Editorial, October 22, 2010

Hail Mary

ASK most Jews in Melbourne who their favourite saint is and, assuming they’re not a Carlton or Collingwood fan, chances are they’ll say Nick Riewoldt. Ask most Jews in Sydney who their least favourite saint is and, assuming they’re a Roosters fan, they’ll say Mark Gasnier.

St Kilda in the AFL and St George in the NRL — until recently that was about as far as our knowledge of saints went ‚Ķ apart from, of course, those of us who’ve holidayed in the UK and purchased the obligatory underwear from Marks and Spencer, brand name St Michael.

But this week, a new saint grabbed our attention, Australia’s very first, Mary MacKillop.

In and of itself, the fact that another religion has venerated one of its own may appear of no significance to us as Jews. However, to pay no heed to her canonisation for that reason alone would be churlish.

Instead of being dismissive, we would do well to consider Mary’s life and to reflect on those values that she both espoused and practised.

It is, of course, gratifying for us as a community that it was a Jewish gentleman, Emanuel Solomon, who came to her rescue when her own church turned against her. It was he who provided a home for Mary and her followers in the wake of her excommunication and who she referred to as “her Jewish friend”, as she praised the kindness of the community.

But it is her own kindness, as well as her commitment to improve the lives of those less fortunate, particularly in the field of education, that should resonate with us.

And though the notion of sainthoods may be alien to us, nonetheless the significance of her canonisation and the interest shown in it — the pride it has brought to Australia — are of value themselves.

For in a culture and age that idolises pop and sports stars, that places great store in artistic and athletic achievement, or that simply reveres people based on their looks, the elevation to international iconic status of an individual who represents morality and good deeds is to be welcomed.
Whether or not one shares the specific religious credo she subscribed to, Mary is to be admired for dedicating her life to God, for her ceaseless efforts on behalf of those less fortunate and for instilling a sense of spirituality and faith into those around her. For these are values we hold dear as a people and, as such, Mary is an inspiration not just to those of the same religion, but to humanity as a whole.

Caring for the carers

IT is National Carers Week, and The AJN has spoken to two unpaid carers in the Jewish community who look after family members. In one case, the people being cared for are elderly parents suffering from progressive, degenerative illnesses, in the other case, a young daughter suffering from ­cerebral palsy.

The daily schedule these carers describe is exacting, time consuming and painstaking. For the daughter caring for her elderly parents, there is an endless list of activities — taking care of meals, medication, shopping trips, doctors’ appointments, liaising with case workers.

The mother caring for her daughter is faced with an equally intensive daily schedule.

But in neither case do these family members ever question their role. They perform their duties out of love and respect.

Yet what often goes unsaid is that the help they give is stressful and emotionally taxing. It is not easy to watch an elderly parent declining physically or mentally, or sit by relatively helplessly as disease take its toll on a son or daughter.

In the Jewish community, we need to make it a priority to care for the carers and ensure they never feel isolated, or that they are bearing the burden solely on their own shoulders. Much is already happening in this field, but much more needs to happen.

Both JewishCare in NSW and Jewish Care in Victoria provide a wide range of facilities, but a lack of funding is taking its toll. At Glen Eira Villas in Melbourne, for example, a residential facility for 14 adults, part of the respite facility remains vacant. It is a space where family members could receive some assistance and, at the very least, some time out to recharge between duties.

Such facilities should receive urgent funding, as they are an essential aspect of the care we provide to those in our community with special needs.

These are considerations that should be incorporated into a future carers’ policy by the Federal Government.

A discussion paper, Towards A National Carer Strategy, prepared by the Department of Families, Housing, Community Services and Indigenous Affairs and the Department of Health and Ageing, outlines the proposed plans. The paper is a start, but action is needed urgently.Editorial, October 15, 2010