to Israel, given the current political realities of the region.
Travelling with a Templer group seemed a sensible way to go, given their
knowledge of the Templer history, the various colonies, and where people
had lived.
On arrival in Tel Aviv it was very hot. Driving
from the airport, my first impressions were of
rather run-down even ‘grotty’ neighbourhoods.
Dragging luggage through the streets and up to
the second floor of the Beit Immanuel hostel did
not impress me much either. A little culture
shock had set in, but there was a very good
reason for us to stay here: the links to the
Templers and the location in the middle of the
Jaffa colony. Walking around the settlement that
first evening in the footsteps of my parents and
grandparents, and seeing the church where my
parents were married (which I immediately
recognised from their wedding portrait), I knew
that the journey was going to be well worth any
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
short-term absence of creature comforts.
Dr Jakob Eisler continually astounded us with his extensive and detailed
knowledge of Templer history, architecture and community life, as well as
his immense knowledge of Israel’s religious, political and cultural history,
archaeology and architecture. It is difficult to process the huge amount of
information and visual inputs we experienced in such a short time. Karin
Klingbeil ensured that everything went smoothly.
At the Sarona colony next day, there was more heat as well as lots of standing
and walking. Sarona is a huge building site and we were fortunate to be able
to go in, thanks to Jakob’s contacts, including Danny Goldman. Great care is
being taken with the restoration work to ensure authenticity. It was
interesting to see the size and complexity of this former agricultural
community, but I quickly got confused about whose house we were looking
at and why. You have to accept that not everything is going to be equally
important or even of interest to everyone.
The afternoon spotting Bauhaus architecture in Tel Aviv, some of which is
extremely beautiful, also left me exhausted and a bit ‘over’ the whole
Bauhaus thing. The former railway precinct in Jaffa, now Ha Tachana,
shows what can be
achieved
through
restoration
of
a
historic site and what
may
become
of
Sarona. The site has
been sensitively restored with the railway
heritage reflected and
the Templer (particularly Wieland) contribution acknowledged.
It now has a new life
with
smart
cafés,
eateries and chic upVisiting Ha Tachana
Photos H.R. Uhlherr
market
boutiques
close to the beach.
Jaffa was an important early base for the Templers, with both a port and a
railway line close by for the import and export of goods. Many Templer
businesses thrived here. My grandfather was a fitter and turner in Jaffa and
my father worked as a plumber and sheet metal worker for the Hahn
brothers before later working for himself. My great-uncle, Wilhelm Trefz,
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 21
worked for Paul Aberle as an accountant. Next to the hospital in the Jaffa
colony he owned a house, now gone.
The restoration work at the Hotel Jerusalem next to the Beit Immanuel was
a surprise. Great care is being taken to preserve the original features,
including the many murals. My aunt, Ida Trefz, had spent two years here in
Stellung, learning to cook (I had always thought this hotel was actually in
Jerusalem). Everything in Israel is close, even when it sometimes appears
otherwise.
After a rather hurried dash around the old city of Jaffa (I would really have
liked to spend longer there), Jakob took us to several Templer houses just
outside the old city. This is where my grandparents had lived when they
returned to Palestine in the early 1920s after the First World War. Here my
mother, her sister and her two brothers had lived and grown to adulthood. I
had brought with me two pictures, one of where the family had rented an
apartment and the other of the street as seen from the house. On the veranda
of this house, every important event in the Trefz family had taken place:
birthdays, engagements, weddings; and it features in many family
photographs. I was excited to find that both photos were immediately
recognisable in 2012 Jaffa. The house and the veranda were still there,
though a bit run down. This was the personal highlight of the trip for me.
The walk around the Walhalla settlement that evening allowed me to see
where my parents had lived after their marriage in 1936 until returning to
Germany in 1938. The house was then owned by the Breisch family and my
parents had lived in the ground floor apartment. The house and the other
Templer houses in the more affluent Walhalla were well maintained, with
beautiful gardens. As no one was home at the time, it wasn’t possible to see
the inside of the house. Hermann Uhlherr was able to spend time in the
Uhlherr house next door where he had lived until he was seven. This allowed
for a few quick photographs over the fence. The friendly generosity of the
current owners of all the houses that members of the group were able to
enter was extraordinary.
