GOODNEWS and BADNEWS

"Bad" news first.

Cherbourg mission in Queensland (as its called) began life as a government 'reservation' to use the kindest word, "Concentration Camp" for interned Aboriginals from 47 different tribes is more accurate.

The facility was a 'no movement without permit' place. They had 'bells' as follows:

6.00am *ding* wake up get up and start work
9.00pm *ding* no children outside
10.00Pm *ding* no adults outside

There were more, but I don't recall them all.

The Anglican church was involved in running it. Aboriginals were denied the opportunity from performing sacred ceremonies for 2 reasons
a) They are 'satanic' (from the Church)
b) Other tribes were unfamiliar and unsympathetic to what they may have feared was 'magic' directed against them.

Much of this was going on until 1986 I understand !
At that time, the Queensland government pulled 'out' of the place, handed it over to locals (Indigenous) and also REMOVED all work related machinery and infrastructure, and basically set them up to be a bunch of losers in every sense of the word. "Swim....or sink"

Many descended into petrol abuse, drug abuse, domestic violence, alchoholism. (is it any wonder ?)

"Good News"

On a human level, I cannot see any hope for such a group. But with Christ all things are possible.

There is a church within this town, established by indigenous Christians from the A.I.M. (Aboriginal Inland Mission) and there is a part of the wider body of Christ there.
Last night in a report brought back by a group of youth from our fellowship, I was touched by pictures that warmed my heart and gave hope.
An old Aboriginal man, clearly old enough to remember all the horrors of the 'bad' years, with his arm around one of our young people, a happy smile on his face. Aboriginal children, all over our kids like a bad rash, no-one seeing 'color' but simply wanting to enjoy human interaction with the visitors.
At a worship service, aboriginal people singing with gusto and lack of inhibition using every note on the keyboard (including the cracks)
and urgently asking our kids for their names so they can write them in their Bibles, so they can pray for them. How they prayed for their families, .. and other aboriginals, and for us, -fervent, passionate and sincere.

An aboriginal couple working for 29 yrs in drug/alchohol rehab, with a 70% success rate, (compared to government stats of 3% at best)
The 47 tribes have intermarried now. Most people consider the rest 'family'. Everyones fridge is open to everyone else. (Acts 2.42)
It boggles the mind, that after 'The Church' in the form of the probably well meaning but clearly misguided Anglicans of the day, had participated in nothing less than cultural genocide; that aboriginal people can still perceive the Grace of God, and see past all this, and embrace those who's skin color is the symbol of all their tragic past, and join in beautiful fellowship under God.
Truly a triumph of Grace.

I would not like to be present when those running the Queensland government of the day are asked by God "How did you treat my people of aboriginal heritage"?