Progress in closer co-operation throughout the region

The Oceania Council had its first meeting for 2009 at Templestowe, Melbourne on Monday 20 April. This meeting marked several changes: Br Anthony Robinson (Sydney) handed over the role of secretary to Br Anthony d?Arbon (Sydney). Tony is also beginning in the newly created role of Executive Officer for the College of Major Superiors (COMS) and the Oceania Council.

The meeting welcomed Br John Tukana as the representative for the District of Melanesia; Br Stephen Bugg (Melbourne) as chair of the Solidarity Commission. Br Michael Hill had been the Solidarity chair and continues on the Council as chair for the Formation Commission.

A report on the development on Thursday Island was presented by Br Carl Tapp, the Chair of the Oceania Council. This report indicated that while there are some inevitable teething problems, this new project is settling down well.

COMS has approved three major gatherings in next three years. In July of this year the Partnership Commission will hold a conference ?Towards a 2020 vision? in Melbourne. Alan Parker is the chair of this commission and has been leading the preparation of the Conference. In the early part of next year, probably May, there will be a Regional Assembly which will involve perhaps as many as 15 brothers from each of the administrative units. This Assembly hopes to develop the Commitments made at the extended General Council held at Long Bay Auckland in 2008. Then in 2011 the Oceania Brotherhood Commission is preparing a conference for all community leaders in the Oceania region.

These gatherings together with a lot of other significant happenings mark steady progress in closer co-operation throughout the region. While the term Re-structuring is not used here, there is movement towards the desired outcomes that go with that term.

The next meeting of the Oceania Council will take place in Auckland in November.