Sailing into a New Era at the IHH

Roughly two thousand years ago, the Greek philosopher Plutarch posed a thought experiment. Imagine, he said, you are sailing on a ship and, one by one, your crew replaces every plank that makes up the ship with a new one from the cargo. When you reach the shore, and every single piece of wood is new, are you sailing the same ship?

Perhaps not—after all, isn’t an object the sum of its parts? In which case, swapping out every piece of the ship for new planks equates to swapping out the ship as a whole. Then again, the change was so gradual, and the shape so consistent—maybe it is the same ship after all? 

‘Hang on,’ you may be thinking, ‘I thought this was an update from the Indigneous Hospitality House, not Plutarch’s Wikipedia page!’. You’re right, it is—and we have a major update. As of June, a few of our ship’s planks are being replaced. And not just ordinary planks, but masts, rudders. 

We’re farewelling some bedrock members of our resident community. Samara Pitt, Mehrin Almassi and Chris Booth have concluded their time at the IHH, having been resis for 16 years, 12 years and 10 years, respectively. These folks, who have filled our sails with their passion and warmth and steered our course with their leadership and wisdom, will be sorely missed. 

After many years of service, our three longest-standing residents are moving on to new and wonderful things. Sam has shifted up to Gembrook Retreat, a community in the Dandenongs offering a place of spiritual retreat and renewal. Chris and Mehrin are looking forward to what the future will bring, with Chris on a journey to being ordained in the Uniting Church and Mehrin continuing the work she loves in the disability sector.

So while Plutarch’s ship dilemma has puzzled philosophers for millenia (thanks Malcolm Gladwell for drawing my attention to it in this podcast episode), I believe the IHH has settled it. Even as we watch these beloved planks float off on new currents, we’re confident that the IHH ship is still the same one. This project is greater than the sum of its parts, and its core of IHH-ness remains unchanged even as these core parts of our ship are in the process of being replaced. 

The continuing residents—Josh, Teash, Warrick and Rubini—have been shown over the last couple of years by Sam, Chris and Mehrin how to remain true to the IHH’s ethos of hospitality and openness. We’ve been taught how to be rudders that steer the IHH ship from the dangers of naivety or thinking we know it all. And we’ve been empowered to be sails that carry us forward new possibilities.

So, as the IHH moves into this new era, we thank these elders for their guidance, and carry their wisdom as we continue our journey of healing and justice on these lands known as Australia.

- Josh Glover, Resident Volunteer

Reflection for Reconciliation Week

It is almost the end of Reconciliation Week 2020, and our kitchen table is empty. It struck me hard tonight, as, for reasons beyond my control I faced the prospect of eating alone. Ordinarily I don’t mind a moment of solitude such as this, but tonight I was confronted by it. Our kitchen table has been for me the ultimate place of encounter. It is the place where I can sit down with a literal stranger, offer them a cup tea or plate of food and in the course of one shared meal, come to recognise a friend.

We are missing our Indigenous guests at the moment. The guests around whom we each gather, in order to find our centre-point and focus. The ones who bring us out of ourselves, and remind us who we are. We are a people of radical hospitality, who love and care beyond boundaries of difference. Of course this is never easy, because we host on stolen land. We welcome people in to a place that is not rightfully ours. And yet, in daring to take up that position, our tenuous, fragile, broken attempts at welcome are consistently received with grace. In being honest about the awkward, back-to-front nature of the situation, we find another place to be, which offers us a fuller view of each other, and the truths we share in common.

During this extended time at home I have been listening to a number of different podcasts. I have heard both Stan Grant[1] and Duncan Ivison[2] talk about the potential that liberal democracy has for our country. Briefly put, they believe that if we allow our understanding of democracy to expand, in response to Australia’s unique context then a way may be found for us all within a system created for only some. The idea that we can adjust and shape our systems to meet our actual needs, rather than having to fit them into ready-made boxes greatly appeals to me. It is another way of lengthening the table, rather than limiting entry into the place we all call home.