The nearby former Café Lorenz, where many Templers ‘hung out’ and which
was the centre of much social activity, has been restored. Through Jakob’s
contacts, we were invited to the opening and were able to see the many
original features that have been preserved or sensitively restored.
Being constantly on the go, from early morning to the evening, meant I was
mostly exhausted and often overwhelmed with the many things that we had
seen each day. It was a challenge to keep focussed on what I had actually
come for, namely the family history connections.
Having no family links to Haifa, I could play tourist for the next few days.
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Many people found family connections in Haifa, either in the former
settlement or at the cemetery, and every person was excited at each find.
Haifa is located between the mountains and the sea and the Templer colony
is on a main street leading from the harbour to the Baha’i Temple and its
beautiful gardens, but the many steps are a challenge. Many people had
aching calves the next day. From the top, you can see the Templer colony
with its typical red-tiled roofs particularly well. I especially liked the
Carmelite monastery and church on the top of the mountain. The Hecht
Museum at the University of Haifa provides a fabulous insight into Israel’s
ancient past with its archaeological treasures. The floors are partly covered
with fragments of ancient pottery. There is so much of the stuff and much of
it is not worth restoring.
I was impressed at the extent of reafforestation taking place around Israel.
This is not an easy task given the heat and lack of rainfall. The seedlings need
to be watered for around five years before they are strong enough to survive
on their own. The results are impressive, having led to increased rainfall and
therefore greater supplies of fresh water. There is still wide-spread
agriculture despite large and sprawling cities. In fact, Israel is now selfsufficient in fruit and vegetables and is able to export surpluses.
I would have liked to further explore the Arab influences but, as only twenty
per cent of the population is Palestinian, it is a very different society from
when the Templers lived there. I particularly liked Akko, including the
mosque and the old city. The art is in the beautiful tiles and mosaics, the
patterns and the calligraphy. A lasting memory of the many ancient sites we
visited are the beautiful old mosaics.
By the time we arrived at the Sea of Galilee, I was starting to get ill – a bad
case
of
bronchitis
developed and eventually
needed antibiotics. As a
result, I missed many sites
I particularly wanted to
see,
including
the
Holocaust museum Yad
Vashem, Qumran, the
Dead Sea and Masada.
The group at the St Charles Hospice in Jerusalem
In Jerusalem, despite
being quite ill, but with
the help of Jakob, Jörg
Struve,
Annette
and
others, I managed to get
photos of the grave of my
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 23
great grandfather Christoph Trefz in the Templer cemetery and the general
area where he took his life. I was amazed that Jakob could locate this place
from a rough, hand-drawn sketch from 1895. The grave itself is rather sadlooking without even a gravestone. Jakob also pointed out to me the
Diakonissen Krankenhaus in Jerusalem, where my great-grandmother was
in care for some time before her death and where my mother had once
worked. I was disappointed that I had to miss so much of Jerusalem and a
number of other places and I am determined to go back in a few years.
I came on the Israel trip with particular goals in mind; firstly to find traces of
my mother’s family that still exist; to see the neighbourhoods where they
lived, to understand a little better the experiences of the Templers in
Palestine, and to get an impression of the country and its peoples. I found all
the places I had come to see and a few more besides. Also, I now appreciate
why so many Templers felt at home in Australia. The countryside, the
climate and the lifestyle have many similarities with Israel. The gardens of
many Templers in Australia reflect their former home in Palestine, with
jacarandas, bougainvillea, oleanders and roses. My uncle Otto Trefz even had
an olive tree in his back yard. And, of course, the many gum trees in Israel
were a welcome reminder of Australia.
After Israel, I followed up my Trefz ancestors in Germany. Now the Trefz
family tree has 13 generations on it and goes back about 400 years. Three
generations of the Trefz family lived in Palestine and called it home. There
are many stories, large and small, of significant achievement and ordinary
life in those 400 years. There are also more questions still unanswered and
much more work to be done on the larger family story. Palestine is a
significant part of that larger story, one which I understand a little better
now, thanks to Karin and Jakob.
Anne Eckstein
For more information on the Trefz genealogy, you may contact Anne at
eckstein@melb.globaldial.com
This report has been condensed.
Group photo on page 25.
