The Centre for Ethics Newsletter

Volume 85 - Term 2, 2017

ENCOMM Older people with interesting stories Agelink Theatre As participants in the Environment and The residents at Riversea certainly enjoy Agelink’s Managing Director is Jenny Davis Community (ENCOMM) program at Christ seeing the boys each week and the who founded the company in 1993. Church, our Year 10 boys are involved in a students gain much from their contact Agelink Theatre’s aims include affirming wide variety of service learning activity. with the older people, almost all of whom the value of seniors. This means Some assist with wetland restoration. have dementia. As Pele Reeve points out, acknowledging their wisdom, experience, Others help out at Food Rescue. As well, the conversations our students have body of knowledge and their contribution students visit several aged-care centres with these men and women allow the to society. Agelink also seeks to bring in the local area. One of the centres we boys to discover that the residents have together the various generations so that visit on Friday afternoons is Riversea in interesting backgrounds and experiences the stories of older men and women may Mosman Park. to share. Hearing their stories provides enrich the young. As a theatre company, an invaluable lesson, especially in the they produce main stage and touring Intergenerational activities light of the considerable stigma attached productions which inspire, entertain and These days, more and more organisations to dementia. It is too easy to discount inform. which provide support for dementia the possibility and importance of social patients, including those with adult day interaction for those who have this Elevating mood programs, have implemented formal condition. Another of their aims is to engage with intergenerational activities. The results communities through an imaginative have been very positive. The isolation of dementia process aimed at elevating mood, Many people with dementia face an combatting depression, passing on new Pele Reeve unnecessary isolation which leads to skills and increasing mental alertness. We have been delighted to work with Pele loneliness and boredom. A partnership They produce shows based on seniors’ Reeve, the Facility Manager at Riversea. between Bethanie, Curtin Care and memories which are retrieved in interviews Pele says that “Riversea has changed Agelink Theatre, has resulted in a creative and reminiscence workshops. These significantly over the last five years collaboration which provides a way of shows are filled with stories, music, to reflect the changing needs of our countering this through the use of theatre song and laughter; shows that travel into population. What was traditionally a low and music. A recent example combining the community and can be performed care hostel, is now a specialised high care these has been a public performance anywhere including libraries, schools, dementia specific facility. The expectation entitled Some Enchanted Evening. senior centres, even in the corner of a of the students who visit to spend time Residents from Riversea participated room. These performances are aimed at with our residents has changed. The alongside professional actors and mainstream audiences and they pay tribute students have risen to the challenge and musicians to produce a lively and very to the human spirit. represent CCGS in a way that should make enthusiastically received performance the School and their families very proud. which delighted those on stage as well as Reminiscence Box When they visit us, they have the privilege their families. In preparation of specialised interactive of spending time with our residents who and musical performances for audiences have lived rich and full lives and have Magic Moments with dementia, Agelink travel to much to share. We teach the students We are pleased that the next of these residential or day care facilities with their the value of engaging and connecting shows will be held in our School Chapel ‘Reminiscence Box’ so as to stimulate with people, regardless of their diagnosis, and that a number of Year 10 students memories and conversation. The box background or the reality in which they live will not only assist with the production contains nostalgic objects related to the in during any moment. This may be through but join in the performance alongside the five senses: fabrics such as fur, velvet conversations, shared experiences men and women they have come to know and kid leather; smells such as floor polish, such as music or looking at pictures, or at Riversea. The show will be called Magic 4711, perfume, rosemary and lavender. activities such as games and art.” Moments and once more, Agelink Theatre will be involved.

This newsletter is produced by the Centre for Ethics at Christ Church Grammar School. It is a quarterly publication informing the community of forthcoming speakers and events. The Centre for Ethics Newsletter

“When they visit us, they “Dementia care is a challenging have the privilege of concept as people often spending time with our have pre-conceived ideas residents who have lived rich about dementia and how and full lives and have much this restricts those with the to share.” condition from being part of amazing experiences.”