I’ve been watching a bit of NITV recently, and I’ve really enjoyed their coverage of Reconciliation Week. A common theme that I have picked up, has been the focus on the Uluru Statement From the Heart. This is a document of immense vision and generosity from our First Peoples. I can only imagine the amount of work that went in to such a proposal. However, the good will extended by those who contributed to the Statement, was met with shameful disregard for the spirit and potential that it offered to us all. Every one of us lost something that day. More than land or homes or mining rights, we lost the opportunity to encounter each other in a whole new way. We lost the chance to create another place, a fuller place, based on truth, with room enough for all.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people know the truth of this country, they have lived it, and continue to live it every day. We, non-Indigenous folk need to be made more aware— we need the truth-telling that the Uluru Statement From the Heart calls for, in order to begin the awkward, back-to-front journey from strangers to friends. I believe that if we do this, we—and the systems around us—will have nothing of consequence to lose, and everything rich and meaningful to gain. We will be met with the same graciousness that I have encountered time and again at our kitchen table. We will be met with new friends.

- Mehrin Almassi
Resident Volunteer

[1] Speaking Out With Larissa Behrendt podcast, Australia Day-Identity Division and Hope https://www.abc.net.au/radio/programs/speakingout/stan-grant/11077180

[2] The Philosopher’s Zone podcast: Uluru and the Heart of the Liberal State https://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/philosopherszone/uluru-and-the-heart-of-liberalism/11889480

IHH closed due to COVID-19

On Sunday March 16 we met with our business committee, as we do each month. The main thing we needed to talk about was our response to COVID-19. 

As a group, we came to the conclusion that it was best for us to close the house to hospital guests for the time being, rather than risk spreading the virus to our guests and their communities. For many of our hospital guests, the fact that we offer accommodation in an informal, home environment is attractive, but in the current situation, what we offer isn’t appropriate. At the moment, folks need to be able to stay somewhere that is self-contained, not in a sharehouse. 

Most of us resident volunteers are continuing to stay at the house. We are all following the guidelines around handwashing (especially when re-entering the house or preparing food) and we’ve cut off most physical contact with folks outside the house. We are hoping that we might be able to help out locally during this time. If you know of ways that we could help out without spreading the virus, please get in touch. 

We also cancelled our annual trivia night for the time being, but we’re hoping we might be able to reschedule it as a celebration once we’re able to open again. 

We’ve been thinking that this time might be an opportunity to do some more online engagement, but so far we’ve just been settling into the new situation. If there’s anything you’d like to do with us online, let us know. Keep an eye on our Facebook page, where we will let you know what’s happening. 

IHH Trivia Night 2018

The annual IHH Trivia Night is coming up on Friday 29th of June. Make sure you give us a call ( 9387 7557 ) or send us an email ( house@ihh.org.au ) to book your table, as we will run out of tables!

Friday 29th June
6:30pm for a 7pm start
West Coburg Bowling Club - 24 Lindsey Street, Coburg West
(Enter via Bellevue Street)

Tables of 8
Tickets $20
Unwaged $10
Kids under 8 years $5

Great silent auction items!
Don’t forget your gold coins and snacks!
Drinks at bar prices (no BYO)
Please bring cash as there are no credit card facilities.
Funds raised will support the IHH.

First term 2018

First Term this year we had very few nights without hospital guests staying. A lot of our guests needed to stay for extended periods of time (eg. one to three weeks at a time). We're aware that the William T. Onus Hostel (one of the other accommodation options our referrers often utilise) has been closed for renovations and that this might be why we had been so busy. The longer stays have meant that we've been able to get to know a lot of our guests better, they get to settle in more and it's often just felt like they're part of our team.
- Chris

Guest meat fund

The resis have been thinking about how we can be more connected to the rural areas and people who supply our food. This partly came about from conversations with our guest Michael last year, who was a farmer in Shepparton. He talked about how hard it is to make a living from farming, and that as a farmer he couldn’t afford to eat fresh local stuff, and had no time to grow his own, so he had to go for what was cheapest from the supermarket. That seems really unfair!

