Years of research culminates this July in Cook Islands
Wendy Rowan was a teacher for more than 40 years and the daughter of Owen and Glenys Blake, Methodist ministers who lived in Cobram from 1963 to 1968.
With two uncles involved in Pacific Island missions in Fiji and the Philippines it undoubtedly provided the impetus to learn more about the early history of the Pacific’s missionaries.
Ten years ago Wendy made her first visit to the Cook Islands and when visiting Takamoa Theological College in Avarua, Rarotonga a memorial stone engraved with the names of 150 people piqued her interest and she decided to discover the story behind each one.
A big task which was to take almost 10 years to complete and which Included visits to the National Library, following leads in Vanuatu, alongside searching through the archives in England, the Australian National Library and the Journal of Pacific History.
The resulting books researched and collated by Wendy, assisted by Rev Robert Evans (dec), are the stories of early missionaries, native people, the work undertaken by the missionaries to teach natives about Christianity, teaching them skills to build homes, addressing hunger with the introduction of new foods and healing sickness and at times combatting horrendous tribal brutality.
In her role as a teacher and humanitarian, Wendy’s first trip overseas was to Mozambique, East Africa with her church group at the age of 30 where she was to experience life in a refugee camp.
“When you are in a refugee camp you will never forget it!” Wendy recalled.
She was to return once more during the 1990s during the horrific years suffered by the war-torn country.
Wendy visited Johannesburg, South Africa where she took music courses and later to Kenya where she worked with orphans who were unable to attend school, an initiative of Goulburn Valley Christian Fellowship, buying soccer balls and equipment for the children who had little or nothing to play with.
Self-funded each July, Wendy left for foreign shores and destinations where she felt the need was greatest and she could help in some small way, including India; again a totally different degree of issues for people in outlying areas.
A devoted Christian, Wendy and her husband Greg, a retired dairy farmer, will attend Takamoa Theological College (Bible college) in Avarua on the island of Rarotonga on July 26 to present copies of the books and will proudly give a short speech during a special bicentenary celebration.
The books are Cook Islander Missionaries in British New Guinea 1872-1915 and Takamoa Bi-Centenary Book, 1821-2021, Avarua, Cook Islands.
If you would like copies of these fascinating books on the Cook Islands, please contact Wendy on 0473 836 991.
Footnote: Wendy’s parents live in Rochester today after many moves to parishes throughout Victoria. Owen is 94 years old and Glenys aged 88, and the couple is doing remarkably well.
Anonymous sisters keep giving
It appears the ‘anonymous sisters’ are at it yet again, knitting 50 woollen scarves which have been passed on to newcomers from the Solomon Islands to cope with a change in climate when arriving to work in the Cobram district.
With wool available through the Cobram Community House the scarves have been passed on via the network of district churches. Beanies too are in demand as winter looms on the horizon, particularly by those who have travelled from warmer climates and now need to adjust to the Australian conditions. Currently temperatures back home in the Solomon Islands are in the vicinity of 27-32° C. It is the dry season and relatively hot and humid.
A further intake of approximately 60 Solomon Islanders will arrive soon, so if you love to knit and wish to help, go along to Cobram Community House, pick some up bags of wool and create some stylish knitwear to help our new friends stay warm. They will be extremely grateful.
Julia selected for Australian rural leadership program
Dr Julia Cornwell McKean has been selected to participate in the 2023-24 Australian Rural Leadership Program together with some of the country’s finest professional movers and shakers.
One of 25 participants selected from around Australia, Dr Cornwell has been sponsored for the program by the Australian Government Department of Health and Aged Care.
Through her private business T One P Enterprises Pty Ltd, Dr Cornwell offers professional advisory services and training to government organisations, not-for-profits and universities, while juggling a variety of board and committee commitments, including that of a Berrigan Shire councillor.
It is an honour for the Barooga local to be recognised among such prestigious company from health, education, agricultural industries and organisations throughout Australia. And yet with her background, it should not come as any surprise.
Congratulations Julia!
WORDS OF WISDOM
“Those who wonder if the glass is half full or half empty miss the point! The glass is re-fillable.”
“Life is not an exact science, it’s an art.”
“Do what is right, not what is easy.”
“If you love life, life will love you back.”
“Do something today that your future self will thank you for.”
“Dream big and dare to fail.”