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
SYDNEY
I held the Sydney Service in June, where we had a very small turn-out. My
reflection was on the ‘cleansing of ten lepers’ story in Luke 17:11-19. I
discussed various thoughts on faith healing and the evidence I found for and
against it in a few basic online references. As I researched and thought about
the passage, it became clear that there was a more poignant message in the
story: that the Leper colony in question took in outcast Samaritans whilst
regular Jewish society did not. It seemed that Jesus was showing that the
sickest, lowliest people had more humane and open relationships than their
healthy, socially acceptable countrymen – the ostracised Jewish lepers had a
more enlightened view than their healthy, religious countrymen. We, too,
should watch our own prejudices and misconceptions, especially as we now
sit comfortably in Australian society. We should always challenge ourselves
to look for those within reach whom we can try to include. At least we can be
aware of and learn about the culture and history of marginal groups in our
country and, if possible, try to welcome them.
We had a large turn-out at the July Seniors' Group. Everyone enjoyed the
delights of Blacktown Sports Club. The sun shone and lit the grass and trees
that surround the eating hall, providing a very pleasing outlook. Again it was
lovely to catch up with friends and eat the sumptuous feast on offer.
Coming events
August
The Seniors’ Social Group will have a little outing to the Austrian
Schnitzelhaus at 163 Victoria Road, Gladesville. Lunch starts at 12 noon
on Friday 10th August. The booking is for a 2-course meal, cost $28.
Women’s Retreat: 17-19th August, Phillip Island Vic.
Saal/AGM: Sunday 26th August, 10:30am – please come
September
Seniors’ Social Group: Friday 14th September, 11:30am (TBA)
Saal: Sunday 23rd September, 10:30am (TBA) (Duty: Gerlinde Slip)
Ingrid Turner, Elder and Community Development Worker for Sydney
email: ingridt@tpg.com.au
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 25
SOUTH AUSTRALIA
At our meeting in June, we were happy to welcome Renate and Tony
Beilharz. Renate gave the address with pictorial illustration. She took the text
from Exodus: You ask: where is God? God is! God is everywhere and in
everything. Open your eyes and you will see.
Afterwards, the eleven of us present had good conversations over coffee and
cake.
Our next meeting will be on Sunday 12th August at Tanunda at
2pm. Mark Herrmann will hold the service.
Rose Asenstorfer
ISRAEL TOUR GROUP at the Baha’i Temple in Haifa, May 2012
Photo Hermann Ehmer
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
YOUTH
YOUTH CALENDAR
Saturday 11th August
Saturday Night Fun – Bowling
Friday 24th August
Friday Night Fun – Spotlight
Sunday 9th September
Saturday 29th to Sunday
30th September
Ferry trip to Williamstown
All Youth Bendigo Discovery
Weekend
Friday Night Fun – surprise
activity!
Family Service, Community Picnic
& TG Tug of War
TG Breakup Party at Le Mans GoKarting
Friday 19th October
Sunday 11th November
Sunday 25th November
Bayswater
Bayswater
7:30pm
City
Bendigo
TBC
Bayswater
11am
Dandenong
South
2012 TEENAGE GROUP PROGRAM
For full details/enquiries about, or to book for, the 2012 Teenage Group
program please contact:
Susi Richter , Community Youth Coordinator
email: susi@templesociety.org.au
CITY EXPLORATION – Report
It may have been Friday the 13th but it certainly wasn’t an unlucky day for TG
and their City Exploration! We had a fantastic day out exploring the nooks
and crannies of Melbourne!
TG toured the Town Hall and Lord Mayor Peter chaired an ‘extraordinary’
council meeting; we lunched with a lei at the Hare Krishna restaurant,
ambled and explored arcades and alleys, chilled with slushies in the Ice
Lounge, raced Mario at ACMI, heard and felt the Federation Bells and had a
spectacular finish to the day with fireworks at Docklands!
And here’s some of the ‘interesting’ stuff we discovered:
Katja Hesse – found really interesting dresses at the GPO that were made
entirely from chocolate with butterflies and flowers all over them and found
out that when you see the distance to Melbourne (on road signs), it’s
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 27
measured from the GPO.