In response to this, we are looking into buying meat in bulk from a local farmer. We think this might help us to be more aware of where the meat we cook and share comes from, and support farmers who can feel under-appreciated by folks in the city. It’s more expensive than the big supermarkets, but if we can pass that money directly on to the farmers, especially if they know they have regular customers who care about how the animals and the land are being treated, then we hope we are contributing to a more integrated relationship between land, food and people.

With this in mind, in our wish list we are asking for cash donations to go towards a guest meat fund and will use this to order directly from a farmer who is set up to receive orders in this way (such as Cherry Tree Organics which supplies beef, chicken, pork and lamb, and Yarra Valley Game meats which supplies kangaroo). If you know of any other suppliers, feel free to let us know! And if you want to contribute to this fund, please indicate this when you donate.

- Samara

Introducing Bel and Teash

At the beginning of first term we had Bel Wilson and Teash Taylor join us as resident volunteers. (If you're interested in joining us as a resident volunteer, please let us know. We're still looking for one or two people to join us.) Since they've joined us at the same time, we thought Teash and Bel could introduce each other to you:

Teash has a dope haircut. Sometimes she's okay to hang out with. I like her girlfriend. She knows 180 Greek words. Don’t ask her about glitter. She may be growing a mullet.
- Bel

Bel had green hair. She dislikes moths. Unfortunately, she doesn’t like puns. She made a table. She's the baker of the house. Thanks for the peanut butter!

- Teash

Tales from the Table: Stories from the Indigenous Hospitality House

We've just published a collection of our learnings from 15 years sharing our home with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospital guests. The book contains reflections from our resident volunteers and members of our broader community over the course of the project, and it has colour photos throughout.
You can order online through our bookstore. We can post your order to you or you can pick it up from IHH (and stay for a cuppa).

IHH Trivia Night 2017

The IHH has a tradition of holding a trivia night on the last night of term two. This year's IHH Trivia Night will be on Friday June 30 at the West Coburg Bowling Club - 24 Lindsey Street, West Coburg. Come at 6:30pm for a 7:00pm start.
Funds raised will support the IHH in accommodating and hosting Indigenous hospital patients and their families.

Tables of 8
Tickets $20
Unwaged $10
Kids over 8 years $5
Please bring cash as there are no credit card facilities

Great silent auction items!
Don’t forget your gold coins and nibbles
Drinks at bar prices

RSVP by Friday June 23. Make sure you get in quick because we run out of tables fast! 
(03) 9387 7557 or house@ihh.org.au

Healing Rites for Seven Sites

A walking liturgy on Holy Saturday

On this walk we will hear the 'seven last words' spoken by Christ, and participate in words and actions of lament as we hear stories of Aboriginal people experiencing violence, suffering and injustice in our land.

For those who have ears to hear ... listen.

The walk will start at 2pm from Rushall Station (North Fitzroy) and end at approximately 3:30pm with afternoon tea at IHH.

Children are very welcome. Some guidance may be required.

RSVP by Monday April 10 to the Indigenous Hospitality House
1/907 Drummond St, Carlton North 3054
house@ihh.org.au
(03) 9387 7557

First 2017 learning circle and Aboriginal heritage walk

Uncle Den joined the IHH for our first Learning Circle of the year on healing.  We remembered the Apology to the Stolen Generations, and told stories about where everyone was when that event occurred and what it meant to us then and now.  We remembered how even as Kevin Rudd made the long-overdue apology happen, the opposition leader was still resistant and John Howard was the only living Prime Minister who didn't attend. As Uncle Den reminded us, 'you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make it drink'. This seems similar to what Jesus said when he invited people to 'come and see' - he was always issuing invitations for people to follow him, but it was up to them.

In the spirit of taking up the invitation to 'come and see', Uncle Den took some folks from South Yarra Baptist and IHH on the Aboriginal heritage walk at the Botanical Gardens on Sunday. We learnt about bushfoods through smell and taste and touch. By paying attention in this way, we started to hear how Aboriginal people see the land as their mother.  The land which nurtures, feeds, supports.  Which can be hurt and damaged. Which cannot be owned, but must be respected and cared for. Uncle Den told us some hard truths about how the land and the first people have been damaged by invasion, and at the same time he was warm, funny, encouraging and invitational.

