• About Silver Wattle
• Vision
• Brief History
• What We Do
• Where is SWQC & Travel Directions
• Board & Committees & Resident Staff
• Annual Reports

About Silver Wattle

The property lies on the western side of Weereewa (Lake George). The lake is some 6km wide, with a line of steep hills along the edge. The freehold land covers 42 ha of wooded hills and alluvial slopes passing onto the lake bed. Pastoral leases of Crown land, covering another 1052 ha, extend to the north and eastwards across the lake bed.

Historically the lake has alternated between being full of water and completely dry, on a decade scale. The main buildings are on high ground well above the lake shoreline.

The main centre is an L-shaped building with dining area and commercial kitchen and cold room, lounge and adjacent four bedroom units, conference room with adjacent 3 bedroom units. Residence wing has four units each with three bedrooms and bathroom/toilet. Gas space heating is turned on in the cold months. Behind the residence wing are the carpark, workshops and machinery sheds.

The orchards, and vegetable gardens are being re-newed using Permaculture principles and a poultry shed houses a small flock of free-range chooks.

LIBRARY

The Library holds around a thousand titles, including books, comprehensive collections of Quaker periodicals such as The Australian Friend, The Friend and Friend’s Journal.

There is a small collection of DVDs on spiritual topics and peace activism.

The strength of the collection lies in its Quaker readings but there are many allied and completely different subjects. We intend to build up the collection to hold all the titles recommended in Quaker Basics and other Quaker learning programs. We have a Special Collection of published writings of Australia Quakers.

The Library serves the guests at Silver Wattle. We do not lend. We welcome suggestions and donations.

The SWQC Library is catalogued on line as Silverwattlequaker Library at www.librarything.com

Vision

Silver Wattle Quaker Centre is attracting and building an intentional and transformational community, engaged with environmental and cultural renewal, inter-faith and inter-cultural understanding, communal sharing and support, and the daily practices of prayer, ministry, witnessing, spiritual nurture and listening.

Silver Wattle Quaker Centre promotes social and religious education, witness and service, and is a place for:

• seekers in all spiritual traditions
• listening to and learning from Indigenous people
• Quaker spirituality and heritage
• experiencing a practical, spirit-directed, sustainable community
• rest and healing

Quakers (also known as the Religious Society of Friends) often recall the words of William Penn, writing in 1682 in the language of his time:

“True godliness don’t turn men out of the world,

but enables them to live better in it,

and excites their endeavours to mend it.”

Quakers have continued to be instrumental leaders of social reform for over 350 years. They were involved as the earliest advocates of prison reform, as initiators of community centres and social welfare, as workers for non-violent resolution of conflicts, and providers of aid for those affected by famine and war. They have been core supporters of Indigenous voices, civil rights movements and environmental activism, especially in the early stages when the issues were not widely understood or accepted.

Although Christian in origin, the Quaker approach is experiential. Worship is conducted within silence with spoken ministry delivered by men, women or children, as they are prompted by the movement of the Spirit within them.

There are no priests or sacramental rituals. Quakers believe that every person has something of the divine within them, and this leads to a sense of reverence for all humankind, for other living things and for the planet we share. Quakers therefore seek to express in their lives the principles of truthfulness, simplicity, equality, compassion, peace and care for the earth.

Lorna Marsden, writing in 1986, summarised that worship is the basis of Quaker work in the world:

“Our testimonies arise from our way of worship.

Our way of worship evokes from deep within us at once an affirmation and a celebration,

an affirmation of the reality of that Light which illumines the spiritual longing of humanity,

and a celebration of the continual resurrection within us of the springs of hope and love;

a sense that each of us is, if we will, a channel for a power

that is both within and beyond us.”

We face challenging times ahead – with changes in climate, diminishing water and food resources and radical shifts in the use of energy. We need to prepare ourselves and our communities to adjust non-violently and fairly to these new social patterns.

Quaker study centres at Woodbrooke in the UK and Pendle Hill in the United States were also created by far-sighted Friends in difficult times – the early 1900s – and have been valuable places both for Quakers and for all spiritual seekers, nurturing their spiritual strength, and preparing many for their public witness in the world.

With the establishment of this Quaker Centre Silver Wattle in the southern hemisphere, Australian Quakers acknowledge that they have an important role in the Asia-Pacific region.