Peter Etherington – thought emergency vehicle sirens seem louder in the city
than other places and found that ratchet straps can be used to make
colourful art.
Milla Kruse – thought the Federation Bells sounded great and the heaviest
one weighs 1.2 tonnes and loved hearing the story about Ringo Starr
(Beatles) trying to fly his solid gold boomerang from the balcony of the Town
Hall.
Danyon Glenk – thought the ‘all you can eat’ vegetarian food at the Hare
Krishna restaurant was different but yummy and found out that sipping a
mocktail from a cup made of ice at the Chillon Ice Lounge was awesome and
heaps of fun.
Dane Rainbird – found out the oldest chair in Victoria is the Lord Mayor’s
chair at the Town Hall and found out the GPO was burned out in 2004.
Franz Hesse – enjoyed eating chocolate at Haighs in the Block Arcade and
found out the Town Hall was built in 1870.
Sophie Behnke – found the ice sculptures in the Chillon Ice Lounge
fascinating and loved the Hopetoun Tea Rooms cake designs.
Emma Wied – found that when the clock in the Royal Arcade clicked onto
the hour the two ‘mini giants’ (Gog and Magog) struck their bells, and
thought some of the shops in the arcades looked ‘really old’ but cool.
Luca Haar – discovered that the Royal Arcade is the oldest arcade in Victoria
and found out that Gog chimes 3 times to signal the hour and Magog chimes
the number for the hour 1 to 12 times.
Brendan Wied – thought the Hopetoun Tea Rooms cakes looked very nice
and thought Crossways Restaurant and Chillon Ice Lounge were awesome
and the best!
Hugo Richter – found out that Hare Krishna food tastes very good and sat in
a very fancy meeting room at the Town Hall.
Bailey Field – discovered all the ‘bad’ games at ACMI and really wants to go
back again and found out that the Lord Mayor’s chair in the Town Hall is
really old and interesting and that, in fact, the whole place was really old and
interesting!
So.... who’s coming along to the next city exploration trip!?
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
At the Town Hall
photos Milla Kruse
Above: At the Federation Bells, Birrarung Marr
Left: In the Lord Mayor’s chair
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Teenage Group piled on
the 'Public Purse' in
Bourke Street
City Exploration
13.7.2012
At the Chillon Ice Lounge, Southbank, on the City Exploration day
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
SATURDAY NIGHT FUN BOWLING
Saturday 11th August
How would you like to try your hand at 9 pin bowling in our very own
Bayswater Bowling Alley?
Well, you can on Saturday 11th August at 7pm till 9pm. If you would like to
come, let Susi know by Wednesday 8th August (see contact details above).
FRIDAY NIGHT FUN SPOTLIGHT – Friday 24th August
TG is having a MASSIVE game of Spotlight in amongst the trees and
mushrooms at the Bayswater Hall from 7:30pm to 9pm!
Remember to bring your torch and a plate/snack to share. Hot chocolates
and cordial will be supplied!
Call/ SMS or email Susi to let me know you’re coming please.
ALL YOUTH BENDIGO DISCOVERY WEEKEND
29th to 30th September
Spend the weekend in Bendigo taking vintage tram rides, exploring gold
mines and sleeping over at the Bendigo Science and Discovery Centre. We’ll
be catching the train to Bendigo on Saturday morning and returning on
Sunday evening.
ANY age kids are welcome to come along, as long as you are happy to sleep
away from home for a night! We will need some extra adults, too, so you can
come as a family or just bring along a ‘volunteer’.
Detailed information will be emailed out to everyone on the Teenage Group
and Kids’ Club contact lists, or you can contact me with any questions or to
register your interest (see contact details above).
Susi Richter
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 31
KIDS’ CLUB
UPCOMING EVENTS
Sunday 12th
August
Saturday 25th
August
Sunday 26th
August
Sunday 2nd
September
Sunday 23rd
September
Saturday 29th
to Sunday 30th
September
Service & Sunday School
Bayswater
10:15am
Disco
Bayswater
Service & Sunday School
Fathers’ Day Service
& Sunday School
Service, Sunday School
& Community Afternoon
All Youth Bendigo Discovery
Weekend, see previous page
Bentleigh
10:15am
Bayswater
10:15am
Bentleigh 3:15pm
Bendigo
KC DISCO NIGHT – Saturday 25th August
Kids’ Club is having a Disco Night for kids of all ages (2 to 102!) – if you can
walk, you can come and dance! There will be a ‘mystery DJ’ with lots of
games, music and fun especially for the kids! See also next page.
