[Dialogue] The Completed Life of John Telford

Mon Jul 25 23:29:52 PDT 2022

VALE JOHN TELFORD

Thank you Kevin and everyone else for your memories and tributes to John whom Janeen and I remember with great admiration and affection. We first met John when he came to Mowanjum in mid 1971. He came from Bordertown (South Australia) as a professional agricultural advisor on behalf of W.D. Scott and Co, a respected Management Consultant firm. His visit came at a time when the Mowanjum Community Reformulation program needed to gain some credibility regarding its nascent economic enterprises. John’s valuable report and his practical advice to our endeavours was greatly appreciated as it could be used as “evidence” that what was being proposed was viable. His employers of course had no idea that John (and Elaine) had been energised as recent RS-1 grads. John came at a time when things were really going well and we believe that his experience of meeting significant First Nations leaders such as David Mowaljarlai and being briefly part of the corporate life of the Order played a part in leading him with Elaine to become part of the movement’s life and mission and to their life-long commitment in support of First Nations’ people.

 Then in 1994 I (Jonathan) found myself in close collaboration with John when we were part of the nation-wide team contracted to promote the aims of the Council for Aboriginal Reconciliation an initiative of the Australian Government at the time. John and Elaine were co-coordinators (with an Indigenous colleague) for New South Wales as I was with Kingsley A-Hang for South Australia. I was not at all surprised to discover at the first national planning meeting held in Canberra that John and Elaine were to be engaged in this historic venture. John had a marvellous way of working sensitively and collegially with First Nations’ people, a tribute to his quiet strength, hopeful outlook and down-to-earth emphasis.

 Over the years whenever we visited Sydney and attended the Pitt Street Uniting Church, we were always glad to briefly catch up with John and Elaine and hear of their ongoing commitment in support of First Nations’ people. We pay a heartfelt tribute to John at this time of his completed journey and recognise the great loss that Elaine and the family will deeply feel. We give thanks for all the ways John touched our lives and the incalculable ripples of grace his life has made with so many both near and far.

