Visiting a vast ministry in the Kimberley

Published on Thursday, 13 October 2011

A week in the Kimberley gave Sister Suzette Clark, CRA’s Justice Coordinator, a deeper understanding of the importance of relationships in ministry, and the vastness of our country.

The purpose of the visit was to observe the work of Sister Alma Cabassi rsj, the diocesan family support worker for the Broome Diocese in Western Australia. Sister Suzette rsc is a member of the Reference Group for this new diocesan project.

Sister Alma is based in Kununurra in the north-east of the Diocese, but her ministry involves travelling throughout the vast north area of the Kimberley.

With Sister Alma as her guide, over the seven days Sister Suzette visited Kununurra, Halls Creek, Balgo, Mulan, Billiluna, Broome, Derby and Warmun.

“I was amazed by the distances between places,” says Suzette. “I was also struck by the harshness of the land but also its beauty.”

The long hours spent in the car with Sister Alma and with Bishop Chris Saunders was an opportunity to reflect with both these people on their ministry.

“As Religious we are really on about relationships with people and through those relationships the trust develops; we are able to walk with one another and both support one another and learn from one another,” says Suzette.

“I saw this with Alma through her ministry and how easily she relates with the people. She was a principal for many years so everyone knows her. I also saw this with Bishop Christopher and his passion for justice for asylum seekers and Aboriginal people.  At the detention centre at Curtin, the men knew him and trusted him and were ready to talk honestly with him.”

Suzette met with the other Sisters of St Joseph, living and working in communities in the region.  In Kununurra, Sister Christine O’Connor provides tutoring, catechetics and spiritual direction in the local community, and Sister Anne Porter works in student well-being at St Joseph’s Primary School.

At the Luurnpa Catholic School in Balgo (Wirrimanu) Sister Nola Goodwin rsj does Reading Recovery with the students in the morning and works with the Aboriginal Teaching Assistants in the afternoon. In Warnum Suzette met with Sister Theresa Morellini,  who runs drug and alcohol programs, and Sister Mary MacDonal, who works at the Ngalangangpum Catholic School.

“The commitment of the Josephites in the Kimberley – to the people with whom they work and their support of one another is inspiring,” says Suzette.

“I was also inspired by the work of a number of other Religious.  In Balgo, Sister Alice Dempsey, a St John of God Sister coordinates the Adult Education Centre. The day I visited, Loreto Sister Susan Daily ibvm was working with some of the local women producing beautifully painted scarves and wall hangings.”

Visiting Luurnpa Catholic School, Suzette met De La Salle Brothers Principal Rick Gaffney fsc and Br Michael (Bursar), and three volunteers from the Lasallian Youth Ministry, on a gap year.

“It was a great week,” says Suzette.  “I have come back to Sydney, hopefully, with a better understanding of both the blessings and the challenges of life in remote areas of Australia, and gratitude and admiration for the people who live there.”

A few stats and facts about the Kimberley and the Broome Diocese

Diocese of Broome is 773,000 sq kms with a population of approximately 33,500.

Wyndham – small outstation community, pop:  800
Kalumburu  - 450 population
Gibb River - 40 population
Kununurra – several communities 7,000
Warmun – two smaller communities 450
Halls Creek - 3,000
Ringers Soak (Remote) - 200 population
Billiluna - 200 population
Balgo  - 450 population
Mulan -  130 population

Distances in the Kimberley

Kununurra to Wyndham - 100kms – 1hr 10ms
Kununurra to Gibb River - unsealed road - 5hrs
Kununurra to Warmun - 200kms 2hrs 10ms
Warmun to Halls Creek - 160kms 1hr 45ms
Halls Creek to Ringers Soak - 170kms  Unsealed Road 3.5 hrs
Halls Creek to Billiluna - 160kms  Unsealed road  2hrs
Halls Creek to Balgo - 270kms  Unsealed road

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