The fun starts from 5.30pm, with music from 6pm till 8:30pm – the last 20
minutes will be cleanup songs where everyone’s help would be appreciated!
BYO: picnic dinner, drinks and dancing shoes. Tea and coffee will be
supplied. Entry: by gold coin donation, please.
Bookings are essential. Please call Beate no later than 18th August.
A Happy Birthday to
Ellena Glenk
Jade Weller
Declan Campbell
Patrick Weber
Darcee McCallum
Oscar Turner
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 33
TTHA
Dear Friends,
We are well into winter and our residents and relatives are feeling the
winter chills; all rugged up they are still venturing outside to enjoy crisp
blue days. Our winter menu is well received with yummy comfort foods and
the colour around the Home is beautiful with all the knitted blankets; they
remind me of the blankets my Oma used to knit for our family. There is an
awful flu/cold going around, a number of our staff, residents and relatives
are feeling its effects; we ask you to please ensure you consider our infection
control policies to maintain a safe living environment for all our residents
when you come to visit.
TTHA has undergone an extensive review over the last year, which has
required a number of significant changes within its operations to ensure it
remains financially viable in the long term. As a result of this review and in
line with past reviews, a decision has been made to outsource all maintenance services. As a consequence we regret to announce that the existing
maintenance team has been made redundant. Nathan, Robert and Tony
finished their responsibilities with TTHA on Friday 13th July and Marco will
be assisting with handover to the external contractors until Friday 27th July.
We extend our thanks to Marco, Nathan, Robert and Tony for their
contribution to and support of TTHA over many years. This decision was
very difficult and in no way reflects on them; it has been driven by the
increasing pressures on Aged Care providers as a result of government policy
and funding. We wish them all the best in their next adventures and a
wonderful future. Please join us in a farewell Happy Hour on 27th July in the
Otto Löbert Dining Room from 2pm.
We understand that any change is very hard to comprehend, but be sure that
all our decisions have been made in the best interest of our residents. This
transition period may cause some unanticipated interruptions and we ask
you all to be patient and understanding. The Parent Societies, the Committee
of Management and the Management Team of TTHA are united and
focussed on ensuring TTHA remains a home which provides quality care for
the current residents now and for future generations.
We have had a number of residents pass away over the last couple of months
and we extend our heartfelt condolences to their families and friends. Often
the reflections bring back so many fond memories and this is what makes the
difference to our staff. It gives them the opportunity to see how they made a
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Templer Record 752 – August 2012
difference and brought happiness into the lives of our residents.
On a lighter note, TTHA continues to enjoy the events organised by the
activities team. We look forward to celebrating the opening of the Olympics
on 27th July with a Mini Olympics day starting at 10am in the Dr Schreiber
Dining Room; please feel free to come and join us. Our Café is open on
Tuesday, Wednesday and Sundays with beautiful cakes, breads and pretzels
to purchase. When I walk past or drop in, I see the residents enjoying
themselves laughing and chatting with their loved ones who have come to
enjoy Kaffee und Kuchen with them. We also have our annual Weihnachtsmarkt on Sunday 25th November (mark this in your diaries as it is a
wonderful day).
A number of new residents and staff have joined our family; we welcome
them and look forward to getting to know them better.
Should you have any questions, please feel free to contact me anytime.
Kind regards,
Natasha Wilkinson, CEO
email: natasha.wilkinson@ttha.org.au
Geborgen in Gottes Hand
In deine Hände lege ich
meine unruhigen Gedanken,
meine wirren Gefühle, mein Leben.
In deinen Schoß lege ich
meinen müden Kopf,
die Früchte meines Tuns, meine Sorgen.
Unter deinen Mantel lege ich
meinen schutzlosen Leib,
meine verwundete Seele,
meinen angefochtenen Geist.
In deine Hände lege ich
meinen Geist, meine Lieben, mein Leben. Amen.
