The Australian Friend
Journal of the Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia
About
The Australian Friend is the official journal of The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia Inc. It has been continuously published since 1887. There are four issues per year, in March, June, September and December.
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Editorial
pReading the articles in this issue of the Australian Friend reminded me of my favourite Backhouse Lecture; George Ellis’ “Faith, hope and doubt in times of uncertainty”. Ellis writes that “there...
Quakers Australia Annual General Meeting
January Yearly Meeting 2025 All-ages focus Online — includes Quakers Australia Annual General Meeting Friday 17 – Sunday 19 January 2025 Save the dates now Welcome! Our focus is on creating a...
In search of Kurt Muenz
Mary Butler, South Australia and Northern Territory Regional Meeting and Alan Clayton Victoria Regional MeetingIn February 2021, our then Treasurer of Australia Yearly Meeting, Roger Sawkins,...
Thoughts on the Backhouse Lecture 2024
Rosemary Longhurst, Western Australia Regional MeetingBACKHOUSE LECTURE 2024: Jackie Leach Scully“God’s ways, not our ways: A dissident Quaker response to disability”As the Paralympic games draw to...
Answering the Call in a time of constant crises.
Greg Rolles, Queensland Regional MeetingIn one day I listened to two conversations that seem disconnected, but in the intricacies of the Spirit (or the subconscious) the connection...
Two Experiences of Grace while staying at Silver Wattle Quaker Centre
Kaye Wright, Victoria Regional Meeting I had been looking forward to doing the ‘Listening to the Landscape’ course at Silver Wattle for ages and had booked in months ago. I knew...
Know thy Friend: Sabine Erika
Sabine Erika, New South Wales Regional MeetingI was born in 1938 in Frankfurt Am Main, Germany. My father was of Jewish background so shortly after my birth he lost his job and we moved in with our...
Invitation To Become
Rosemary Longhurst, Western Australia Regional Meeting Here is a blank page, created for the making of marks. What mark shall I make, with my pen poised, preparing to accept this...
QSA Outgoing Chair’s Report
Therese Douglas, Outgoing Chair, QSAThe State of QSA: its present and its future. Welcome to our second AGM for 2024! This is because of the constitutional changes endorsed to align the QSA...
Ramallah and Brummana Friends Schools
Moira Darling, Victoria Regional Meeting Answering the Call zoom meeting with Friends from American Friends Service Committee (AFSC), Ramullah and Brummana Friends School. It is...
Answering the Call: hearing Quaker perspectives from Palestine, Israel & Lebanon
Helen Gould, New South Wales Regional MeetingHere’s a few comments arising from this excellent webinar. David Gray, head of Brummana Quaker School in Lebanon (founded 1873 just 4 years after...
‘Sleepwalking into War?’ One Quaker’s reflection.
Frances Long, Queensland Regional MeetingOn the flight over from Brisbane, a woman in a seat near to me started up a conversation and we told each other why we were travelling. She...
A chimney as meditation for meeting for worship.
Charles Stevenson, South Australia and Northern Territory Regional MeetingThe ancient chimney stands sturdy and strong high above the roof, and starkly visible from the meeting house window. The...
Another Yearly Meeting! July 2025
University College, ParkvilleOur enthusiastic and hard-working Yearly Meeting Organising Committee (YMOC) is beavering away, behind the scenes, with preparations for Australia Yearly Meeting 2025....
Alexander Solzhenitsyn On Good And Evil
Reg Naulty, Canberra and Region QuakersThe great Russian novelist Alexander Solzhenitsyn argued his position on the objectivity of morality in speeches delivered in the United States and Great...
Unconventional women
Roger Sawkins, Queensland Regional Meeting I have never been interested in Catholicism or nunneries but I was intrigued by a recent prize-winning book Unconventional Women: The...
PLAIN SPEECH IS RESPECTFUL OF ALL PEOPLE
Ronis Chapman and Susan Rockliff Canberra and Region Quakers, Quaker Peace and Legislation Committee The Quaker Peace and Legislation Committee has been prompted by Jessica Morrison, Peaceworker, to...
A Child’s Recollections of Devonshire Street Meeting Late 1950s to mid 1960s
Heidi Fallding, New South Wales Regional MeetingYesterday, my brother, Martin, told me that the Devonshire Street Meeting House is to be sold. That brought a flood of childhood memories to my mind…....