Martyrs of the forgotten country
Why we can never forget. An Anglican Health Service (AHS) worker accompanies a medivac using a wheelbarrow. The woman had a retained placenta and without treatment risked death or serious infection. The life-saving intervention of the AHS continues with ABM support but there is a long way to go. Photo: Don Brice ©ABM
Did this woman survive? Contact Steve Daughtry, Communications Officer Anglican Board of Mission - Australia 0412 120 835, 08 8278 9783 or email abmsa@optusnet.com.au
A few years ago Stephen Daughtry was visiting Anglican schools for ABM and trying to interest young people in God's call to bring abundant life to all. He continues...
I asked what I thought was a simple question, 'Which country is Australia's nearest neighbour?' To my astonishment, senior students got the answer wrong. They plumped first for Indonesia, then New Zealand - and after long consideration they remembered Papua New Guinea.
This is probably not surprising. Type 'Australia's nearest neighbour' into a search engine and you'll discover that organisations as august as the ABC, the BBC and educational and government bodies are all a bit confused about the forgotten land of PNG.
Even our great link with PNG - the Kokoda Track battle - never gets the prominence of Gallipoli, despite the proximity to Australia, the courage and resourcefulness of the diggers and PNG nationals (remember the 'fuzzy-wuzzy angels'?) against overwhelming odds and the fact that it was an Australian victory. There's something about PNG that seems to make it easy for Australians to forget.
But not all Australians
On 2 September Anglicans across Australia remember the PNG Martyrs. These twelve people (John Barge - priest, Margery Brenchley - nurse, John Duffill - builder, Leslie Gariardi - evangelist and teacher, May Hayman - nurse, Henry Holland - priest, Lilla Lashmar - teacher, Henry Matthews - priest, Bernard Moore - priest, Mavis Parkinson - teacher, Vivian Redlich - priest, Lucian Tapiedi - evangelist and teacher), died because they refused to run from the Japanese advance. Instead, they died for their love of God and the people they served. Their little known story is a footnote in Australian history but remains a major symbol of the Anglican Church's willingness to stand with a country that is easily forgotten.
Every Martyr's Day the Anglican Church in Australia gives to ABM's Martyr's Day Appeal to support the thriving church that continues to be built on the sacrifice of the Martyrs and many more who have given their lives to reach out with love to this emerging nation. Every year, ABM keeps the people of the Anglican Church of PNG (ACPNG) in the prayers and vision of parishes around the country. And every year the ACPNG grows stronger.
Anglican schools bring quality education to children in the far-flung rural areas of PNG. Anglican Health Services struggle to prevent and treat illnesses in villages where the concept of a 'local' doctor is a joke. Anglican churches bring the Gospel message of love, hope and justice and stand as centres of community life - in many ways the bedrock of community.
Anglicare STOPAIDS is recognised by PNG and Australian governments as a peak service provider in the fight against the terrifying spread of HIV and AIDS. Anglican Youth Services are in the bush and the city, helping young people make the transition from rural to urban lifestyle and from tribal to national allegiance.
All this is possible because people have sacrificed their own comfort and security to reach out to the forgotten. Doesn't that remind you of something God might do? Has done.
PNG is still a struggling, young democracy. The ACPNG is still a struggling, young church burdened with challenges we can hardly begin to imagine. That's why we can't forget them.
Perhaps, as the PNG Martyrs faced their fears they recalled this passage from Isaiah,
But now thus says the Lord, who created you, O Jacob, who formed you, O Israel: Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you. For I am the Lord your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Saviour. Isaiah 43:1-3
God never forgets us and, as God's children, we reflect God's love by refusing to forget those whom we have been called into relationship with.