Conversations with a Four-year-old

Recently we had some old friends from Dareton come and stay with us. On this trip they brought their spritely four-year-old daughter and niece with them. The first few of days were spent quietly playing with the toys in the toy corner but by day three or four her mum sat down with me at the kitchen table as we had breakfast.

The young girl's mum and I chatted over our cereal while the little one was engrossed in her iPad game. Then across the table she began explaining what she was doing to me. 'See, this is what you do, this is how you play! See, do you like that one? Do you like that one?'

As her mum went to have a shower and I drank my cup of tea the four year old kept talking and talking. Slowly she moved closer to where I was sitting, until she was right next to me. She even let me have a turn playing with her iPad, explaining how to play and encouraging me when I did well 'That's it cuz, you got it!'

As we played she noticed a man climbing a ladder in front of the house next door. 'What's 'e doin'?' she asked. 'I think he might be looking for a bee hive.' I replied, as we had noticed a small swarm of bees had been gathering there over the last few days. 

'They gunna get 'oney?'

'Well, yes, they might get honey, if they keep the bees. They might just need to put them somewhere else.'

'They like 'oney? I like 'oney.'

'I'm not sure, they may like honey, I like honey too.'

Later the next day as I was reading outside the inquisitive four year old came to join me. 

'Whatcha doin'?'

'I'm reading.'

I was by the outside fire pit, trying to keep my distance as I had developed a bad cold. She was not deterred. 

'Can I come over there.'

'Yeah, you can.'

As she looked around the backyard she wondered,

'You got 'ens?'

'No, we don't have hens, but we have thought about getting some.'

''Ens are good for eggs.'

'Yes they are, you're right.'

'I like 'em 'ens.'

'Yeah I like them too.'

Seeing that young girl, talking to her, being welcomed in to her world was a real experience for me. It is one of many precious experiences I have had while living at the IHH. These small, everyday things add up to create a great deal of difference over time. Most especially in me.

- Mehrin

Introducing the Chapmans

Hi IHH community! We are the Chapman’s - Ian, Sarah, and Winston. We are thankful and excited to become 'ressies' of IHH in mid-December and look forward to living, serving, and learning there. Ian is pursuing his passion for preaching, teaching, spreading, and living the love of Jesus in various ways including Newmarket Baptist Church. Sarah is soon entering the final year of her nursing degree at Melbourne Uni, enjoys music and writing, and loves being a mum. Winston (16 months) is on the go all the time, exploring everything, and bringing much joy to those around him. We hope to meet and chat with the wider IHH community soon!

The Intimacy of Cooking

While the IHH was closed this year I spent some time facilitating some workshops at the house, on practises of hospitality. The idea was to make some space to reflect on how some of the ordinary everyday things we all do around the house (like cooking, cleaning, making tea) make space for the other. I also got the opportunity to present the cooking workshop at the Kathleen Syme Library in Carlton, as part of the September TAG ('teach anything good') Day. In the new year I’ll also be facilitating the workshops for some locals in Footscray.

If you think about it, cooking for someone is quite and intimate activity. We’re working with materials, often using our hands, that will enter into a person’s body and become part of them. That’s a very close relationship - especially considering that many people who are employed to cook do not even meet the people they are cooking for. I think this relationship is important at the IHH because we as Settler people are often cooking for Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander guests. We are two groups of people who have been in conflict, but the cooking brings us into close relationship. (Don’t get me wrong, often it is still awkward!) It’s also been particularly significant for us as Settlers when our guests have offered to cook for us, and nourish us.

- Chris

IHH reopens today

Today we have resumed receiving guests who need to come to Melbourne for hospital business, after closing midyear to recruits more residents and reassess how the house operates.
One of the things we've recognised is that the Indigenous Hospitality House is a learning community. We need to make more space for others in the wider community to connect with the project and learn with us. Reflecting on what it means for Settler people to live on stolen land has always been a key part of the IHH's purpose. The IHH residents have always prioritised space to reflect on how our history of colonisation should shape Australian and Christian identity. While we've been closed we've been looking at ways that we can open up more space for people who don't live at the IHH to be welcome into those reflective spaces.
Tonight it looks like we'll have about fourteen of us around for dinner, including residents, hospital guests and some new friends who are interested in learning with us.

Yarnin

I've been missing the stories that our guests tell across the kitchen table, but last week I went to see Yarnin at the Footscray Community Arts Centre with Frances and Sharon from VAHS. Yarnin is a series of short films made by young Koori people interviewing their elders on the subject of land rights. The stories were moving, passionate, and gave insight into the local experiences of Koori people, and our recent history. You can see these films and more on the Yarnin website.

