Anglicare history launch address by Bishop John Harrower
St David’s Cathedral, 25 September 2008
Often when people go to these events they take a copy of the report or the discussion paper or in this case the history home with them and set it aside to read later, and of course, other things intervene and later never comes. On this occasion I urge you to make sure that later does come, for within these pages is a fascinating story, well told. It describes not just the comings and goings of senior managers, financial ups and downs and the development and acquisition of new services and new areas of work – it also describes how the heart of the organisation has developed, the arguments that Anglicare has had with itself as it has worked out what kind of organisation it wants to be. Anglicare today is known in the Tasmanian community for speaking out for the disadvantaged. Well, this history describes how it came to that point. It also describes a less well known story – how that ethos of speaking out for the disadvantaged became embedded in the culture of its service delivery as well so that Anglicare truly has become an organisation that exists to serve everyone in the Tasmanian community. Anglicare will not give up. It will not walk away from even the most “difficult” of clients. It is an organisation that we can all be proud of.
I also want to make mention of one individual. In these pages, a number of names are quite naturally mentioned, including the names of many in this room tonight. Those names are up in lights, as it were, with the contribution those people have made to the organisation named and honoured. The author has neglected, however, to mention the name of one important individual in the history of Anglicare – a person who was employed by Anglicare for some years in a senior role, and who contributed much to those debates and discussions and reflections on what kind of organisation Anglicare was and how it might evolve. A person who also laid out the ground work for the kind of public profile Anglicare has today – its strong contribution to social advocacy and action on behalf of the disadvantaged. That James Boyce, the author of this book, was too modest to mention himself in the history he wrote about an organisation he has done much to shape and grow is probably not a surprise to anyone who knows him, but I think it is important to make up for that omission by mentioning him now. Thank you James.
Tonight we have gathered to celebrate Anglicare’s 25th birthday, and there is much to celebrate. But we must also remember that out there in the Tasmanian community there is still too much disadvantage, there are still people struggling with unemployment and homelessness and mental illness and disability and drug and alcohol addictions and poverty and isolation, there are still too many who do not have a fair and equal share in the riches of our modern society. There are also big changes coming – the world is in the midst of a global economic crisis with uncertain consequences. Closer to home, our governments, both state and federal, are engaging in significant reform agendas with equally significant implications for how services are delivered to people in need. And then there is the darkening shadow of climate change, peak oil and water shortages, and all that they might mean for the poorest in our community. It will be the solemn task of governments to show leadership in the community as we grapple with these changes. But organisations like Anglicare can and will play a part. Now more than ever, we need a strong voice speaking out for those in need, a voice that holds governments to account, that urges them to take hold of these changes and turn their impact around – make it a positive one, use the changes to find opportunities for social justice and equity and peace, to bring hope in times of uncertainty and fear, and to build upon them a better world. That’s the mission for the next 25 years.
John Harrower
Bishop of Tasmania