It’s Time

2016

SJAG Presents

RESPECTING THE ELDERLY

Term 4

It’s Time

2016

SJAG Presents

Social Justice in an Ageing Society

Term 4

CONTENTS WAZZA’S FINAL WAFFLE – MR WALEED YOUNAN

TAKING THE SIMPLE STEP FURTHER – EOIN O’SULLIVAN

THE WORK OF GOD’S HAND– MITCHELL DEVINE

WISDOM COMES WITH AGE – ANTHONY BEJJANI

THE ELDERLY AND RESPECT – MR GREGORY SCIORTINO

ARRUNGA NURSING HOME – A PLACE OF PEACE AND

PROSPERITY – LACHLAN COOREY

PAST AND FUTURE WORKING TOGETHER – JOSHUA VEIDERYAKI

RESPECTING THE ELDERS – DARCY PATTERSON

THE LOVE OF GRANDPARENTS – JAMES JABOUR

ENJOY READING

WAZZA’S FINAL WAFFLE Thisfinaleditionfor2016ofIt’sTimefocusesonourAgeingSociety.Thearticlesrangefromatheologicalreflectionontheelderlywithinthecatholicfaithtradition,throughtoreflectingonrespecttowardstheelderlyandarticlesthathonourthememory,wisdom,exampleandcourageofourgrandparents.ThisissueofIt’sTimeisinfacttimelyfortworeasons–firstly,currentmediareportsrevealtheinhumanetreatmentoftheelderlyinagedcarefacilities,particularlyinflictedonsuffersofdementiainAustralia,revealanuglysideofinstitutionalcareinourcommunitythatlieshiddenandunknownbymanyAustralians.ThesecurrentaffairsprogramsseemtoreflectadisturbingtrendnotedbytheUnitedNationsonWorldElderAbuseDaythisJune,thathighlightedelderabusewillincreaseastheglobalpopulationofolderpeopleisexpectedtodoubleby2025.Moreover,weliveinasocietythatrewardsandcelebratestheyoungandthestrongandseesolderpeopleasweakandfutile,oftenstereotypingthemasdependent,slowandunproductive.Thesecondreasonforthefocusofthecurrentandfinalissuefor2016ofIt’sTime,isthatconsciousofthecurrentmediacoverage,theUnitedNationsreportandreadingthe“signsofthetimes”,theAustralianCatholicBishopsConference(ACBC)issuedastatemententitled“Aplaceatthetable:SocialJusticeInAnAgeingSociety”(2016-2017).Inthischallengingdocument,PopeFrancisiscitedasurgingustoreflectthat:“justasGodasksustobehismeansofhearingthecryofthepoor,sotoohewantsustohearthecryoftheelderly…Indeed,‘howIwouldlikeaChurchthatchallengesthethrow-awayculturebytheoverflowingjoyofanewembracebetweenyoungandold!”.It’stimetocelebrateandhonourthewisdom,courage,patienceandunconditionalloveandserviceoftheelderlyinourcommunities,especiallyourgrandparents,bothaliveandthosewhohavegonebefore.Equallyimportantandurgentistheneedforprotectingthosemostvulnerableinoursociety,includingtheelderly.TheGreatestCommandmentandtheGoldenRulecompelChristianstoworktowardsalovingandmercifulcommunitythatisinclusiveandhonoursthediversityofgiftsofeachandeverymemberofoursociety.Icommendthisissuetoyou,andhopeandpraywearetransformeddailybytheHolySpirittobecomeapeoplewhonotonlyusethewordsofJesusinourprayers,butlivethewordsofJesusvisiblyinourdailylife.Mr.WaleedYounanActingDirectorofIdentity