We are clear that, within a distinctively Australian landscape, this Quaker study centre is growing in the Australian environmental and social setting. We desire and seek a right relationship with the Ngunnawal Elders, the First People of this land and region. The Centre is committed to matters of environmental restoration and cultural heritage, and in honouring the ongoing life of the Ngunnawal people and their rich contribution to country.

Brief History

The Centre

The Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) in Australia Inc embraced the formation of a Quaker Centre as a concern at the 2009 Australia Yearly Meeting. A Working Group was appointed to search for a site and organise courses.

After an exhaustive search for suitable properties in south-eastern Australia, Silver Wattle was chosen, and a rental arrangement negotiated with the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, the then owners. The Centre started with limited offerings in late 2009 and followed these with a more extensive and a very successful program in 2010. Two prime tasks in these first two years were to identify leaders and develop courses, and secondly identify and encourage suitable resident elders. The response to enrolments and feedback in 2009-10 helped refine course offerings and begin more active marketing.

During 2010 a separate legal entity was formed - Silver Wattle Quaker Centre Ltd, a company limited by guarantee and registered with the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC). The Australian Taxation Office approved tax deductible status for an Education Building Fund. An appeal was launched to raise the necessary funds to acquire the property, establish the centre on a permanent basis, and start an endowment fund to finance maintenance, future initiatives and scholarships.

In 2011, Australia Yearly Meeting confirmed its support for the centre and approved transfer of funds and assets to the new entity.

In 2012, Australia Yearly Meeting and Friends Fellowship of Healing (FFOH) agreed to nominate representatives to the Advisory Committee.  Ruth Watson of WA Regional Meeting was nominated as AYM member.  The Convener of the Australian Friends Fellowship of Healing Charitable Trust (AFFHCT) confirmed an allocation of $312,000 to establish at Silver Wattle the “Olaf Hodgkin Healing Unit – An Australian Home of Healing”.

Before we came

Silver Wattle was established as a sheep property. There was some clearing of the land, and much of the sheep grazing was done on the dry areas of the lake bed. Water levels in Weereewa / Lake George have varied. In the past there was a fishing industry and a local ferry. During the 1970s the shoreline was close to the Sydney-Canberra highway. For many years the lake bed has been almost dry, but occasionally winter rains form extensive sheets of water on the eastern side.

The property was bought in the 1990s and developed as a training and conference centre. Adventure courses for young people were also held here.

The Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn bought the property in 2005 and the Catholic lay community House of Prayer moved from Goulburn to Silver Wattle. But members of the community started to go their separate ways in 2007. This faith community had a sense they were not to be here permanently, and were preparing the site for the next group.

What We Do

Silver Wattle offers a range of opportunities:

Week-long Courses on a wide variety of topics. The 6-day course is the mainstay, providing sufficient time for withdrawal from normal life to allow for real deepening and transformation.

Silver Wattle Program 2012 flyer PDF 884Kb

Guided Silent Retreats are an important part of the program, led by a Spiritual Director or an experienced Quaker, for several days to several weeks.

Your own silent time – you are  welcome to book in for retreat, at other times (not guided).

Short courses are occasionally available, normally 3-4 days.

Silver Wattle Courses 2012 PDF 295Kb
Silver Wattle 2012 registration form PDF 263Kb

Residential stays: We invite you to immerse yourself in this spiritual and practical community. We accept bookings from 2 nights (min) to much longer stays.  Please discuss with us your needs.

Costs per night (24 hours):
Full board accommodation in a single room $77 or a shared room $66

Bed and Breakfast (self-catered midday and evening meals) $44 single/$33 shared
Working stays, with full board  in return for 3 hours work per day $22

Camping, fully self catered $11 per person.  Meals can be booked.

Children up to 16 years, staying with their family, are free.

Community events: Day-time events are hosted from time to time, and we welcome requests from local groups.

Venue for Conferences and Meetings: We offer venue hire for forums and meetings of organisations which are seeking a spiritual setting to make important decisions or plan the future.

Please send for the current charges or contact the director for further information.

Where is Silver Wattle & Travel Directions

How to Get to Silver Wattle

BY AIR
Canberra Airport is 40 minutes away by road. Hire cars and taxis are available at the airport.  We offer pickups at $25 per person.   Transfer to the Kingston Railway Station can be by an airport bus, or taxi. The Sydney-Canberra train stops at Bungendore, where we can pick you up (no charge – see below).

