“….we expect order in a land where chaos rules” muses John Doyle standing on the river bank at Menindee.

Traveling with Tim Flannery and featured in the ABC program ‘Two men in a Tinnie’ their feat was to trace the mighty Darling River from its source to outflow in a small aluminum boat named ‘The Bismarck’ Laying aside the theological considerations for a moment, we, with hindsight, can see that from the beginning of white settlement many have expected an orderliness about the Australian inland, formed on green English models. Such has only been a reality for a few brief episodes in our taking up the land. One reads all too often of the dismay and heartbreak that the climate has brought to those who have ventured inland with an unrealistic understanding of the way the Australian inland is ordered.

Over 100 years ago the Bishop of Riverina in western NSW, looked enviously over the diocesan border at the wonderful church which had grown from nothing in just 10 years. This church was St James Wilcannia then in the Diocese of Bathurst. The energy of the locals, church people and clergy, the grand building and the vigorous ministry with men, women and children was seen as something worthy of having in the Diocese of Riverina which at the time was short on well running viable parishes. It was a long way from Bathurst, much closer and more readily supported from Hay, the Riverina Diocesan centre. ‘Maybe a transfer was possible’ thought the bishop. However, not long after the negotiations concluded and the boundary line re-drawn, the orderly seasons gave way to what Doyle calls ‘chaos’. The fortune of the town waned and sadly by the early 1900’s Wilcannia parish was no longer viable.

BCA took up the challenge. For close on 35 years BCA maintained the regular orderly rhythms of the Church of England, except when fire, flood, dust and impassable roads did its ‘chaos’ thing and prevented the faithful gathering.

As the town slowly declined, and the last river boat departed the church records show that things were not well. A new model was needed; a model which looked at how the locals did things, rather than how they wished they might be or those from away thought it could be.

Doyle and Flannery visited communities along their route and in Menindee met up with the CWA ladies. One of their number challenged Doyle’s thinking on the way to succeed in such a ‘chaos’ climate, “just think that the dry times are normal and a good season is then a bonus’ “ was her way. Those who made it on the land made it by interpreting and adapting their existing practice. So too the clergy; just as the graziers took to the air to muster stock and do the water run; the minister’s strategy was to meet them where they were at; parallel their wisdom of flying; win their confidence and bring in technology as a gospel vehicle.

In the 60’s and 70’s it was a Cessna and 16 mm film, secular and sacred tactfully mixed, which led to homestead services for the station families, generating opportunities for care and godly input.

In the 80’s and 90’s with the cockies return to road transport, the minister followed suit, adopting what the locals thought was best. Station services continued, incorporating social events, kid’s and family activities which were few and far between as the population declined still further. Nowadays we offer hospitality and e-ministries based out of BCA House Broken Hill.

I am reminded that …. the LORD is God, and he created the heavens and earth and put everything in place. He made the world to be lived in, not to be a place of empty chaos. Isa 45:18. Therefore it is BCA’s task to seek to find God’s way and means of reaching the hearts of the people he placed in the vast inland of this continent; making opportunities for them to know his purpose for their lives . For you to stand with us in this land where it often appears that ‘chaos can rule’ is appreciated by all.

Brian Roberts
National Director