TAKING THE SIMPLE STEP FURTHER

There’sasimplereasonwhytheelderlyareelderly,theyareolder,wiserandmoreexperiencedthananyotheragebracket.Throughoutourlives,welearn,growand,change,wefindnewchallengesandnewwaystofacethem.However,often,thechallengeswefacearesolvedwithknowledgepasseddowntousfromthosewhohavebeenwherewearenow.Oureldersknowthefaultsofhistoryandareabletoguideusthroughourownlives.Withoutthewisdomandknowledgeofthepast,historyisboundtorepeatitself,themistakesofthepastwillbecomethemistakesofthefuture.Everyday,wepassbysomeone’sgrandparents,someone’sgreatgrandparents,sometimes,peoplepassbyyourgrandparents.Respectcanbeshowninavarietyofsmallways;itwouldn’tmakeadifferenceforusbutitcouldforthem.Whenonatrain,busoranypublictransportnoteveryoneneedsaseatbutpersonswhomareelderlymightneedtheseat.It’scommoncurtesyandwouldn’ttakeaninchofsweatoffofyou.Truthbetold,thebareminimumofrespectisn’talwaysshowntothosewhohavecomebeforeus.Simplerespectshouldbeshowntoeveryperson,theelderlydeservesourrespectmorethananyone,theyareourgenerationsfathersandmothers.Simple‘please’and‘thankyou’showsbasicrespect,itisn’talwaysdonebutitcanbeifwemaketheeffort.Shouldn’twemaketheefforttogivebacktothosewhohavegivenusourlives?Remember,wheneveryoupasssomeoneelse’sgrandparent,someoneelsepassesyourgrandparents.Wouldn’tyouwantrespecttobeshowntothem?Takeitastepfurther,wecanallgivethatlittlebitmoretotheelderly.Everyday,inhomes,theelderlymembersofoursocietyareleftneglected.Leftsittinginsilence,forgottenabout.ThroughYr11’ssocialjusticeworkstudentsvisitthesehomes,theyaregivenauniqueviewintothelivesofoursociety.Theelderlyarepartofoursociety,theybuiltwhatwehave.Thestepfurthercouldbeminor,offeringtohelpyourneighbourwithminorchores,visitingthesehomesandfindingyourownwaystohelpout.Visitingelderlyhomesprovideanewperspectiveonourageingsociety.Weneedtosupporttheelderlymorethanever.Onedaywewillbetheelderly.It’snotamatterofopinionormindsetbutafact.OnedayI,you,wewillhavegrownold.Won’twewantacultureinwhichtheelderlyarelookedafter?Whenwe’vegrownoldandlivealonetheleastwewillwantisrespect.Ifwecan’tgiverespecttoourelderlywhyshouldweberespectedwhenweareintheirposition?Ultimately,it’samatterofhumandecencythatwerespectthosewhohavecomebeforeus.Theyaretheglobalcommunitiesparentinggenerations.Ourgrandparents,they’rethefoundationsofoursociety.Deservingofrespectfulnature,theyareworthourtime.Wegivebacktothosewhohavegivenusourlives.EoinO’SullivanSocialJusticePrefect

