2004 news from Raoul and Helen
[This page is also available in German/auf Deutsch.]


November 2004

Dear family and friends,

As we prepare to celebrate Christmas once more our thoughts turn to family and friends in Australia and across the globe. We hope that you are well and can look back over the past year with gratitude and satisfaction. We wish you all a very happy Christmas and a New Year that sees more cooperation between peoples around the world.

This past year was a full one for us both - full with our mostly voluntary community activities, travel experiences, interesting lectures and encounters with diverse people both at home and on our travels.

Raoul was pleased with the 21 forums that he organized for the University of the Third Age (U3A) on a wide range of topics during June to October. Between 50 and 140 older people gathered each Tuesday to listen to 2-3 speakers on a particular topic. The series started out with A day without chocolate is a day without sunshine and ended with In search of sustainability - are we living beyond our means? Raoul himself hosted US presidential elections and us and the Challenges of incorporating further members into the EU. All speakers offered many insights and stimulated the subsequent discussions.

In the second half of the year Raoul gave two twelve-week series to students of U3A. The first was entitled Medieval Power Structures, the second We/they aren't Europeans. Or are we/they? Both series were well attended and much appreciated as Raoul's approach is so novel to them, as he stands, true to our surname, between centuries, cultures and nation-states.

The history of Melbourne's first Lutheran Church A German Church in the Garden of God, Melbourne's Trinity Church 1858-2003 finally came out later in the year. Raoul contributed the chapter on the years 1853-68 and short biographies of the first two pastors of the church, Matthias Goethe of Coblenz, with a Catholic background, and Hermann Herlitz, of Neisse, with a Jewish one.

Helen has stepped back from formal work in our Lutheran congregation this year. She has, however, continued with a weekly chaplaincy round at Calvary Hospital and a few nursing home visits. She enjoyed teaching again on Grief & Loss and Grief Counselling with students in Canberra, Melbourne, Brisbane, Sydney and Newcastle. This year Raoul was able to accompany her to most of these places. Helen welcomed the chauffeuring and the company! A new venture for Helen this year is teaching English to new arrivals to Australia (migrants and refugees) through the Home Tutor Scheme. She thoroughly enjoyed the training, which included conversation sessions with new arrivals from a wide range of countries (mostly Asian and Middle Eastern). Each session provided a small window on yet another part of the world. Her first student who comes from the south of Sudan had lived in refugee camps for many years before she arrived with her family to relative security in Australia. This is proving to be a challenging but fascinating venture for Helen. She has learned her first words in Dinka!

We have enjoyed two very different trips this year. The first in early March was a six-day hike along the Overland Track in the Cradle Mountain - Lake St. Clair National Park in Tasmania. For the 85km (52 miles) hike there were 10 participants and two excellent young guides. A highlight of the hike was the climb, on a cloudless day. of rugged Mt Ossa (1617m), Tasmania's highest mountain. The 360º view from the summit was spectacular. We also experienced a day of heavy rain when our boots filled with water as the track turned to a fast-flowing creek.

A second trip over Easter took us to Spain where we met with Richard, Keryn, Martin (8½) and Thomas (7) in Granada for 8 days. From our base in a small apartment we explored Granada. The highlight here was definitely the day spent at the Alhambra, with its palaces, fortress and gardens. On their own Raoul and Helen explored Madrid, Toledo, El Escorial, Segovia, Seville, Cordoba, Santiago de Compostela, Burgos, San Sebastian, Andorra and Barcelona. In Madrid we met two second cousins, Wiebke and Alvaro Middelmann. In Barcelona we met with first cousin Carmen and husband Manolo who gave us a wonderful tour of the town. A side trip to Toulouse (France) allowed us to visit cousin Conner, nee Middelmann, and her delightful family. We feel as though we' ve just had a taste of Spain and would love to go back for more. Raoul's usual travelogue is available on request.

Our children continue with their lives as before: Richard and Keryn in Wiesbaden, Germany, Robert in Loxton, SA, Nicola and Craig in Geelong, VIC, and Miriam in Canberra. We enjoy regular contact with them by phone and with visits.

Helen and Raoul will spend Christmas this year in Wiesbaden. For Helen this will be the first Christmas ever spent in Germany. Helen became a "Senior" this year, having celebrated her 60th birthday. It was a special, but quiet birthday as she had just undergone knee surgery. She is looking forward to taking a hot air balloon ride over Canberra, a gift from the children and grandchildren.

We are both thankful for life and good health, and enjoy the gift of each day.

Raoul and Helen



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