BY RAIL

Check at a Countrylink Travel Service, phone 132232 or the website:
www.countrylink.info
All Countrylink trains between Sydney and Canberra stop at Bungendore Station.
From Sydney to Bungendore (approx 3 hours 45 minutes):
From Bungendore to Sydney (approx 3 hours 45 minutes):
From Canberra* to Bungendore (approx 40 minutes):
From Bungendore to Canberra* (approx 40 minutes):
*Kingston Railway Station has local buses to the city centre and interstate bus station.

BY BUS:
Murrays Coaches between Canberra and Bateman’s Bay stop at Bungendore
YOU MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE.
Note: Check with Murrays Coaches, phone 132251 or the website:
www.murrays.com.au

From Canberra to Bungendore (approx 50 minutes):
Daily leaves around 7.30am
Thurs, Fri leaves around 6.00pm

From Bungendore to Canberra (approx 50 minutes):
Daily leaves around 5.00pm
Fri, Sat leaves around 10.15am

TAXIS
Bungendore taxi service, phone: 0412381977 YOU MUST BOOK IN ADVANCE. Taxis can accommodate up to 4 persons.
Bungendore – Silver Wattle (15 minutes) approx $35
Silver Wattle – Canberra Airport (40 minutes) approx $100

PICK-UP
If you let the SWQC know your travel details, we will pick you up from the Bungendore Station at no extra charge. We may be able to pick you up from the airport with advance notice, and we charge $25 per person for this service.

BY CAR
Silver Wattle is 15kms from Bungendore, at the end of Lake Road, off Bungendore Road, which is a continuation of Gibraltar Street.

Lake Road is a good, but mostly unsealed road, which follows the lake shore, northwards.

From Canberra (45 kms) or Batemans Bay (120kms)
Via Queanbeyan, take the Kings Highway to Bungendore and turn left at the roundabout onto Bungendore Road and then north (right) into Lake Road.
Via Wamboin, take the Federal Highway to Macs Reef Road, turn right at Bungendore Road t-junction, and after descending down Smith’s Gap on Bungendore Road, turn north (left) into Lake Road.

From the Sydney region (80 kms from Goulburn)
Take the Hume Highway past Goulburn and then the Federal Highway to Canberra. Leave the Federal Highway at sign to Bungendore (Bungendore Road), and after descending down Smith’s Gap, turn first left (north) into Lake Road. This road is a no-through road and Silver Wattle is the last property. An alternative route from the Fedral Highway is via Tarago to Bungendore village.

From Melbourne or Albury (70kms from Yass)
Take the Hume Highway past Yass and then the Barton Highway to Canberra. Turn left at Murrumbateman and follow signs to Bungendore, and after descending down Smith’s Gap on Bungendore Road, turn left (north) into Lake Road.

Board & Committees & Resident Staff

SILVER WATTLE QUAKER CENTRE LTD
ACN 146 723 202
ABN 20146723202

The Board of Directors articulates and fosters the vision and strategic goals of Silver Wattle, ensuring the Quaker identity and character of the institution, and is responsible for strategic planning and the financial viability of Silver Wattle.

David Johnson (Secretary) Geologist and retired academic
John Baker Retired structural engineer and farmer
Helen Bayes Retired public servant and social policy advisor

Executive Officer to the Board
Anne Felton

Resident Director of Silver Wattle
Helen Bayes

Advisory Committee

This committee supports and fosters the vision and strategic goals of Silver Wattle, and provides timely, accurate and pertinent advice to the Board on policies, financial and legal issues.  It also nominates members of the Board.

Members: Anne Felton (Convener), Judy Henderson, James Neely, Ruth Watson, plus one from Friends Fellowship of Healing (name to be confirmed).

Committee of Elders

This committee identifies, encourages, supports and provides guidance and resources to those Friends who offer themselves for service as Elder.  It also supports and holds accountable those involved in the management and operation of the Centre.

Members:  Bev Polzin (Convener), Trish Johnson, Helen Gould
Resident Director (ex officio) - Helen Bayes

Committee for Programs & Learning

This committee identifies, encourages, supports and provides guidance and resources to those who offer themselves as course teachers, leaders or facilitators.  It also reviews the overall programs and individual courses, ensuring the offerings address spiritual transformation in a balanced manner - which is the foundational focus of Silver Wattle.

Julian Robertson (Convener), Drew Thomas, Mark Macleod
Resident Director (ex officio) – Helen Bayes

Annual Reports

SWQC Information and Plan
SWQC Directors Annual Report 2011