It's with a mixture of sorrow and gratitude that we celebrate the completed life of our colleague, Rob Duffy. His was a presence that stayed true to the mission in some of the most extraordinary circumstances. I once had the honor of traveling with him on a tour of Southeast Asia Human Development Projects, and these were some reflections from that trip: *24 April 1979* This is being written in the village development project of Bontoa, South Sulawesi, Indonesia. We’re in the meeting room, which is a shelter in a field in the center of the village. We are in a driving rainstorm, with fifty to one hundred kids running around playing soccer outside and twenty or so more milling around and chattering inside the shelter; mostly girls inside, mostly boys outside. A mangy dog, ants, and mosquitoes also populate the dirt-floored, slat-sided, thatch-roofed structure. Rob's talk is going on in sentence-by-sentence translation. And somehow it all feels perfectly normal. At least one fourth of the little boys are stark naked. Most of the young women – who are village leaders – wear heavy coats of rice powder on their faces giving what to Western eyes is a ghastly pallor to otherwise attractive features. It's not the look of a prehistoric culture – the dress and the eyes (bright, lucid, and alert) deny that. It's just other. The rain is pelting now, and it sounds like a tin roof. Rob is yelling at the top of his voice and is barely audible. If it weren't for the fact that all ten of us around the table are furiously taking notes and the fact that Rob is profoundly serious in dealing with the project issues, you'd say that this is an impossible situation in which to conduct business. But it's not. It's just other. Rob's presence made it clear that Otherness is no enemy. Our thoughts and prayers are with Ann and the family. John & Ann Epps On Mon, May 16, 2016 at 8:56 AM, Sherwood Shankland via Dialogue < dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net> wrote:
Journey on Rob Duffy Journey on!
Blessings all around, Sherwood and Eunice Shankland
*From:* OE [mailto:oe-bounces@lists.wedgeblade.net] *On Behalf Of *John & Robyn Hutchinson via OE *Sent:* Monday, May 16, 2016 3:40 AM *To:* 'OE List' <oe@lists.wedgeblade.net>; Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net *Subject:* [Oe List ...] celebrating the completed life of Rob Duffy *Importance:* High
Please note correct subject line. Thanks Robyn
*From:* John & Robyn Hutchinson [mailto:rjhutchinson@optusnet.com.au <rjhutchinson@optusnet.com.au>] *Sent:* Monday, 16 May 2016 5:51 PM *To:* 'Karen Newkirk'; 'richard & Maria Maguire'; 'the telfords'; 'OE List'; 'Dialogue@lists.wedgeblade.net' *Cc:* 'elisabeth.a.banks@gmail.com'; 'frennieb@yahoo.com.au'; ' johnboully@hotmail.com'; 'Frank Bremner'; 'hbryant@csu.edu.au'; 'John John Burbidge'; 'burdynski@gmail.com'; 'mark.butz@bigpond.com'; ' benvon@dodo.com.au'; 'susanmarycole@bigpond.com'; ' sabinadouglashill@gmail.com'; 'margendicott@iprimus.com.au'; ' sfjw@iprimus.com.au'; 'rtsjkrdk@yahoo.com.au'; 'lucy@claypartners.com'; ' chrishorsfall@bigpond.com'; 'lhotchin@ncable.net.au'; ' jhamazing9@gmail.com'; 'edithhurt@intl-link.com'; 'sinar14@bigpond.com'; ' charles@cejago.com'; 'David Jago'; 'gjkeating@bigpond.com'; ' mvkenny@optusnet.com.au'; 'mellfamily@bigpond.com'; ' jjmcontact@optusnet.com.au'; 'Margaret and Barry Oakley'; 'Katrin Ogilvy'; 'madelynomj@gmail.com'; 'rgr@iinet.net.au'; 'Helen Ritchie'; ' bgrobins31@gmail.com'; 'rush.m@xtra.co.nz'; 'tom.schwarz@kinnogene.com.au'; 'krishna.shrestha@unsw.edu.au'; 'southonh9@gmail.com'; ' sandra_jean_44@hotmail.com'; 'Jeanette Stanfield'; ' a.thomson35@bigpond.com'; 'rillawitt@optusnet.com.au' *Subject:* RE: ICA Australia AGM Agenda
Dear colleagues,
It is with great sadness that we let you know of the passing of our dear long term colleague, Rob Duffy.
Rob had been ill for some time. We celebrate Rob’s wonderfully completed life, lived on behalf of others in true pioneering style.
Our prayers are with Ann and the family.
We have spoken with Linda, the Duffy’s daughter. She has shared her mobile if you would like to contact the Duffy family. Mob. 0441 535 228
Please forward this note on to others who might not receive this otherwise.
Grace and Peace. John and Robyn Hutchinson
*From:* SEC Email Address Mailbox [mailto:sec@nswact.uca.org.au <sec@nswact.uca.org.au>] *Sent:* Monday, 16 May 2016 10:47 AM *Subject:* Pastoral Note - Rev. Robert Duffy
[image: cid:image001.png@01CFD18F.114EF730]
Dear All
I regret to advise you that Rev. Robert (Rob) Duffy passed away on Tuesday 10th May. The funeral will be held at Bay and Basin Uniting Church (St Georges Basin) on Wed 25th May at 10 am. Rob is survived by his wife Ann.
Please keep the family in your prayers.
Kindest regards
*Jennifer Jacobs | Administrative Assistant | Secretariat*
*The Uniting Church in Australia, Synod of NSW and the ACT *
Level 9, 222 Pitt Street, Sydney NSW 2000
*t * 02 8267 4329 | *f* 02 9261 4359
*e* JenniferJ@nswact.uca.org.au
www.nswact.uca.org.au
[image: uc logo]
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