Quelle unbekannt
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 35
NOTICES – BEKANNTMACHUNGEN
COMING SERVICES
Wed
8.8. TTHA
10:30 Gemeinsamer Gottesdienst
Sun
12.8. Ba
10:15
Service & SS
Sun
12.8. S.A.
Sun
26.8. Be
Sun
26.8. Sy
Sun
2.9. Ba
14:00 Service Tanunda
Service & SS
10:15
& Elders’ Meeting
10:30 Service & AGM
Fathers’ Day Service
10:15
& SS
Dr Hennig Imberger
Mark Herrmann
Herta Uhlherr
Harald & Christine
Ruff
FLOWER ROSTER
Ba
Be
12.8. Service 10:15am – Gerda Knaub, Monika Heron
26.8. Service 10:15am – Ingrid Edelmaier
OMA & OPA’S KITCHEN
There are still spaces available in Oma & Opa’s Kitchen commencing 12th
August (see page 29 in July Templer Record and page 13 in this issue).
If you are interested, please contact me very soon at 1annewied@gmail.com
Anne Wied
BENTLEIGH GERMAN SCHOOL WINTER CONCERT
Students and teachers of the Bentleigh Templer German School wish to
invite Templers and friends to our annual concert on Sunday 26th August
in the Temple Society Bentleigh Hall, 152 Tucker Road, commencing at
4:30pm.
You may join us for supper at its conclusion.
Marianne Herrmann, Coordinator
Page 36
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
CRAFTS
The Bayswater craft group continues to meet every three weeks in the
activities room in Tabulam. The next sessions will be Tuesday 7th and 28th
August from 10am till approximately 12:30pm. If you are planning to attend,
please let Helga Kuerschner know as soon as possible.
The Bentleigh group will meet at my home. The next session will be
Saturday 25th August from 2pm.
For more information, please email me at nanne@templesociety.org.au
Marianne Herrmann, for the Craft Groups
BREAKING THE SILENCE on spirituality in Australia
Thursday 16th August, 7 for 7:30 to 9:30pm
This is a lecture and conversation with David Tacey, a well-known author
on Spirituality in Australia; he lectures at LaTrobe University. There will also
be music by Cathy Connelly, Celtic harpist.
Is Spirituality in Australia destined to remain a marginal or
‘eccentric’ interest? In particular, the two major political and social
issues facing Australia today: the Aboriginal question, and the
ecological crisis, are both, at bottom, ‘spiritual’ issues to do with
the lack of care, love and empathy towards the other. Government
policy and technological advance will do nothing to heal these
crises. What is the immediate future for spirituality in Australia?
How can those of us on the edge speak to the mainstream?
This talk will focus on the work of Aboriginal leaders, Miriam-Rose
Ungunmerr and David Mowaljarlai, and their efforts to create a
universal, non-sectarian spiritual awareness in this country.
Venue: St George’s Centre Hall, 296 Glenferrie Road, Malvern.
Cost: Eremos members $15, non-members $20. Supper is provided.
Pay at the door.
For more information contact Rex Thompson at rex@ozonline.com.au
Bookings appreciated – you can use www.eremos.org.au
Eremos is an independent group exploring spirituality in Australia.
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 37
THE HERITAGE PAGES
SARONA’S NEW ERA – continued
The fourth major designated area in Sarona Gardens (SG) will be The
Green Area. This area in the southeast corner of SG will pay homage to the
rich agricultural heritage of the former Sarona settlement, ringed by fields of
produce, vegetable gardens, vineyards, citrus groves and fruit orchards. The
other designated areas in SG are mostly paved but the Green Area, living up
to its name, will be a protected green space, simulating the development of
Sarona’s extensive agriculture. The Green Area will be able to host a variety
of special events and activities.
The area is flanked on its east side by David Elazar Street (formerly
Christophstraße) and to the south by Mandler Street (formerly
Heinrichstraße) and buildings in the precinct include the Wilhelmine
Laemmle, Christian Pflugfelder and Helene Koeper (Günthner) houses, Willi
Günthner’s Café and the Pflugfelder oil press. Other nearby buildings include
Immanuel Knoll’s old house, the Knoll barn and the Johannes Laemmle
house.
A brief description of some of these buildings is as follows:
1. The Wilhelmine Laemmle house:* Wilhelmine’s house was built in
the 1870s. It originally
had
an
elongated
section at the back,
which was used for
agricultural purposes.
