Diakonia UCA

Around my patch (half a million square km), many questions are asked and talked about when I visit. Often high on the agenda is the environment, as well as political and other concerns about where people live and the impact these issues have on their lives.
It’s difficult for station people to see their cattle dying simply because there is not enough feed to fatten them for market; for example, several weeks ago, I was told of a station north of Meeka who are having to destock because the cattle are so thin and they can’t afford to muster and, in turn, take them to market.
Other issues that confront many station people are the impact the mining boom has on them – for some, the mining is a much-needed income, while others fear the invation on their land – and the environment; particularly in the area around Wiluna with uranium mining.
The September long-weekend is the Meeka Festival, which runs for four days. This year is the 100th year of the Shire Council in Meeka, therefore, Meeka will be ‘hopping’ from Friday evening with fireworks, street parade and horse races on Saturday, rodeo and 100th Ball on Sunday evening and finally races again on Monday – all visitors are very welcome.
The Murchison has been particularly busy this year with many changes in staff in areas of policing, hospital and education. Other happenings include several deaths of people who were considered to be Elders in the community, averaging one death a fortnight since February and a suicide in Mt Magnet only last week. As the community grieves these losses my workload increases; pastoral care is paramount in my role as patrol minister.
On the positive side, there have been several weddings; one in ‘our’ Meeka Church – the first wedding in the church in almost five years.
Generally I visit stations on patrol in three-day stints, and I’m constantly surprised by the people I meet who often share with me some of their deepest and very personal issues; time of sadness and joy. I ask myself in all of this adversity and diversity how they continue to just ‘keep-on-keeping-on’. Often alone and isolated, I’m welcomed with amazing hospitality, and sometimes I’m able to offer to pray or we just sit in silence for a moment and then I drive away, pondering and reflecting on Jesus’ Easter journey through to Pentecost and what that means for me as their patrol minister, who may not see them for another year.
Our church accommodation in Meeka, the Lowan Centre, is generally pretty busy. Over Easter we entertained 30 youth from Mowanjam Community (near Derby), who were travelling to Perth for the school holidays, sponsored by the Floreat Uniting Church.
Finally, the Mt magnet Uniting Church has been placed on the market and we have transported many of the church fittings to Meekatharra. A tribute to all those faithful parishioners, who have worked hard to furnish their church and give thanks that the church lives on in the Murchison.
I continue to feel positive about the work in the Murchison and feel blessed to be able to work with and among such interesting people. I feel in this our third year that we are just becoming part of the region; my nick-name is ‘the lady bishop’. That for me simply means they now understand that ‘Lesley’ is no longer male but a female working for Frontier Services – mind you it’s taken some time!
Being involved with the wider community for me means connecting with the ‘other’; hence my interaction with St John’s Ambulance as an abulance officer, committee member of the Telecentre, along with a variety of other community programs and inter-agency meetings. So essentially, my day is no different from that of my colleagues who work in the city, just a little more distance between cuppas.
Sourced from WA Synod website.

Lesley moving a lecturn on the back of a ute