The Role of the Church in the Rural Communities of South West Queensland Author Park, Noel Roy Published 2006 Thesis Type Thesis (PhD Doctorate) School School of Vocational, Technology and Arts Education DOI https://doi.org/10.25904/1912/1492 Copyright Statement The author owns the copyright in this thesis, unless stated otherwise. Downloaded from http://hdl.handle.net/10072/366885 Griffith Research Online https://research-repository.griffith.edu.au The Role of the Church in the Rural Communities of South West Queensland. Noel Roy Park. B.A. (GIAE), B.Ed.Stud. (UQ), M.A. (GIAE), M.Ed. (UNE), Dip.R.E. (MCD). School of Vocational, Technology and Arts Education. Faculty of Education. Griffith University. A thesis submitted in fulfilment of the requirements of the degree of Doctor of Philosophy. December 2005. Abstract. The aim of this study was to explore the role of the Church in rural areas with specific reference to the South West region of Queensland and focusing on the provision of social welfare services. The region of Queensland, described by the Australian Bureau of Statistics as the South West, lies to the west of Brisbane, commencing at Yuleba, and stretches to the South Australian border. The region was populated by between ten and fifteen indigenous nations prior to European settlement. Since the 1840s the South West has seen the development of primary industries and the formation of rural communities. A grounded theory research approach was used in this study, which drew upon data collected through a series of programs conducted by the community support agency Lifeline. These data sets included individual stories of extreme hardship, connected chains of evidence and group responses. They provided an overview of the issues facing residents of the South West, including those issues pertinent to the role of Christian denominations throughout the region. The significant issues which emerged from the study related to the concerns of rural residents over their personal health, their self image, the state of their interpersonal relationships, the viability of their enterprises, the loss of community facilities, and the decreasing rural population. With specific reference to the Church, respondents indicated that harsh conditions had challenged their faith, reduced their ability to be involved in church-based activities and added to their concerns over the reduction of resident clergy and Church facilities in rural areas. Respondents in the study presented a widespread sense of powerlessness in regard to decisions made regarding funding for their local communities and management decisions made by Church authorities without any local consultation. The conclusions from this study indicate that the Church does have an ongoing role in rural communities provided that the Christian denominations recognise and respond to the concerns of the rural residents in regard to denominational structures, rural theology and the principles underlying the ii provision of rural social services. The study recommends that the Christian denominations put into practice the statements which have been made by denominational leaders in regard to the formation of an ecumenical training program for clergy and lay leaders who may work in rural areas. An urgent need is revealed for a new approach to gender issues so that the role of women in rural industry, producer organizations, government committees and Church management can be examined as broadly as possible. The study also indicated the need for further research into the future of Australia’s rural communities and the ways in which they may differ as communities from the urban areas of Australia. iii Declaration. I certify that this work has not previously been submitted for a degree or diploma in any university. To the best of my knowledge and belief, the thesis contains no material previously published or written by another person except where due reference is made in the thesis itself. I further certify that any assistance received, and all sources used, in the preparation of this thesis have been acknowledged in the thesis. ………………………………. iv Acknowledgements. I wish to pay tribute to the people of the South West of Queensland who have displayed enormous tenacity in the face of a range of adverse circumstances over many years. The whole story of their determination to survive will never be fully told. The staff of Lifeline Darling Downs and South West Queensland have made a huge contribution to the support of the people of the region and much of the data included in this thesis could not have been gathered without their diligence and their “going the extra mile”. My wife Lyn has remained my main support throughout some difficult times during the writing of this thesis and I can only express complete gratitude to her. The end result could never have been achieved without the perseverance, tolerance, and wise guidance of my supervisor. Professor. Richard Bagnall to whom I extend my sincere thanks. v Table of Contents. PAGE Title Page i Abstract ii Declaration iv Acknowledgments v Contents vi Preface Xv CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION 1 Introduction 2 The Background to the Study. 