This part was later
demolished.
Wilhelmine owned several
citrus groves in the
Sarona area. She was
widowed at an early
age and later married
Christian
Friedrich
The Wilhelmine Laemmle house
Page 38
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
(Fritz) Laemmle, Mayor of Sarona, thus moving into the Laemmle family
home. Her house was rented out and never extended during later years.
The first radio in Sarona was assembled in this house by her tenant, Mr
Asenstorfer, in the 1920s. Excited community members gathered in front of
the house to hear music broadcast from Germany.
2. The Immanuel Knoll house* (formerly Johann Jakob Knoll family
house): The house,
built in 1873, is one
of the oldest in
Sarona. Immanuel
Knoll, born 1881,
grew up in the
moshav [agricultural settlement] and
went to Germany to
study teaching. He
served as a teacher
at Sarona from
early in the 20th
century. Eventually,
The old Immanuel Knoll house
the Immanuel Knoll
family built a new
house near the old family house. Immanuel and his wife Bertha were
amongst the small group of Templers who remained in Sarona after the
deportation and exchanges of internees when Sarona was turned into a
British military [internment] camp during World War ll.
3. Knoll’s Barn* [this is a misnomer, HG]: The Knoll family’s granary
stood here. The
granary was destroyed, and the
present building
was constructed in
its place. This is
the only structure
in Sarona which is
not a Templer
building, and it
was built by the
British during the
1940s.
The building that replaced Knoll’s barn
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 39
4. Johannes Laemmle House:* The Johannes Laemmle family was
amongst the founders
of Sarona. The house
was built in 1879 and
has the family’s name
and date inscribed in
the keystone of the
arch leading into the
house. Johannes was
a respected gardener
and landscape architect, who assisted
with the design of the
Auguste Victoria GarThe Johannes Laemmle house
dens in Jerusalem. He
married Pauline Kuebler but the couple had no children. The house was sold
to the Weiberle family, who added another floor and balcony. Before WW II
the Hasenpflug family lived on the ground floor.
After the State of Israel’s establishment, the Minister of Welfare’s office was
situated in the building.
* From Sarona–since 1871, published in Hebrew and compiled by Yossi
Goldberg et al; some family history for the Laemmle houses was contributed
by Dr Charlotte Laemmle.
Helmut Glenk
Old Sarona (spot the elongated little dark patch, upper left of centre)
Page 40
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
TATURA – WHERE DID YOU GET OFF?
Recently, whilst researching my next book, I became aware from reading
various publications that a number of different locations are mentioned
where the internees from Palestine left the train before being bussed to
Camp 3 on 25 August 1941.
There may have been two trains that brought the internees from Tocumwal
to where they left the train. Did both trains, arriving several hours apart, stop
at the same destination, or did one lot of internees get off at one location and
the other group at a different place?
1. In Exiled from the Holy Land there are several references to this:
(i) In the ‘Gohl account’ (p. 25) ‘…After lunch, the first train arrived at
Rushworth (Hammond Siding)…’
(ii) In the ‘Ruff account’ (p. 33) ‘…the journey continues on to Murchison
East where we get off…’
(iii) In the ‘Tietz account’ (p. 9) no specific location is stated except ‘…arrive
at camp after half an hour’s drive…’
2. In Joyce Hammond’s book Walls of Wire (p. 67), she writes
‘…the site for the Tatura group of camps was chosen because close by there
was a branch of the Shepparton railway line from Murchison East, on
which line both Hammond Siding and Waranga Station were used by
the pioneer Hammond family to send wood by rail to Melbourne when
operating their sawmills.’
‘Many thousands of German, Italian and Japanese POWs disembarked and
embarked from Hammond Siding during the war years.’ (Note: no
specific mention of civilian internees. HG)
3. In Lurline and Arthur Knee’s book Marched In –
(i) on page 23 they make reference to the Murchison East Railway Station as
being the supply and distribution centre to the various camps. ‘Prisoners
were off-loaded from trains either at Murchison East, Rushworth or at
Hammond’s Siding.’ (Note: no specific mention of civilian internees. HG)
(ii) on page 48 they quote from Helmut Ruff, 60 Years Templers in Australia
‘…the journey continues on to Rushworth where we have to get off and
board buses.’