We can only start where we're at. Come and see.

- Samara

Learning Circles in 2017

 The Indigenous Hospitality House is a learning community inviting people on a shared journey of cultural healing and growth in light of stolen land. Learning Circles are an opportunity to reflect on what we have been learning while offering hospitality to Aboriginal people.

Feb 13 (Apology Day) - What does Healing Look Like?
Mar 13 (Labour Day) - Sabbath, Labour Day and Teatime
May 8 - Exploring what it Means to Be Culturally Competent
June 5 - Hospitality as Making Room
July 31 - Land and Displacement
August 28 - Living in Community
October 23 - History of the Missions
November 20 - Songlines Walk (to be confirmed)

Where: Unit 1 or 2, 907 Drummond St, Carlton North
Time: 7pm dinner, 8pm discussion
RSVP: Space is limited in our lounge room so please let us know if you are coming! (Also let us know if you'll join us for dinner.)
email: house@ihh.org.au Ph: 9387 7557

Making Room at Christmas

(The last few years we've been invited to choose a song for Beer and Carols at the Quiet Man in Flemington.)
 

Why is ‘Joy to the World’ the IHH carol for this year’s Beer and Carols pub singalong in Flemington?

Last year we rewrote the ‘12 days of Christmas’, eulogising the various items that get donated to us:

On the 5th day of Christmas my true love gave to me…
Condensed milk that expired in 1999…
4 cakes of soap,
3 bags of rice,
2 tins of beetroot, 
And a kilogram of kangaroo!

This year, we’re singing ‘let every heart prepare him room’.  We spend time preparing for our guests by crawling around on bunkbeds tucking in sheets, plumping pillows, emptying the wastepaper bins, tidying, checking if we need to provide a heater or a fan.  At the same time, we are preparing our hearts to be open to whoever comes through the door, and our heads to learn something of what is going on for people with their hospital business, and in the social and political conversations about health and treaty and land justice.  And every so often, we’ll end up singing along with ‘fields, floods, rocks, hills and plains’ and Nathan’s guitar, to repeat the sounding joy.

- Samara

Moving from guilt to action

Over the last year or so at the Indigenous Hospitality House, we have been thinking about our extended household as a learning community. In some ways this is not a new focus, because we've always been learning through the work we do together hosting Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families, but we've been becoming more aware that this is something we have to offer the wider Settler community. However, we want to make sure it our learning isn't just about gaining information. When we, as Settler people, begin to learn about the damage Settler society has done to our First Peoples it can be easy to get bogged down in guilt. As well as learning information we need to learn what to do with it. If we find we're developing a sense of guilt we need to allow that guilt to motivate an active response. In our household we've been able to do that by sharing our home with our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander hospital guests. This often gives us opportunities to hear people's own personal stories, develop relationships and start getting an idea about what healing will look like.

If you're keen to move from guilt to action, and aren't sure where to start we're up for a chat.

house@ihh.org.au
 (03) 9387 7557 

Learning Circle: history of the land rights movement

The Indigenous Hospitality House is a learning community inviting people on a shared journey of cultural healing and growth in light of stolen land. Learning Circles are an opportunity to reflect on what we have been learning as we offer hospitality to Indigenous people.

At our Learning Circle on November 21, we will be talking about the history of the land rights movement. Feel free to join us for dinner from 7:00pm. We plan to start our discussion at 8:00pm.

If you are planning to come, please let us know by emailing house@ihh.org.au

If you'd like to do some pre-reading, have a look at this article from Graham Atkinson and Mark Brett: 'An Historical Perspective on the Struggle for Land Justice in Victoria'

Advent study: Radical Discipleship

During the season of Advent we thought would we spend some time doing some studies on radical discipleship. Each session we'll discuss some content from Ched Myers' Radical Discipleship course.

Sessions scheduled are:
Monday November 28 7:30pm - Introdcution to Radical Discipleship
Monday December 12 7:30pm - Biblical Concepts Undergirding Radical Discipleship
Monday December 19 7:30pm - Toward 'Kingian' Faith and Practice

We're keen to also run the fourth session in January if there is a time that is suitable.