Songs evoking memories Vice-Patron of the Midnite Youth Theatre Good news stories In creating the production Some enchanted Company and a friend and mentor to many The work of Jenny Davis and Agelink afternoon, Jenny Davis has performers who have participated in its productions Theatre is a good news story. Further working from skeleton scripts. Songs from over the years, including Tim Minchin who good news is that the percentage of older musicals are played and then sung. My Fair says that Miss Honey in Matilda is based US adults with dementia declined from Lady, The Sound of Music and Oklahoma on Jenny. There is a fabulous photograph 11.6 percent in 2000 to 8.8 percent in are favourites. Jenny then interviewed of Tim, his wife Sarah and his parents 2012. But for individuals and their families the performers, asking them to recall along with Jenny who was his guest at the dealing with it, Agelink provides the sort memories which arise from hearing and opening of the show on the West End. of response which reminds us that every singing these songs. At weekly rehearsals person counts. that lead up to the production, Jenny 2016 Juniper Champion for Seniors elicited past stories from most of the In November 2016, Jenny Davis was The next generation participants, incorporating them into the named as the ‘Juniper Champion for As Pele Reeves points out, “Dementia show and usually connecting the memories Seniors’ at the WA Seniors Awards. It was care is a challenging concept as people to the words of one of the songs. For a tribute to her years of service in seeking often have pre-conceived ideas about example, if there is a memory about rain, to improve the wellbeing of older people dementia and how this restricts those with the group might join in Singing in the Rain. throughout the community. In presenting the condition from being part of amazing There is a creative process that has its the award, Juniper Chief Executive Vaughan experiences. This simply isn’t true, and own energy. Harding noted that “Since 1993, Jenny through partnerships like ours with CCGS, has brought entertaining and emotionally we can educate the next generation, and Jenny Davis OAM moving works to the community and in hopefully inspire young people to want Jenny Davis OAM is a much loved and doing so has helped enrich the lives of all to make a difference in this critical field highly respected figure within the Perth involved.” He spoke of Jenny “brightening in the future. At the very least they will theatrical community. She writes and the lives of people across the State”. be knowledgeable and compassionate, directs many shows for Agelink. One and be able to relate to those with production, Here to Stay, was constructed WA Women’s Hall of Fame 2017 dementia, which is incredibly valuable in our out of interviews with senior migrants who It was hardly a surprise that on communities.” had lived in camps for displaced persons in International Women’s Day in March this Europe after World War II. Dear Heart was year Jenny was inducted into the WA written in 1995 for the 50th anniversary Women’s Hall of Fame. Jenny saw it as of the end of World War II. This was based an affirmation of the place of the arts in on her aunt’s letters to her P.O.W husband our society. She also noted that women and on interviews with survivors from face particular challenges entering Japanese prisoner of war camps. She was various artistic fields and then receiving commissioned in 1998 to write Dear Heart recognition. as a novel, published by Allen and Unwin. Year 10 classes Vice-Patron of Midnite Apart from holding this next production of In 2001, Jenny received a Centenary Medal Agelink Theatre in the chapel, we will have Frank Sheehan for services to West Australian theatre. Jenny Davis speaking to some of our Year School Chaplain Apart from writing plays, she both acts and 10 classes about the work of the company Director of the Centre for Ethics directs for the Perth Theatre Company and and the ways in which new patterns of Frank Sheehan relationship between different generations was for many years director of the West School Chaplain Australian Youth Theatre. For 10 years may be imagined, experienced and enjoyed Director of the Centre for Ethics Jenny was a writer for ABC Radio. She is a to the benefit of all. The Centre for Ethics Newsletter

