HomeOpinionEditorialThe strength of our villages

The strength of our villages

Local community is everything.

In South Sydney, our villages – Redfern, Waterloo, Erskineville, Alexandria, Surry Hills and beyond – are built on deep relationships, shared struggles and collective hope. We acknowledge the fundamental goodness of Gadigal country. Alongside Aboriginal Elders, we are reminded to keep showing up, supporting inclusive programs and strengthening our connections.

Advocating for Aboriginal self-determination means listening, learning and standing together for justice. Housing is a right, not a privilege. Green spaces must remain places of rest and renewal, not lost to overdevelopment. Access to trustworthy news keeps us informed and strong communities defend this right. Health and wellbeing – physical, mental and spiritual – flourish in supportive environments where everyone belongs.

The forces of greed and division want us disconnected, but we resist by working together, celebrating culture and lifting each other up. When we enjoy the work, it becomes a joy, not a burden. The power of community is in the small, everyday acts – joining a resident action group, volunteering with others on an art project, checking in on a neighbour, showing up for a protest, sharing a meal or planting a tree.

Stay strong, stay engaged and keep building the world we want to live in. Together, our villages will thrive.

spot_img
- Advertisment -spot_img

Salt and light – local journalism in the Age of AI

Pope Leo XIV’s encyclical Magnifica Humanitas asks how human dignity can be safeguarded in an age shaped by artificial intelligence (AI), digital platforms and concentrated technological power. AI can serve human beings and the common good, but only when governed by ethical responsibility. It must not reduce people to...

A shivered plate

I can juggle three balls (badly), provided there’s a wall to bounce them off back towards me. I can keep a hacky sack in the air for around 30 taps. I can do ‘toe basketball’ and get the ball in the basket (on the floor) with my toes, at...

Sin, harm and healing

Talk of sin can leave people demoralised rather than healed. In some church settings, sin has sounded like shame, illness, depravity or permanent failure. That can be spiritually damaging. It can make people feel trapped. But we still need a way to speak honestly about harm. Our world is wounded by...

Concerns over Australia’s response to pro-Palestinian activism as laws face scrutiny

From hate speech laws to anti-protest measures later ruled unconstitutional, the NSW government’s rushed legislative response following the Bondi tragedy has prompted severe concerns over its impact on protest rights and free speech.  In April, the New South Wales Court of Appeal (NSWCA) ruled that the anti-protest laws introduced by...

What prison has taught me

Prison is a “culture” that most people look down on because it lies beyond their experience and understanding. As a chaplain in a remand prison with men in maximum, minimum and protection classifications, I have come to understand and appreciate the humanity of those I see and speak with each...