Conferences and Office Bearers
A feature of the TCMA calendar has always been the annual conference which has provided opportunity for networking and inservice education and time to conduct the Annual General Meeting and elections of office bearers. The format has varied over the years, as TCMA has developed from a Christian to a multi-faith association.
1988 - The Bicentennial Year
Sr Marg Hill, A Loreto Sister working in the High Rise Flats in Carlton, and at The University of Melbourne, along with Tony Callahan, Catholic Priest Chaplain at Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, came up with the imaginative idea of meeting in The Centre of this Country. We moved to The Gap Caravan Park in Alice Springs, some people actually camped in tents, while others stayed in a Budget Motel that was part of the complex. We used a communal recreation facility for our meetings.
Br Al Sherry, a Marist Brother working at The University of Melbourne, conducted a memorable Bread Liturgy, in the dry bed of the Todd River, just near the old telegraph station. Another wonderful time was a meeting with some Aboriginal Elders from the land we were camped on.
(Fr Michael Elligate)
1991
Conference in Adelaide (Anglican Retreat Centre, Adelaide Hills) - President of TCMA: Trish Madigan OP
1992
Conference held in Sydney (Kensington Monastery) - Coordinator: Robyn Johnson RSM
1993
Conference held in Brisbane (Duchesne College at UQ ?) - Coordinator: Cyril Muller
1994
Conference held in Melbourne (St Mary's College, University of Melbourne). The theme of the conference was "Grasping the Nettles - prickly issues in campus ministry". Planning team included Rev Dr John Bodycomb, Fr Michael Elligate, Bro Al Sherry, Fr Liam Mackle, Rev Judy Redman and Rev David Rathgen(?). Kenote speakers were Philip Hughes (Christian Research Association), Suzy Nixon (University Counselling), Mary Emerson, Charles Bailey (Clinical Pastoral Education coordinator), Professor Frank Moloney sdb, Rev Ross Fishburn, Hedley Beare (School of Education, University of Melbourne) and Louis Waller (Professor of Law, Monash). Loane Skene (Professor of Law, University of Melbourne) was the after dinner speaker. For the conference dinner, the chaplains were guests of Richard Pratt at his historic home Raheen, formerly the residence of the Catholic Archbishop of Melbourne. Richard and his wife were away, but the chaplain were given a guided tour of the house by his personal assistant. The opening gathering was held at the beautifully rennovated St Cathage's Catholic presbytery, where we were guests of Fr Michael Elligate.
1995
Conference in Canberra (a former migrant hostel turned hotel-conference centre) - Coordinator: Ivor Vivian. The theme appears to have been "That They May Be One". Keynote speakers were Rev Dr Thorwald Lorenzen, Mrs Janet Wood, and Bishop Richard Randerson. The conference dinner was at Regatta Point, overlooking Lake Burleigh Griffin, with Senator John Woodleigh as the afterdinner speaker. Liz Smith had attended the first international tertiary chaplains' conference in Durham and she and Johan Kijne presented us with the possibility of being involved in the next one - Vancouver 2000. Unfortunately, we had chosen to visit Canberra the same year that it hosted the InterVarsity games, so we shared our somewhat spartan accommodation with many exuberant student athletes.
1996
Conference in Adelaide (Aquinas College, University of Adelaide) Organisers included Mike Pietsch, Justin King and???. The theme of the conference was "Making Connections: exploring the them of relationality"
1997
Perth (Currie Hall at UWA) - President of TCMA: John Bosman MSC; Coordinator: Erich von Dietze (Erich was elected President of TCMA in 1997 and has been President ever since). Keynote speakers included Veronica Brady and David Malcolm (chief justice of WA). The excursion took us to Freemantle, where we did a tour of the Notre Dame University 'campus' - a series of old factories and warehouses that had been renovated, and were given $20 each and encouraged to find a restaurant of our choice for tea. This was the first conference where chaplains who practise religions other than Christianity attended and also the first conference where chaplains were invited to present workshops about their own practise.
1998
Sydney (Sancta Sophia Sydney University) - Coordinator: Roy Hazlewood
1999
Brisbane (Women's College UQ) - The conference theme was "Faces of Faith". Coordinator: Geoff Hoyte
2000
Vancouver, Canada (University of British Columbia). The first multifaith international university chaplains' conference (Durham 1996 was international but Christian only). The theme was "Phoenix Rising - Wisdom, Spirituality and Community in the University" and Australia had one of the largest groups of participants from outside North America. Keynote speakers were Senator Douglas Roche (Canadian government), Prof Judith Plaskow (Jewish), Prof Sulayman Nyang (Muslim) and Rev Dr Richard Burridge (Christian). There were many opportunities to experience a wide range of cultures and faiths, including a European Midsummer feast, a Shabbat dinner and a Salmon BBQ.