Facilitating Creative Spaces

Zainab Syed

Zainab Syed graduated from Brown University in May 2014 with a degree in Political Science. She is a Spoken Word Artist and Educator and finalist for the Australian National Poetry Slam. A Vision for the Future Zainab, originally from Pakistan, has performed and taught workshops at Richard O’Halloran venues in the US as well as in the UK, Europe, South Asia and Australia. Her Richard O’Halloran, Christ Church old for Western Australia’s ongoing ambition poetry focuses on the Middle East and boy and winner of the 2017 Rhodes to provide affordable and innovative South Asia, with attention paid to issues of Scholarship, will take his passion treatment for all.” inequality, violence and cultural disparity. for affordable healthcare to Oxford Zainab was working in Peshawar with the University where he will study a MSc in Mr O’Halloran said he was extremely excited Ministry of Change to coordinate the Global Health Sciences and a Masters in to receive the scholarship and enticed by trauma counselling, training, art therapy and Public Policy on a two-year scholarship. the challenges ahead. media awareness efforts in the aftermath of the army public school shooting at the Mr O’Halloran, 24, of Shenton Park “I’m just really excited, it’s an amazing beginning of the year. completed a Bachelor of Medical Science opportunity to be able to go to a leading with First Class Honours and will complete medical research institution. It’s a little bit Zainab currently lives between Lahore, a Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of surreal at this stage it’s still sinking in” he Pakistan and Perth, Australia and has Surgery, and a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in said. known home in many other places including Economics. Providence, Sana’a, London, Llantwit Major, “The world is a rapidly changing place so I’m Bucharest, Lahore, and Islamabad. He joins a distinguished group of UWA going to get a toolkit so I can come back Rhodes Scholars, including former Prime and use that. I see my role in improving the Zainab will speak to students Minister Bob Hawke, former WA Premier way we provide healthcare and the systems on Monday 1 May. Geoff Gallop, the late David Malcolm, in place in Western Australia.” former WA Chief Justice and Australian business leader Sir Rod Eddington. Mr O’Halloran spent a year in Kununurra with the Rural Clinical School, spending Professor Dawn Freshwater, Senior Deputy time in some of the State’s most isolated Vice-Chancellor said she was delighted communities including Warmun and Mr O’Halloran had received UWA’s 102nd Kalumburu. Rhodes Scholarship in 103 years. Richard will speak to the community “Mr O’Halloran’s selection to study at on Thursday 22 June. Oxford recognises an extraordinary level of ambition and achievement. His area of interest in rural healthcare will be beneficial The Centre for Ethics Newsletter

Worthwhile Stories A Stitch in Time

Jakub Dammer Greg Hire

Jakub Dammer is a spoken word poet Being injured hasn’t stopped tireless Greg says, “Knowing I was able to change from Perth who entered the first local Wildcats forward Greg Hire from working the outlook of a person’s life to a positive ‘Poetry Slam’ back in 2010. hard off the court. The Perth vice- one is something I cannot comprehend. captain launched his charity project ‘A Mental health issues surrounding young Since then he has performed both Stitch In Time’ which will raise money for people are a huge concern in our society. nationally, at the Australian Slam Final in youth suicide prevention charity Youth Every week, young people take their own Sydney and internationally. He is largely Focus. lives because it is a more preferable option influenced by his love of hip hop and than living with the pain and despair of poor always attempts to demonstrate the Through website stitchintime.org.au, the mental health. It only takes one person to power of a few cleverly placed words. public can bid on game-worn items such as have an impact and change their lives, and I signed Wildcats sneakers and other rare want to be that person.” Jakub will be speaking to students sporting memorabilia. Hire, who won a Pride between 8 to 11 May and on of Australia medal earlier this year after Greg will speak to students on Tuesday 20 June. saving at least two young lives through his Monday 15 May. charity work, said the cause of helping at- risk children was close to his heart.

Bindaring Red Cross Clothing Sale

Australian Red Cross

The Bindaring unit of the Australian All proceeds go to vital Red Cross Red Cross is holding their 54th annual community service programs. Bindaring Red Cross Clothing Sale at the Claremont Showgrounds. For enquiries please contact Teresa Scott on 9442 1705. Help us help vulnerable people within our community by clearing your wardrobe of The Bindaring Red Cross Clothing unworn and unwanted items. Declutter Sale will be held at the Claremont and recycle any clean, quality or unused Showgrounds on Saturday 20 May. clothing and accessories suitable for their vintage, jumble and boutique sale.

Clothing collection boxes will be made available in the Uniform Shop, Main Reception and Prep School Reception between 8 to 12 May. The Centre for Ethics Newsletter

alongside his fellow monastics. Later he would be instrumental in assisting with the establishment of Dhammaloka Buddhist Centre in Nollamara. During this entire period spanning three decades he has been a lead teacher at this centre and in the broader community.

Drawing on his experience from leading the establishment of Bodhinyana Monastery, Ajahn Brahm helped with both the design and fundraising for Dhammasara Nuns’ Monastery in Gidgegannup. Established in 1997 with a single Australian nun, Dhammasara has grown in both its facilities and the sangha (community) of nuns training there. In October 2009, he assisted in the first bhikkhuni ordination in Quiet Mindfulness Australia.