THE WORK OF GOD’S HAND

’Donotspeakharshlytoanolderman,butspeaktohimastoafather,toyoungermenasbrothers,toolderwomenasmothers,toyoungerwomenassisters—withabsolutepurity’’–1Timothy5:1-2.On2ndNovembertheCatholicChurchcelebratedAllSoulsDay–adaywherewecommemorateallthefaithfuldeparted.Itisatimeofsolemnprayerandremembranceofthosethathavegonebeforeusintothelightoffaith.Italsoprovidestheopportunitytoreflectuponthoseindividualsthathaveprovideduswithexperience,hopeandwisdominourlives.AsPopeJohnPaulIIstatedinhis1999LettertotheAgeing,‘’wisdomisbecomingtotheelderly’’.Inspiredbyaconvictiontowardsthecontributionthattheelderlycangivetothelifeofsociety,theCatholicChurchcallsfortheirdignityandfundamentalrightstoberespected.Intoday’ssociety,thereisacommonperceptionofoldageasaperiodofdecline–astageofstagnationandineptnessthatpermeatesastimeprogresses.However,theelderlyprovidesuswithaconsiderableamountofknowledge,wisdomandinsightthatonlycomesfromalifetimeofexperience.InJob12:12,itstates‘’wisdomiswiththeaged,andunderstandinginlengthofdays’’.ThishighlightsthatthroughoutourCatholictradition,thereisacommonemphasisontheimportanceoftheelderlyasasourceofinformation,butalsoarealisationoftheworldaroundus.WhentryingtounderstandtheChristianresponsetotheelderly,IthinkoftheGospelof‘TheWidow’sOffering’providesuswithaninsight:‘‘Hesatdownoppositethetreasury,andwatchedthecrowdputtingmoneyintothetreasury.Manyrichpeopleputinlargesums.Apoorwidowcameandputintwosmallcoppercoins,whichareworthapenny.Thenhecalledhisdisciplesandsaidtothem,“TrulyItellyou,thispoorwidowhasputinmorethanallthosewhoarecontributingtothetreasury’’–Mark12:41-43.JusthowJesusdidnotdisregardtheworksofthewidow,Christianadherentsshouldnotoverlookwhattheelderlydotopromotetrueworship.Wehavereasontocommendeldersfortheirshareintheministry,fortheirparticipationinmeetings,fortheirpositiveinfluenceinthecongregation,andfortheirendurance.Asincerewordofencouragementcanhelptheelderlyfindmeaningintheirsacredserviceandshowthattheircontributiontotheworldandsocietyisappreciated.Fromafaithperspective,theelderlyplaysacrucialroleascatechists–teachersoftheprinciplesofChristianfaith.ThroughoutthehistoryoftheChurch,ithasbeentheroleanddutyofsenioradherentstobequeathtraditionsandunderstandingoffaith.Theyprovidetheirowndiscernmentoftheworldaroundthem,andaidintheapplicabilityofbeliefstowardsit.Justasdevotedparentsnurturetheirchildrenthroughinfancy,childhoodandlaterlife,theelderlynurturessocietythroughtheircontinualcommitmenttoservicetoothers.MitchellDevineSpirituality/FaithFormationPrefect

WISDOM COMES WITH AGE

“Listentoyourelder’sadvice,notbecausetheyarealwaysright,butbecausetheyhavemoreexperienceswithbeingwrong.”Intoday’sfastpacedandeverchangingsociety,itisoftenquiteeasytobecomeconsumedinourselvesandtheneverendingtasksthatareathand.However,aswetravelthroughourdaytodaybusylives,alargeproportionofthecommunitythatareoftenforgottenabout,sitbackandobservethechangesthatareoccurringinfrontofthem,withacupofEarlGreyinonehand,andacrosswordintheother.Theyare,ofcourse,theelderly.Theelderlypeopleinourcommunityaremostoftenthewisest.Manyindividualsdonotrealisethetremendousknowledgeandwisdomthatresideswithintheoldermembersofsociety,untiltheyhavethechancetositdownandhaveaconversationwithoneanother.We,asmembersoftheyoungergeneration,mayhavetoteachthemhowtouseacomputer,orenlightenthemwithanexplanationonthefunctionsofasmartphone,butthegreatestlessonsofall,arethoseinwhichtheelderlycanteachus.Wisdomcomeswithage;asthemorelifeexperiencesyouhave,themoreyouknowaboutlove,hate,compassion,acceptance,ethics,hopeandthelistgoeson.Thuswecanlearnmorefromtheelderly,thanwecaneverteachthem.Theirknowledgeofhistorysupersedesthatofatextbookandissecondtonone,astheylivedthroughexperiencessuchasWWIIandtherepercussionsthatitbroughtalong.Theiridealsofloveanditsdominanceoverhateissomethingthatsocietyaswhole,canlearnfrom,becausetheyknowthedangersofresentmentandnon-acceptance.Astheabovementionedquotedenotes,theadvicegivenbytheelderlyshouldbetakenwithhonourandgreatconsideration;notbecausetheyarealwaysright,butbecausetheirlifeexperienceshaveshownthemwhatiswrong.Overthelastcoupleweeks,Ihavebeenluckyenoughtohavehadoneononeconversationswithbothofmygrandfathers.Throughthis,IfeelasifIhavegainedsomuchmorerespectformygrandparents,asIneverreallyappreciatedthesacrificestheymade,andthestrugglestheyfacedasmigrants,untilIheardtheirspiels.Priortothis,IneverknewthattheyhadexperiencedracismthroughouttheirinitialyearsinAustralia;Ineverknewthatmygrandfatherwouldoftenworktwojobsforatotalof15hoursaday;orthatmyothergrandfatherwouldrarelyseemygrandmotherduetothefactthatashearrivedfromwork,shewouldleavetoherjob,justsotheycouldprovidefortheirfamilies.Byhearingthis,theyhavetaughtmethatwithhardworkandperseverance,anythingispossible.SoIurgeeveryonetomakethetime,tovisitthelocalretirementvillageorsurpriseyourgrandparentswithavisit,asasimpleconversation,cangoalongway.AnthonyBejjaniCollegeVice-Captain