2 The Location of the Study. 4 The Aim of the Study. 5 The Significance of the Study. 6 The Structure of the Thesis 7 CHAPTER TWO LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE 8 ROLE OF THE CHURCH IN SOCIAL SERVICE PROVISION Introduction. 9 The Universal Theological Debate over 10 the Christian Understanding of Salvation by Works or Faith. The Religious Influence in Australia’s 13 Development. The Origins of Social Services in 15 Australia. The Church as a Provider of Social 16 Services. Statements from Australian Churches. 22 Conclusion. 23 vi CHAPTER THREE LITERATURE REVIEW OF THE 25 RURAL SITUATION Introduction 26 The Socio-economic Concepts Impinging 26 upon Rural Communities. The Role of Primary Producer 27 Organisations and Agripolitics. The Influence of Economic Policies on 31 Environmental Values and Land Management. The Political, Environmental and Social 35 Ramifications of the Decade of Land Care. The Essential Nature of the Role of 40 Women in Rural Communities. Conclusion 44 CHAPTER FOUR THE CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK 45 OF THE STUDY Introduction 46 The Conceptualisation of the Research. 46 The Ethical Considerations. 48 The Research Design. 48 Conclusion. 55 CHAPTER FIVE THE CASE STUDY REGION 56 Introduction 57 Settlement of the Region. 57 The Aboriginal Population of the South 58 West. The Bush Culture as a Part of the White 66 National Identity. The South West as it is Now Understood. 69 The Emergence of Local Government. 70 The Town of Roma. 74 vii The Shire of Balonne. 75 The Shire of Bendemere. 76 The Shire of Booringa. 77 The Shire of Bulloo. 78 The Shire of Bungil. 79 The Shire of Murweh. 80 The Shire of Paroo. 81 The Shire of Quilpie. 82 The Shire of Warroo. 82 The Influence of Government Decisions 83 and Policies. Conservation Questions in Relation to 89 Closer Settlement of the Region. The Railways. 93 The Place of the Church in the History of 94 the South West. The Presbyterian Church. 97 The Methodist Church. 99 The Church of England. 100 The Roman Catholic Church. 101 Issues Relating to Each of the 103 Christian Denominations. Changing Environmental Values and 104 their Relationship to past Religious and Social Values. Conclusion 111 CHAPTER SIX DATA COLLECTION AND 113 ANALYSIS Introduction 114 The Sources of the Data. 114 Telephone Counselling. 116 viii Women’s Access to Employment. 117 Response to Drought. 118 Counselling and Family Support. 121 The Data Analysis. 123 Telephone Counselling. 123 Women’s Access to Employment. 124 Response to Drought. 125 Counselling and Family Support. 126 Conclusion. 126 CHAPTER SEVEN THE SURVEY DATA 128 Introduction 129 Telephone Counselling. 129 Women’s Access to Employment. 131 Response to Drought. 135 Counselling and Family Support. 138 Conclusion. 141 CHAPTER EIGHT ISSUES EMERGING FROM THE 143 DATA Introduction. 144 The Emergent Issues. 145 Failure. 147 Reluctance to Change. 149 Pride 151 Hope. 154 Reliance on family. 156 Hardship. 160 ix Gender Roles. 163 Social Position and Duty to Others. 167 Stress - Personal. 168 Stress - Interpersonal and Marital. 173 Church. 175 Reliance on Assistance. 179 Custodianship. 182 Isolation. 184 Debt. 185 Grief and Loss. 188 Job Training 191 Physical Illness. 194 Depression. 196 Intergenerational Tensions. 197 Conclusion. 200 CHAPTER NINE. THE ROLE OF THE CHRISTIAN 201 CHURCHES Introduction. 202 The Theological Perspectives. 203 The Theological and Sociological 208 Justifications. The Relationship of the Church to 211 Governments. The Necessity for an Ecumenical 215 Approach. The Logistical Realities. 218 Conclusion.. 222 x CHAPTER TEN CONCLUSIONS AND 223 RECOMMENDATIONS Introduction. 224 The Study 224 Conclusions. 224 Recommendations. 225 APPENDICES Appendix A: Employers’ Questionnaire 228 Data Appendix B: Women’s Questionnaire 239 Data REFERENCES 254 xi List of Figures Figure 1.1 The Area Defined as the South West of 5 Queensland. Figure 3.1 Factors of Quality of Life. 38 Figure 5.1 Tindale’s Map of the Aboriginal Tribes of 60 the South West. Figure 5.2 McKellar’s Map of the Aboriginal Tribes 63 of the South West. Figure 5.3 The Major Topographical Features of the 70 South West. Figure 5.4 Local Government Areas of the South 73 West. Figure 5.5 The Development of the Railway System 94 in the South West. Figure 6.1 The Telstra Boundary of the Local call 114 Area for Toowoomba. Figure 6.2 The Geographic Area for the Study of 115 Women’s Access to Employment. Figure 6.3 Summary of the Composition of the 121 Counselling Contacts with Lifeline from 25/10/91 to 26/06/92. Figure 6.4 Location of the Jericho Shire. 122 Figure 7.1 Percentage of Teachers Among all Women 132 Professionals Responding to the Survey Compared with the Percentage of Teachers Among all Queensland Female Professionals.