Jo Murphy's Blog

Posted by Jo Murphy

The tag on Clark's email says ,,,,Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. Margaret Mead anthropologist and writer.

Posted by Jo Murphy

If you would like to be involved in this mini interview please send your answers and a .jgp of yourself directly to me and I will upload them for you. The answers will be displayed in a book throughout the exhibition. An Exploration of Identity will be opened @ Banyo Campus Catholic University 7pm 10th Nov. N Block and remain on display until 27th Nov 2009

Elise has said

1. What would make me a more productive Australian? – If I learnt to use the benefits and resources I am lucky to have with those who don’t
2. “Be more?” – Be the change you want: Be better, be bigger, be brighter
3. Greatest hope for Australia – That Tolerance becomes acceptance and sympathizers become activists

Hope to see you all at the exhibition on the 10th Nov '09 7pm ; but if you can't make it get involved send your answers and a .jpg be a part of the exhibition.

Be a part of the book!

Posted by Jo Murphy

If you would like to be involved in this mini interview please send your answers and a .jgp of yourself directly to me and I will upload them for you. The answers will be displayed in a book throughout the exhibition. An Exploration of Identity will be opened @ Banyo Campus Catholic University 7pm 10th Nov. N Block and remain on display until 27th Nov 2009

• What would make me a more productive Australian? To be productive takes time. So time I would like to make more time to be a productive Australian.
• What would it mean for me to Be More? I like to be challenged in my opinions, ideas and to allow this consciousness raising to follow through into action.
• What are my hopes for Australia? This is simple! Peace and Justice for All!

Hope to see you all at the exhibition on the 10th Nov ; but if you can't make it get involved send your answers and a .jpg be a part of the exhibition.

Be a part of the book!

Posted by Jo Murphy

The answers will be displayed in a book throughout the exhibition.

• This is an interesting question for someone just starting ‘retirement’ from full time work. I would like to continue to contribute – through volunteer activities, on things that will make a difference to some one or some groups. It would be great to harness the energy of ‘older’ community members in order that they feel valued and are able to make small ‘differences’. My final comment re ‘hope’ is that Australia would be a more compassionate, accepting and generous society and so being ‘being more productive’ would be in light of achieving this.
• Be more Not necessarily ‘do more’. Reflection to better focus on issues and what might be possible for one to contribute. This need not be ‘bigger’ but ‘effective’ . I would love to see aesthetic education being accepted and valued as a necessary way for our young (and old) to learn to be compassionate to the light of others and generous in spirit.
• Greatest hope That as a nation we are seen to be compassionate, accepting of those less fortunate, committed to reconciliation with the indigenous first nation people, and more generous to all. Of course for this to happen – a focus on the local - family, neighbourhood, community action - is required.

Cheers Jo – having read your blog and work – you do magnificent things

Fran

Posted by Jo Murphy

Sr Mary Cresp says ...Congratulations on a wonderful portrayal of contributors to the welfare of our country, Julian Tenison Woods, Catherine Gaffney and Mary MacKillop. I love what you have done. I hope it gets lots of positive feedback. You won’t know the half of it – people’s conversations will float in the breeze but touch hearts on the way.

Unfortunately I will have left Brisbane by November 10th and I won’t be returning until December 1^st. I would love to have been at the exhibition. I wish you all the best for it.

• What would make me a more productive Australian? With regard to spreading harmony, I’d like to find time and opportunity to pick up on a project I was part of 1999 – 2006, the setting up of women’s interfaith groups where we came together to show our world that people of different faiths can live joyfully as friends by sharing their spirituality and having deep respect for each other. We had nine different religions represented in the group, including aboriginal. Although the group has expanded and is still operating since I left the locality, I’m not in a position to introduce it in the State to which I’ve moved – but I have a dream of doing so when present commitments grow less.
• What do I mean when I hear the words Be More? Defining “the More” as “the Other”, or the potential for union with the Divine that, as a human being, I know I have, the phrase “Be More” invites me to live into that potential. Many dimensions of life remind me of this invitation – e.g. Songs like Secret Garden’s “You Raise Me Up”, interactions with nature and the inspiration of great people I meet in daily life. My religious faith presents it to me in dramatic form, such as when I respond “Yes, I am” (or “Amen”) to the proclamation that we are the Body of Christ when receiving the Eucharist.
• What is my greatest hope for Australia?” I would hope that Australia could draw on its central icon, the Heart (Uluru), and on the mythology that I think Aboriginal peoples and ANZAC hold outs to us – that “being the dream” means having such faith in nature and each other that, even in apparent failure, we can give of ourselves for the common good. Christianity calls that the “Paschal Mystery” – that death gives way to new life, and that nothing is finally lost. The violence and fear of racism, greed and other social ills would give way to heart-qualities such as compassion, respect and hospitality with the cultivation of such values.