THE ELDERLY AND RESPECT

Everyonehasheardsomeonesayintheirtime“Respectyourelders”butitisn’toftenthatyouhearsomeoneactuallyexplainwhy.Alotofpeoplejustsayit’sbecausetheyareolderandtheydeserveit,whichistrue,howeverinmyexperiencetheoldergenerationshaveactuallyearntmyrespectandadmiration.Tolivefor7ormoredecadesisanamazingthing-it’scrazyconsideringthelifeexpectancyofpeoplesome150yearsago.Butinthisdayandage,generationsseemtoblend.Peoplethathaveseensomuchintheworldchangeintheirlifetime-fromcarsjuststartingtobecomeacommonthingontheroads,tocamerastransformingfromusingfilmtodigitalcameras,andthenthesecamerasgoingintomobiletechnology,whichcanalsocall,text,accesstheinternet,countyoursteps,trackwhatyoueat,findyourplaceontheglobewithGPS,emailandsomuchmore.Toseeallthesechangesandembraceitisanawesomething.OnepersonthatIhaveseenembraceallofthischangeismy80yearoldZio(Uncle)Giocondo.HehasrecentlyaddedmeonFacebook,regularlycallshisniecesandnephewsinItalyonSkypetostayintouch,hasamobilephoneandstilldriveshiscararoundthestreetsoftheInner-West.Ihavetrulybeenblessedtogrowupwithsomeamazingpeoplewhoaremyrolemodelsinlife.Thesepeopleconstantlyinspiremeineveryaspectofmylife,whetheritbeinteractionswithmyfamilyandfriends,myrelationshipwithGodorthewayIapproachmyjob.Butthepeoplethathaveinspiredmethemosthavebeenmygrandparents.GrowingupIwasfortunateenoughthatmyparentschosetobuyahousearoundthecornerfrommyNonnoandNonna.ThismeantthatalmosteverydaymybrotherandIwouldgooverandspendtimewiththem.NonnowouldalwaysbeintheveggiepatchinthebackyardtellingusstorieswhileNonnawascookingoneofherdeliciousmeals.AtthedinnertabletheepicsofNonno’slifewouldcontinueandlittledidIknowatthetimethatIwouldstillholdthemessagesclosetomeatalltimes:loveyourfamilyandalwaysbewillingtohelpeachother,evenattheworsttimes.AfterNonnopassedawayIbecamemuchclosertomyNonna.Iwouldspendalotofmyholidaystherewhenwewouldgotobingoandtheshopstogether.ThatisthetimethatIstartedtorealisejusthowstrongshewas.Herentireoutlookonlife,spanningoveralong93years,wasformedfromvariedexperiencesacrossmanyspacesandcountriesandwassharedwithme.ShealsotaughtmesomelifelessonswhichIwillneverforget:alwayslookforthepositivesineverything;knowGodisalwayswithyou;thankeveryoneforeverymomentyousharewiththem;andsometimesthingshappeninlifethatareoutofyourcontrol,butjustletthemhappen.ThisiswhyIrespectedhersomuch.Shealwaysknewtherightthingtosayandwhentosayit.SheisthestrongestpersonIknowtodate,andwentthroughsomuchinlifebutstillmanagedtosmileeverydayandbethankfulfortheblessings.Shetaughtmesomuch-andIthankhereverydayfordoingso.Respectisimportantbecauseitshowshowmuchyouvalueanotherperson.Itistruewhenpeoplesay“youdon’tknowwhatyouhaveuntilit’sgone,”butmemoriesliveonandareeternal.Ifsomeonehasimpactedonyourlife,orisarolemodelthatyoulookupto,thankthemforsimplybeingthem.Inmylifeitwasmygrandparentswhoinspiredmetobeabetterman.AsIgetolder(andhopefullywiser!)IhopeIcanbelikethem,thenIthinkI’llbeokay.Inyourlifethesepeoplemaybedifferentoryoumaythankthemforvariousthings,buttheimportantthingisthatyoumaintaingoodrelationshipswiththosewhoareolderthanyou.Theymaytakealittlewhilelongertogetusedtonewphones,appsandtrends,butensureyougivethemtimetobewithyouandlearnfromyou,becauseyou,nodoubt,willlearnfromthem.Mr.GregorySciortinoGeographyTeacher