 Jonathan and Janeen Barker

> On 25 Jul 2022, at 2:31 pm, Kevin Balm via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
> 
> Dear Colleagues 
> If you can't make it to John Telford's memorial service on Thursday, you can attend via Zoom. Here are the details.
>  
> Pitt St Uniting Church is inviting you to a scheduled Zoom meeting.
> Topic: John Telford's Funeral
> Time: Jul 28, 2022 10:30 AM Canberra, Melbourne, Sydney
> 
>  
> Join Zoom Meeting
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85225268426?pwd=YkZkNkhOajhTTndEVlBNVVFmczgxQT09 <https://us02web.zoom.us/j/85225268426?pwd=YkZkNkhOajhTTndEVlBNVVFmczgxQT09>
> Meeting ID: 852 2526 8426
> Passcode: 554183
> 
> You can write to Elaine at her new address
> Her address is: Unit 609, 1 Dalmar Place, Carlingford NSW 2118 <https://www.google.com/maps/search/1+Dalmar+Place,+Carlingford+NSW+2118?entry=gmail&source=g>.
>  
> There is also a Facebook event called "John Telford's End of Life Celebration", and we invite you to share anecdotes and stories about John on that page so they can be shared some at the funeral. Link to FB page: https://facebook.com/events/s/john-telfords-end-of-life-cele/1224415838306591/ <https://facebook.com/events/s/john-telfords-end-of-life-cele/1224415838306591/>
>  
> Sent by Amanda Telford amandatelford at tpg.com.au <mailto:amandatelford at tpg.com.au>, John and Elaine's daughter
>  
>  
> From: Dialogue <dialogue-bounces at lists.wedgeblade.net> On Behalf Of Mari Crocker via Dialogue
> Sent: Saturday, 23 July 2022 10:53 AM
> To: Colleague Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>
> Cc: Mari Crocker <maricrocker at gmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [Dialogue] The Completed Life of John Telford
>  
> Dearest colleagues, especially those in Australia,
>  
> I send deep condolences to Elaine and the Telford progeny, from the Crockers in Maine, USA upon learning of John’s completed life.
>  
> I know Joe spent precious time with John, unbeknownst to me, as I was either working as a teacher in Sydney, or caring for my infant twins when we were in Australia.
>  
> But I know John — and Elaine --Telford are/were outstanding examples of what we, as the Order, expected and hoped we all might be: Those Who Care Unconditionally.
>  
> Grace, peace and love,  Marilyn and Joe Crocker
>  
>  
> 
> 
>> On Jul 22, 2022, at 7:41 PM, Wendell Refior via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>>  
>> Colleagues -
>>     I too celebrate the life of John Telford.  It was a great honor and pleasure to live and work with John and Elaine Telford in the Adelaide House.  John (and Elaine) were so solid, so grounded, and so courageous that I was often awe struck by their presence and personal power.  It seemed they could carry a great many people on their shoulders.
>>     I trust their good works will reverberate across time and space beyond my comprehension.
>>     Grace and Peace, Dear John and dear Elaine.
>> Wendell 
>>  
>> On Fri, Jul 22, 2022 at 7:15 PM Jo Nelson via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>>> John and Elaine carefully set up the transition when we replaced them in Murrin Bridge in 1981. They had done an extraordinary job catalyzing self-reliance in Murrin Bridge and had thought through all the roles we would need to play. In about 10 days they gave us a thorough history of all of ICA’s work with Aboriginal people, successes and hard learnings, and introduced us as good people to both Murrin Bridge people and the white Australian community. Ever since I have felt that they were the salt of the earth. Their passion for Aboriginal peoples’ wisdom and inclusion never wavered. When they visited us in Toronto in 2017, they brought me a rare book about Ngiyampaa people recovering their heritage.
>>>  
>>> John, along with Elaine, was a true social pioneer that catalyzed lasting change. 
>>>  
>>> I celebrate his life with deep gratitude. 
>>> 
>>> From the mobile desk of
>>> Jo Nelson 
>>>  
>>>  
>>>  
>>> 
>>> 
>>>> On Jul 22, 2022, at 6:45 PM, Sarah H. Buss via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>>>> 
>>>> May we pause to be grateful for a life lived with such exemplary service. Peace and comfort,
>>>> Sarah 
>>>> 
>>>> Sent from my iPhone
>>>> 
>>>> 
>>>>> On Jul 22, 2022, at 5:11 PM, Kevin Balm via Dialogue <dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net <mailto:dialogue at lists.wedgeblade.net>> wrote:
>>>>> 
>>>>> 
>>>>> Dear OE/ICA Colleagues
>>>>> I have the sad task of informing you of the passing of John Telford, Wednesday night Australian time. John (and Elaine) was an early member of OE/ICA in Australia and served in many ‘assignments’ in Australia and overseas since the late 60’s. Around the transition from assigned life John worked with CARE Australia in the middle-east and upon return to Australia, with Community Aid Abroad. It was around this time that I began my close association with John and Elaine. I had the honour of working with John delivering ToP facilitation training for Agriculture advisors (a role John played in an early part of his career) as well as working in Timor Leste in its post-independence years.  John and Elaine were integral members of Australia’s reconciliation movement serving on state and national task groups as well as helping develop some pioneering support materials. John remained an active member of the ICA, especially here in Australia throughout his time. For me, John most represented the power of followership in a world that overly glorifies leadership. He supported, drove and nudged into being many initiatives from the side lines.
>>>>>  
>>>>> Our deepest sympathies to Elaine and Michelle, Kathy and Amanda and their families at this time.
>>>>>  
>>>>> Kevin Balm
>>>>> _______________________________________________
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>> 
>>  
>> -- 
>> Sincerely yours. 
>> "We must be lovers." "..the sentiment of love. This is the one remedy for all ills, the panacea of nature." - Emerson in lecture, "Man, The Reformer" (1841)
>> Wendell
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