[Oe List ...] Memories of Ann DUffy

Wed Nov 22 17:00:29 PST 2023

Isobel, thank you for prompting me to send reflections to our OE Community, beyond what I sent privately to David Duffy, our sons’ crib mate when the three of them were infants in 1970-71 in Paddington, NSW.

Joe and I arrived in Sydney with six-month old infants, straight from the 1970 Hong Kong ITI.  We four lived in the former dining room of the “Old Manse”, with David and Betsy Morton and their two little ones living upstairs, and you and Jim and many others dwelling in the “New Manse” just beyond the Church.

Ann was always a pillar of strength and wisdom for me, as a young mother.  She had raised three children before David was born, and had all kinds of advice to share with me re: when to shift from formula to boiled milk to fresh milk, and from strained foods to junior foods, etc.

In January 1971 when our sons, Ben and Jon, and Ann and Robb’s son David were under a year old, their parents — Joe, Marilyn, Rob and Ann — were all assigned to staff the Summer Program in Perth, on the other side of the continent.  Jeanette Stanfield was named as our children’s very competent and beloved guardian.

Ann and I were assigned to design, staff and implement the Children’s Camp — just the two of us.  And we hopped on the bus that would carry us from Sydney to Perth, and began to recruit our staff.  Not having any idea of the theme, the songs, the curriculum, we recruited the best and brightest of those willing among the Spirit Movement in Australia at that time.  Among these were Julie Braithwaite, John Hutchinson, and other wonderful people whose names I cannot recall.  When we arrived we realized among our campers were children from Mowanjum, all of whom had dysentery.

Ann volunteered to work with the “littlees” as she called them. I and the rest of the staff were committed to working with the elementary/middle schoolers.  Our venue had a swimming pool, so the afternoon curriculum could be activities in the water.  Since I had taught school in Sydney for two semesters before taking on this summer camp project, I knew how seriously Australians take about swimming prowess.  The summer program was “magic.”

I could never have embraced my assignment to head up the Summer 1971 Perth Children’s Camp  without Ann Duffy as my partner.  I will love her wisdom, strength, and profound kindness forever.

Mari Crocker

> On Nov 22, 2023, at 12:05 AM, Isobel and Jim Bishop via OE <oe at lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
> 
>> Dear everyone, 
>>  
>> I would like to add a few lines about dearest Ann Duffy.
>>  
>> The Duffy, Oakley and Robins families were all part of the Ecumenical ministry team in Broken Hill. The Duffys were Presbyterian
>> ( like Jim and I )The Robins and Oakleys were Methodist. ( Later in 1977, we all become members of the new Uniting Church in Australia.  A long and complex story how our Church was formed…) 
>>  
>> Broken Hill is way out west in the State of  New South Wales.  It is 715 miles, or 1151km from  Sydney !  In those days it was primarily a mining  town. 
>>  
>> Don Clark and I taught the first RS1 there, as far as I remember…. It went well, others can add/correct, please.
>>  
>> Ann and Rob and their family were part of the first Sydney Religious House in Australia. This Religious House was actually the Paddington Manse, the Church house in which Jim and family lived . 
>>  
>> Ann was a primary School Teacher, and  yes, was an early ‘ Permeator’. Ann was also a person who always carefully weighed up the consequences and did not act without due consideration as to the effects of the decision she was making. I personally appreciated the way she challenged issues analytically. I remember most of all Ann’s  laugh, given as a sincere deep laugh, almost a  low chuckle.  
>>  
>> The early days were quite hard as we adjusted to missional family living. While the Duffys were living in this House, we invited some children from Mowanjum, a former Presbyterian Aboriginal Mission, to come and live with us.  These  children  and our own bunches all attended the local  Primary School where Ann taught some of them.  This required us to expand our living space, so we ended up with our children and some adults living in two Church houses on the same  block of  land. Steve Rhea may remember some of this, or Jeanette Stanfield.  ! 
>>  
>> Later, Ann and Rob were Area Priors of Area Edmonton before they moved to Chicago Centrum when Rob was assigned to the Panchayat. From there, they were assigned to Hong Kong where Ann and Rob worked across South East Asia before returning to the Sydney House. Eventually they returned to congregational ministry when Rob was appointed minister at Canowindra Uniting Church in western New South Wales. 
>>  
>> Grace and peace be yours,
>>  
>> Isobel 
>>  
>> Isobel and  Jim Bishop
>> isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au <mailto:isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au>
>> 
>> 
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> Isobel and  Jim Bishop
> isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au <mailto:isobeljimbish at optusnet.com.au>
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