ARRUNGA NURSING HOME – A PLACE OF PEACE AND

PROSPERITY ManystereotypesandcommonbeliefsabouttheElderlyofoursocietyarethattheyare“grumpy”or“out-dated”.ItisthesestereotypesthatarestrictlytornapartattheArrungaNursingHome,Silverwater.InthisNursinghomelivesmanyElderlypeoplewhosometimesportraythesestereotypesbutitisatrainingstationtopeoplewhomareequippedtocarefortheireveryneed.ThehomeisahavenfortheElderlyasthestaff,nursesanddoctorstreatthemwiththeupmostrespectandcare.Everyoneresidenthasexperiencedjoyandhappiness,livinginacommunitywheretheycanliveouttheirlivesinpeaceandhappiness.Rarelyistherearesidentwho“hates”or“condemns”thepracticesastheyhaveallenjoyedeachotherscompany,includingthestaff.Althoughsomeareofgreatillnessandthereforehavebeenadmittedthere,thecommunitythathasbeenbuilt,makesthenursinghomemore“home”tothem.Thenursescatertoaltheirdesiresabouttheirroomsaswellaswhatneedstobedoneandwhen.Manyfunctionsareheldtheretocelebratetheirlivesaswellasmaketheirexperiencesenjoyableandmemorable.Notonlythatbutthestudentsfromtheschoolontheoppositeendoftheroad,doconstantworkandcharitytomaketheirliveshappier.Theseinvolvemusicprograms,socialfunctionssuchasbingoanddress-up,foodcateringanddonationstowardstheimprovementofthehome.ItrulyfindthistobeaninspiringandupliftingcommunityofwhichshowstheupmostrespectandcarefortheElderlyregardlessoftheirconditions.Thehome’sbeliefsandtraditionsarecentredoncareanddiversityofeveryvarietyofpeopleregardlessofreligion,culture,raceandetc.Inadditionthefamiliesandfriendsofeveryresidentalsohelptomakethehomeamoreenjoyableplaceforthem.Thefeelingoftogethernessandcommunityandlove,iswhatmakestheHomeashiningexampleofoneofthemanyplaceswherepeopleshowtheElderlytherespecttheydeserve.LachlanCooreyYear9

PAST AND FUTURE WORKING TOGETHER

Itisuncommonintoday'ssocietythatweseerespectandasenseofdecorumtowardspeople,especiallytowardstheelderly.Iworrytothinkaboutourgenerationandhowwewillbetreatedwhenwesoonreachourtimeofbeingelderly.WhenIwasachildIwasbroughtuptorespecttheelderlyandtohelpthemwhentheyareinneed.Itwasaveryimportantinourhouseholdtorespecttheeldest.Butintoday’scommunityitisveryinfrequentthattheseactionsandthesedreamsarebeingrealizedwhichisabigconcern! Totreattheelderlywithrespectismoreofaprivilegeratherthanachore,butintoday'scultureweliveinaworldnowthatisevolvingandchangingrapidlyandsometimesweforgettomaketimeforourgrandparentsandelderly.Itisdisappointingtoseewhatourrespectfortheelderlyhascometoanditisimportantthatwechangeourassumptionsabouttheelderly.Wehavetogivethanksforallthattheyhaveachievedanddoneforus. Ibelieveitisimportantthatwegivebacktotheelderlycommunityastheyhavedonesomuchforus,nowit'stheirtimetoenjoythefruitsoftheirhardlaboursandourtimetosupportandbethereforthemespeciallyintimesofneed.JoshuaVeidreyakiYear9