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 41
4. In Paul Sauer’s book The Holy Land Called (p. 237) ‘…in the early
afternoon of 25 August, the train reached Rushworth. Buses awaited the
internees…’
From my own personal family records I was under the impression that the
internees got off the train at Rushworth.
Just where did the internees get off the train? Does anyone have any
personal recollections or details of the location? If so, I would be pleased if
they would let me know. I can be contacted at hglenk1@optusnet.com.au
Helmut Glenk
Heritages Pages edited by Peter Hornung
FOUR GENERATIONS together
Page 42
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
COMMUNITY LAWNMOWING ROSTERS
AUGUST / SEPTEMBER
BAYSWATER
BENTLEIGH
19th August
Herbert Neef
Dieter Roscher
16th September
Dieter Ruff
Harald Ruff
Bernie Weberruss
Roland Leschinski
Dieter Kazenwadel
8th September
Peter Ware
11th August
Keys to lawn mowers etc. can be Normal start time is 9:00am. Both
collected from Tony.
lawn mowers can be operated
without a catcher (the preferred
If working on Sunday, try to avoid method). If the grass is too long,
starting machinery before 10:00am then one of the mowers can have a
to comply with Noise Restrictions in catcher installed.
the City of Knox.
Lawnmowing should include the
Tony Beilharz Secret Garden area (at back of
Office). Please don’t put lawn
clippings in Secret Garden area
To arrange an alternate date or a (green waste bin is now available
swap, please contact your partner for lawn clippings).
and arrange the swap directly.
Peter Ware
Templer Record 752 – August 2012
Page 43
AUGUST 2012 CALENDAR OF EVENTS
New Moon
1 Wed
Full Moon
2 Thur
3 Fri
Telelink
RC Be 19:30
4 Sat
MoneyMinded Workshop Be 14:00
5 SUN
6 Mon
7 Tue
Craft Ba 10:00
8 Wed
Ecumenical Service TTHA 10:30
9 Thur
10 Fri
Sy Seniors 12:00
11 Sat
Bowling Youth Ba 19:00
12 SUN
Service + SS Ba 10:15; Service Tanunda 14:00
13 Mon
14 Tue
Ladies’ afternoon Be 12:00
15 Wed
16 Thur
Spirituality in Australia Malvern 19:30
17 Fri
Telelink; Women’s Retreat Phillip Island starts
18 Sat
19 SUN
Women’s Retreat ends
20 Mon
21 Tue
22 Wed
23 Thur
24 Fri
TG Friday Night Fun Spotlight Ba 19:30
25 Sat
27 Mon
Craft Be 14:00; Disco Ba from 17:30
Service + SS Be 10:15 + Elders’ Meeting; Service + AGM Sy 10:30;
German School Winter Concert Be 16:30
TTHA Mini Olympics 10:00
28 Tue
Craft Ba 10:00
26 SUN
29 Wed
30 Thur
31 Fri
Telelink
2
September
SUN
Fathers’ Day Service + SS Ba 10:15
RELIGIOUS ACTIVITIES
Religious Services, Sunday School
Presentation, Confirmation
Youth Instruction and Youth Services
Weddings, Funerals
Religious Discussions and Seminars
SOCIAL CARE
Care of sick, elderly and lonely
Tabulam & Templer Homes for the Aged (TTHA)
Community Care Worker
Telelink
SOCIAL ACTIVITIES
Ladies’ Groups, Community Youth Coordinator,
Kids’ Club, Children’s Playgroup, Babies’ and Toddlers’ Group,
Choir, Bowling and Tennis Clubs,
German Language Schools
CONTRIBUTIONS
The Templer Record’s principal aims are to promote
Templer Christian thinking and to further communication
and harmonious living amongst the members of the
Temple Society.
It is a community effort; contributions reflect personal
opinion and must be signed; they do not necessarily reflect
the opinion of the publishers. Copy must be with the editor
by the 18th of the month.
Items in the Templer Record now go on to the TSA’s
website. Contributors who do not wish their articles to
appear should state this when submitting copy. Photos
taken at a TSA event may be used in our publications,
including the website.