Ajahn Brahm From 2006 he led the fundraising and development of Jhana Grove Meditation Retreat Centre, a world class meditation Ajahn Brahmavamso Mahathera, known to ordain and train with him. Ajahn became retreat facility with 60 guest rooms that to most simply as Ajahn Brahm, has the vinaya (code of monastic discipline) are in use all year by either the BSWA or become a popular teacher amongst a master at Wat Pah Nanachat from 1975 other meditation groups. In 2012, Jhana growing international audience keen to until his departure in 1983. His vinaya Grove served 1300 retreatants. Places learn meditation and develop a deeper notes are still authoritative for most on Ajahn Brahm’s meditation retreats are spiritual understanding. Western Buddhist monks in the Theravada typically booked out in a matter of minutes tradition. due his popularity as a meditation teacher. Ajahn was born Peter Betts in London, United Kingdom in 1951 and came from He was invited to Perth by the Buddhist In 2013, Ajahn Brahm commenced a working-class background where he Society of Western Australia (BSWA) in works on ‘Hermit’s Hill’, an extension of went to Latymer Upper School in London 1983 along with fellow monk, Ajahn Jagaro. Bodhinyana Monastery. Bodhinyana is the and from there won a scholarship to Later that year the BSWA purchased rural largest Theravadan Buddhist monastery study Theoretical Physics at Cambridge land in Serpentine, south of Perth. Ajahn outside of Asia, and there is a long University in the late 1960s. At Cambridge, Brahm became the co-founding monk and waiting list of men who wish to ordain at he joined the university’s Buddhist Society in 1995 became the abbot of Bodhinyana Bodhinyana, but cannot be accepted due and after a few weeks at the age of 18 Monastery. In 2004, Ajahn Brahm was to its limitations in accommodation and saw a monk for the very first time. He awarded the John Curtin Medal for his facilities. Ajahn Brahm is taking the first soon realised that was what he wanted to vision, leadership and service to the step to expand opportunities for monastic be. After graduating from Cambridge, he Australian community by Curtin University ordination and practice by expanding taught in a high school for one year before and in 2006 the King of Thailand conferred Bodhinyana with the purchase of another travelling to Thailand to become a monk. upon Ajahn Brahm the title ‘Tan Chao 100 acres of land which is currently having Khun’ which is something akin to being huts built on it to accommodate future Ordained as a monk by Somdet Buddhajahn appointed a bishop. As a result, Bodhinyana monks. at Wat Saket in Bangkok in 1974, Ajahn Monastery receives a symbolic monk’s travelled to north-east Thailand in January robe every year from the King of Thailand, a Ajahn Brahm will speak to students 1975 and became a student of meditation sign of royal patronage of the monastery. on Thursday 11 May. master Ajahn Chah at Wat Pa Pong. In that same year he became a founding sangha Ajahn Brahm co-founded (with Ajahn member of Wat Pa Nanachat, a monastery Jagaro) Bodhinyana Monastery in established nearby to Wat Pa Pong by Serpentine. He literally contributed to the Ajahn Chah to cater to the increasing building of this monastery as he built most number of Westerners who were coming of the structures with his own hands The Centre for Ethics Calendar Term 2 2017

DATE EVENT AND TOPIC SPEAKER TIME LOCATION

17 April zero2hero Ashlee Harrison All Day RSVP 9442 1705 Every Thursday Christ Church Credo Matt Smith 12.45pm Q1

Friday Magic Moments Pele Reeve 1.30pm School Chapel 28 April

Monday Facilitating Creative Spaces Zainab Syed Day Classroom 1 May

Thursday Big Audacious Goals Space Productions Day Classroom 4 May

Thursday Celebrating P.D. Naish Frank Sheehan 9.00am School Chapel 4 May

Sunday Little Feet Walk Doctors for Africa Day RSVP 7 May 9442 1705

Monday 8 Ethical and Literary Insights Amanda Betts Day Classroom to Thursday Jakub Dammer 11 May

Thursday Quiet Mindfulness Ajahn Brahm Day Classroom 11 May

Monday A Stitch in Time Greg Hire Day Classroom 15 May

Tuesday Silence Frank Sheehan Evening RSVP 16 May 9442 1705

Thursday Food for thought Richard Pengelley 9.00am School Chapel 18 May

Saturday Red Cross Bindaring Unit Day Enquiries 20 May 9442 1705

Tuesday Friendships between Jenny Davis Day Classroom 13 June old and young

Monday Manna Matt Cullen Day Classroom 19 June

Tuesday Worthwhile Stories Jakub Dammer Day Classroom 20 June

Thursday A Vision for the Future Richard O’Halloran Day School Chapel 22 June

Thursday Ethics Book Club Frank Sheehan 7.30pm RSVP 22 June 9442 1705

Monday Roc Teen Claire Eaton Day Classroom 26 June