- Samara

$195 raised at IHH Pancake Breakfast

Thank you to everyone who dropped in to the Indigenous Hospitality House today for the Pink Ribbon Pancake Breakfast! Altogether we had 29 people involved, of all different ages and together we raised $195 for the Cancer Council Australi.

Pink Ribbon Pancake Breakfast at the IHH

Come and enjoy a pancake or two at our place and bring along a donation for women's cancer research. We'll have music, food, tea and coffee, hopefully the weather's good and we can gather outside and admire the gorgeous garden.

We're putting some pancakes on the barbie to celebrate Spring and to raise money for women's cancer research. There'll be all your favourite toppings: lemon and sugar, maple syrup, jam, Nutella, ice-cream, chocolate topping, sprinkles ... the works!

Where: 1/907 Drummond Street, North Carlton, 3054
When: Saturday October 3 2015, 9.30am-1.30pm
Cost: by Donation

RSVP: (for catering purposes) by Friday 2nd October

Come and have brekky with us! We hope to see you there.

Come and visit us in Term 3

Unfortunately we are short on residents heading into term 3.  With just Chris, Mehrin, Samara and Louise on deck, we have reluctantly made the decision to stop taking guest referrals this term until we can do so sustainably.  

However, we are taking the opportunity to do some big picture work on how the House is structured, and to run some community events on Thursday nights - check out the flyer below.

Plenty going on

Take a look at the term 2 newsletter, and you'll see there has been plenty going on!  The trivia night was a hit, we learnt about 'Nature Play Wurundjeri Way' from landscape architect Jeff Nelson who worked on the awesome playground in Royal Park, singing Psalm 100 in Boon Wurrung language and more!

And of course, we are still seeking residents.  Get in touch if you want to know more, or come along on a Thursday night to learn more about what we do and why, and to reflect together on stories of hospitality as well as lamentation.

'Heard a Story'

Samara wrote a song for National Reconciliation Week, inspired by stories she has heard during her time at the IHH!  A lovely group of folks (including IHH's Mehrin and Chris) joined her to sing, record, and make the video look cool.  You can check out the Reconciliation Australia website to listen to a bunch of other entries from schools and individuals across the country.

We're looking for residents … want to join us?

We have some spaces opening up at the House over the next few months.  If you are interested in finding out more, or sussing out some different ways of getting involved, let us know! 

Trivia Night June 26

New venue this year: West Coburg Bowling Club. Get your tables of 8 together and start memorising useless facts because you never know...

March 2015 newsletter

'Justice is about a decent, fair and healthy standard of living - with Aboriginal Australians as its guardians and interpreters.' Spoken by Premier Daniel Andrews on Close the Gap Day, some words we want to hold him accountable to.  Read his speech, meet our new resi Louise, check out the wish list and see what the IHH got up to in our Term 1 newsletter.

A little carol for the IHH from Montrose Uniting

(to the tune of 'While Shepherds Watched their Flocks by Night')

‘Unless,’ said he, ‘your friends can help
with laundering your duds
by sending washing powder here, 
providing it’s low suds.’

While Mehrin washed the socks by night,
a-leaning o’er the tub,
the angel of the Lord came down
and bade her scrub and scrub.

Chorus (twice):  Glory, glory, glory Gemma, Samara and Sam
And on earth – peace to all people who live on Wurundjeri land.

‘Fear not,’ said he (for mighty sighs
betrayed her troubled mind),
‘I’m sure they’ll send good coffee and
black tea (the loose-leaf kind).

‘Besides you see,’ the angel said,
You’re taking too much time.
There’ll be queen-size sheets and pillowslips
to hang out on the line.’

Chorus (twice):  Glory, glory, glory our thanks for Chris, Matt and Fran
And on earth – peace to all people who live on Wurundjeri land.

Thus spake the seraph and forthwith
appeared a shining throng
of angels praising God because
there’s no more to this song.

‘For you in Montrose church this day
a bursting box displayed!
Detergent, sugar, liquid soap,
all gifts someone has made.’

Chorus (twice):  Glory, glory, glory in heaven, they’re clapping their hands!
And on earth – peace to all people who live on Wurundjeri land.

December 2014 newsletter

New bathroom facilities for our guests - hooray!  Also lots of learning for residents and in our churches and communities, both in the city and out on country.  Read about it all here.