National Executive
Convenor: Rev. Dr. Erich von Dietze - University Chaplain, Curtin University of Technology
Treasurer: Rev. Roy Hazelwood - Chaplain, Ourimbah Campus, University of Newcastle
Directory Co-ordinator: Rev. Fr. Ivor F. Vivian - Lberal Catholic Chaplain, University of Canberra
Secretary: Sr. Pat Healion, Catholic Chaplain, University of Newcastle
Conference Convenor: Rev. Geoff Hoyte - Anglican Chaplain, University of Queensland
Executive member: Rev. Dr. Morag Logan - Uniting Church Chaplain, University of Melbourne
2001
Monash University Gippsland Campus (Churchill Vic) (Uni residence) - Coordinator: Maria Bradford, with a team including Morag Logan, Judy Bowman and Virginia Calpotura. The conference theme was "At the Coalface". Keynote speakers were Prof David Tacey (La Trobe University), Prof Simon Marginson (Monash University) and Ms Kath Engebretson (Catholic Education Office). The Conference excursion involved a trip down an open-cut coal mine and the conference dinner took place at PowerWorks - the electricity visitors centre. At the AGM, the TCMA formally agreed to host the next international conference in 2004 in Australia and elected a conference planning committee. This was the first conference with a live-in participant from a faith other than Christianity and we became very aware that modelling our opening and closing rituals around worship alienated some chaplains.
National Executive
Convenor: Rev. Dr. Erich von Dietze - University Chaplain, Curtin University of Technology
Treasurer: Rev. Roy Hazelwood - Chaplain, Ourimbah Campus, University of Newcastle
Secretary and Directory Co-ordinator: Mrs Felicia Heberle - Lutheran Chaplain, Flinders University
Coopted Member (convenor 2004 conference): Rev. Dr. Morag Logan - Uniting Church Chaplain, University of Melbourne
Executive members: Rev. Judy Redman - Uniting Church Chaplain, University of New England
Jacinta Sinclair - Catholic Chaplain, University of Sydney
2002
Armidale NSW (Duval College UNE) - The conference theme was "Australia - You're Ministering In It!" Coordinator: Judy Redman, with Dom Carrigan, Matthew Wilson, Julia Perry, Mary Guy, Bev Paterson and Roy Hazlewood. Keynote speakers were Dr Hugh Mackay (social historian), Rabbi Aviva Kipen and Dr Pat Miller (Director, Student Administration and Support Services at the Australian National University) and there was also a multifaith panel that presented Baha'i, Buddhist, Jewish, Muslim and Pagan approaches to death. The conference dinner at historic Booloominbah (the original university building) featured an impromptu hora line (because we couldn't form a ring amongst the tables) and lots of singing. We were joined by the members of the international conference planning committee - from Denmark, Finland, India, Hong Kong, Canada, the USA, Germany and Zimbabwe.
National Executive
Convenor: Rev. Dr. Erich von Dietze - University Chaplain, Curtin University of Technology
Treasurer: Rev. Roy Hazelwood - Chaplain, Ourimbah Campus, University of Newcastle
Secretary and Directory Co-ordinator: Mrs Felicia Heberle - Lutheran Chaplain, Flinders University
Coopted Member (convenor 2004 conference): Rev. Dr. Morag Logan - Uniting Church Chaplain, University of Melbourne
Executive members: Rev. Judy Redman - Uniting Church Chaplain, University of New England
Jacinta Sinclair - Catholic Chaplain, University of Sydney
2003
Adelaide (Aquinas College, North Adelaide) The theme was "Changing Visions in Changing Times" and it was organised by Mike Pietsch, Lorelei Siegloff, Geoff Boyce, Kirsten Munchenberg, ? Rose and Joe O'Mara. Keynote speakers included Jessee Kaur Singh, Rabbi Patti Koppenberg. The opening ritual was held in a nearby park and our morning gatherings were around tables equipped with coffee plungers and teapots, where we were encouraged to reflect in whatever way was comfortable about the theme for the day.
National Executive
President: Rev. Dr. Erich von Dietze - University Chaplain, Curtin University of Technology
Vice President: D. Lorelei Siegloff - Pagan Chaplain, Flinders University
Treasurer: Rev. Roy Hazelwood - Chaplain, Ourimbah Campus, University of Newcastle
Secretary: Rev Matthew Wilson - Uniting Church Chaplain, Charles Sturt Albury and La Trobe Wodonga
Executive members: Rev. Judy Redman - Uniting Church Chaplain, University of New England
Geoff Boyce, Uniting Church Chaplain, Flinders University
This executive was elected for two years under the new Objects and Rules of incorporation
2004
Brisbane Global Conference (Nathan Campus, Griffith University) - Dreaming Landscapes. Coordinator: Patricia Blundell RSM
2005
Sydney (St Vincent's College Potts Point) - Growing Tertiary Chaplaincy: Vulnerable Partnerships. Coordinator: Peter Maher
National Executive
President: Rev. Dr. Erich von Dietze - University Chaplain, Curtin University of Technology
Vice President: Mr Geoff Boyce, Uniting Church Chaplain, Flinders University
Treasurer: Rev. Roy Hazelwood - Chaplain, Ourimbah Campus, University of Newcastle
Secretary: Rev Matthew Wilson - Uniting Church Chaplain, Charles Sturt Albury and La Trobe Wodonga
Executive members: Rev. Judy Redman - Uniting Church Chaplain, University of New England
Bro Pat Thompson - Catholic Chaplain, University of Western Sydney (Penrith Campus)