And brings to close weekend of awards and speeches
Brenton Stacey
Public relations officer
Cooranbong, New South Wales, Australia
Cast members of Son of Jesse take their final bow. Credit: Ann Stafford.
A choir-based musical about a Bible hero co-written by a lecturer made its Australian premiere at the Avondale College Alumni Association’s annual Homecoming.
Son of Jesse is Associate Professor Daniel Reynaud and former colleague Adrian Bell’s re-telling of the story of David. Daniel, dean of the Faculty of Arts, and Adrian wrote the musical in 1981 before revising it in 1983. This “deliberately anachronistic” new version included a newsreader as narrator, two psychiatrists discussing King Saul’s health, Absalom talking on his mobile phone and a boxing gloved-clad Goliath. Avondale staff members and students played most of the roles. Seventeen-year-old Justin Watson showed confidence and maturity in his acting and singing, bringing gravitas to the leading role. Senior music lecturer Dr Robb Dennis produced the musical with alumni Andrew Taylor, making his directorial debut, and Kristin Thiele.
The Avondale College Alumni Association kept the name of the recipient of its highest award secret until the presentation during the worship service on Saturday morning. The Outstanding Alumni of the Year recognises Erica Borgas’s commitment to Christian education—she would serve in the classroom, mostly at Avondale School, over almost 40 years—and her “friendliness, graciousness and willingness to help anyone, anywhere.”
Eight other alumni, one from each honour year, joined Erica as award recipients. Receiving citations from their classmates were: longtime Cooranbong community member Pearl Toepfer (1940); retired Seventh-day Adventist Church administrator and educator John Lee (1950); retired Adventist educator Richard Anderson (1960); Adventist minister and church planter Peter Roennfeldt (1970); businesswoman Cornelia Szeszeran (1980); musician Peter Dixon (1985); businessman Stephen Chan (1990); and Adventist minister Kylie Ward (2000).
Harwood Lockton, the international program director for the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) Australia, presented the annual Alumni Lecture on Friday morning. His paper, “Is the Seventh-day Adventist Church yet ready for social justice?” described the worldwide church’s strong voice for social justice as being muted at its local level. We give priority to evangelism and tolerate social involvement for its public relations value, reads the paper. This is despite the 2030 verses in the Bible addressing poverty and wealth and oppression and exploitation. “How have we missed it?” said Harwood. “[Social engagement] is a teaching that infuses the whole of the Bible.”
The alumni association dedicated the lecture to retired Adventist educator and former director of Cooranbong Community Services Centre Dr Tim Gorle, who presented a handmade bunya pine desk set to the association in return.
During the annual general meeting following the lecture, members of the association reelected Pr Des Hills and Jenny Laredo Hilder as their president and vice-president.
Adventist evangelist Pr John Carter, president of The Carter Report, preached the sermon during the worship service, challenging the congregation not to drink the wine of the world but rather the wine of Christ. “It still fills me with joy.” Freedom served as the theme of the other presentations, with Adventist minister Pr Sue Redman and retired Adventist educator Dr John Hammond comparing God’s picture of freedom with our birth into slavery. However, God will bring us out from under the yoke, said Sue. “We, like Abraham, Isaac and Jacob, have known God as El Shadday, the One who is able to fulfil His promise. God now wants us to know Him as Yahweh, the One who is faithful to fulfil His promise.”
Thirty-eight competitors entered the golf classic at the Toronto Country Club on Sunday morning. Ross and Mark Baines won the Ambrose format tournament with a five under par 66. Michael Hale and Mel Lemke won on handicap, 25 years after being among the first winners of the classic.