If you think you will join us, send us an email: house@ihh.org.au

November 19 Working Bee

On Saturday November 19 we have planned an Indigenous Hospitality House working bee.

We are hoping to:
- remove cobwebs!
- wash windows!
- repair flyscreen!
- wash walls!
- sort, defrost and clean fridge/freezer!
- clear gutters!
If you'd like to be involved let us know - email house@ihh.org.au

We will have a BBQ together afterwards.

Learning circle: What does healing look like?

Pathways to Healing by Jenna Lee

The Indigenous Hospitality House is a learning community inviting people on a shared journey of cultural healing and growth in light of stolen land. Learning Circles are an opportunity to reflect on what we have been learning by offering hospitality to Indigenous people.

At our Learning Circle on October 24, Samara will be helping us explore the idea of mutual healing and the role it plays at the Indigenous Hospitality House. Feel free to join us for dinner from 7:00pm. We plan to start our discussion at 8:00pm.

If you are planning to come, please let us know by emailing house@ihh.org.au

Term 4 Dinner and Discussion

Fall into Ruin of the House of God, Cathédral d'Amiens, 1220-1240.

Throughout the year we've opened up unit 2 on Thursday nights for low key dinner and discussion of the previous Sunday's gospel reading.

Feel free to bring some food to share and we can discuss the weekly gospel readings as we eat together. We've been bringing the Bible stories into dialogue with what is going on in our current affairs, our national story and local communities like the IHH. A key thing has been talking about how the stories relate (or don't relate) to the practical things we are doing from day to day, and how what we're reading might be helpful (or unhelpful) for our work.

Our friend Mark Pierson says, 'Questioning allowed. Questioning aloud allowed.' What this means is it is okay to bring doubts and suspicions as well as faith and belief to the table. It's also okay to talk about how the Bible might be helpful or unhelpful.

7pm Thursday 13 October
7pm Thursday 20 October
7pm Thursday 27 October
7pm Thursday 3 November
7pm Thursday 10 November
7pm Thursday 17 November
7pm Thursday 24 November

If you think you'll come along let us know by emailing us at house@ihh.org.au

In Advent (beginning last November) we're also planning to do some Monday night studies on radicals discipleship. We'll have more details about that as we get closer.

Quaker Spirituality

Our most recent learning circle was about Quaker spirituality. The early residents at IHH were strongly influenced by Quaker spirituality and practices when the house was set up. In particular, we looked at how these practices can help us to be a prophetic voice within our own culture.

Jane Hope started our learning circle on Quaker spirituality with silence. On a table in the centre there was a vase of daffodils, a Bible and the book Quaker Faith and Practice. It is at the heart of Quaker spirituality that those of the Religious Society of Friends (known derogatorily as Quakers because they often 'quaked' when they rose to speak at a meeting) try to respond to all things out of a deep silence. This is because a core belief is that every person can have direct access to God through silence. This is part of the testimony of truth.

There are four key testimonies that Quakers hold to for personal and public life: the testimonies of peace, equality, simplicity and truth. At the IHH, we have been conscious of the 'peace of the house' which reminds us to be aware of what we are bringing into a space, and how we respond to situations of tension or conflict. In sharing living spaces with guests, we are seeking to relate as people equal in worth and dignity, while recognising that our circumstances are unequal due to the ongoing impacts of colonisation. We have tried to keep our household simple with many items donated - and the fact of living communally means we don't need (and can't fit!) duplicates of items such as ironing boards and fridges and bicycle pumps. And we seek to be open to truth from whatever source it may come, so our residents and volunteers have come from all sorts of backgrounds and faith traditions.

Quakers are also formed by a regular practice of reflecting on queries and advices. Thus, they are likely to ask questions more often than leaping to criticise or make a judgement. It is easy for us to loudly criticise and judge the society around when we see injustice and suffering (and we can also judge ourselves). Our learning circles invite us to sit and reflect contemplatively, and ask questions about ourselves, our culture and what the Spirit might be saying to us.