RESPECTING THE ELDERS

Mygrandparentsarethemostwonderful,caringandgenerouspeopleIknow.Iamluckyenoughtohaveallofmygrandparentsfrombothmymotherandfathers’side.TheyareaninspiringpairofrolemodelsrepresentingseniorcitizenshipthatIaspireto.Iseethemstillcaringformyparentsandhelpingthemlookaftermybrotherandmeandalltheirothergrandchildren.Theyareverygivingwiththeirtime,loveandfood.IrespectmygrandparentsbygreetingthemwithakissorahandshakewhenIvisitonweekends;IlistentothemandspendtimewiththembeforeIplaywithmycousins.Ilovelisteningtothestoriesoftheirchildhood,whichissodifferenttomyown.Irespectthembyhavinggoodmannersandappreciatingthemforalltheircontributiontotheirfamiliesandcommunity.It’sprettyhardtothinkofmygrandparentsasyoungkids-beingnaughtyfortheirparents,goingtoschool,orfightingwiththeirbrothersandsisters.Thesimpleactoflisteningtothemandpayingattentionmakesmerememberthattheyhavelivedthroughalifethathaschangedincrediblyinthelast80years.Bytakingthetimetolearntheirhistory,myheritage,Ihavegainedbeautifulmemories.Respectisapartofloveandhumandignity.PopeFrancishassaid,“Thehumanpersonisalwaysprecious,evenifmarkedbyageandsickness”.Hesayswehaveadutytohonourtheelderly.Manyyearsfromnowwetoowillbeold.Ifwedon’tlearntorespecttheelderlyfortheirwisdom,thenperhapswetoowon’tbetreatedwellwhenwe’reoldandfragile.Iwanttoliveinasocietywhereweshowgratitude,mercyandaffectiontoourelderlybecausetheircontributionshavemadeourlivesbettertoday.SonextSunday,govisitNonna,StaraMamaoryourGranddad,andgivethemahug!They’llloveyouthatmuchmore!DarcyPattersonYear7

THE LOVE OF GRANDPARENTS

Ihaveknownmygrandparentsonmymother’ssidemywholelifeandIhavenevermetmyfather’sparents(MarjorieandJamilJabour)astheydied before I was born. I have many fond memories of my mother’sparents(DorothyandCecilLindley)includingourtimetogetherdowntheSouth Coast at Kiama where they have a holiday house and at theirhouse.MostholidaysmysistersandIgodowntoKiamaeitherbytrainorcar.WheneveratKiamamy sistersand IwouldgodowntoKiamaSurfBeachwithNannaandalsototheLollyShopifweweregood.WithmyPoppy I would work in the back garden with him daily and help picktomatoes,cucumbers,peaches,beansandsnowpeas.IrememberIusedtowashthesnowpeasandeatthemrightafterwepickedthem.AfterIgot picked up from school sometimeswewent over to their house forafternoon teawheremyNannawouldmake pikelets and sausage rollsformysistersandI.NoothersausagerollscancomparetomyNanna’s.Iusedtoeatallofthemandnotleaveanyforanyoneelse.JamesJabourYear8

THANK YOU FOR READING THE FINAL EDITION OF SJAG’S IT’S TIME MAGAZINE

WE HAVE HAD A GREAT YEAR OF FIGHTING

FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE

AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE YEAR TO COME

HAVE A SAFE AND ENJOYABLE BREAK

BE SURE NOT TO FORGET ABOUT THE LESS FORUNATE DURING THE HOLDIAY SEASON

THE SJAG TEAM WISHES OUR READERS A

HAPPY AND HOLY CHRISTMAS AND A PROSPEROUS NEW YEAR