MU Sydney Social Responsibility Department

Sydney Children's Court When St James Centre closed last year, 2 days of Custody/Care Courts were transferred to Bidura Children's Court in Glebe. On Wednesdays and Thursdays two Courts operate dealing with Custody and Care matters. These families and their vulnerable children, aged from babies and toddlers to young adolescents, are brought before the Court for the Magistrate to decide on the children's future welfare. These are not criminal matters. At the moment, these people have no refreshments available while waiting for their cases to be heard. If there are any members in your church, prayer group or bible study group who would be willing to help for 3 hours please contact the MU Sydney Office as soon as possible. Training will be available for interested people. I would like to thank all those who have offered their help at Parramatta Children's Court - the roster is now full and this service is up and running very smoothly. Hilda Weatherly
Provision of Refreshments at Family and Juvenile Courts by Mothers' Union (MU) The provision of refreshments to people awaiting hearings in the Juvenile Courts was commenced in 1972 at the Juvenile Court in Albion Street. People sat in the open, and when it rained they were served by volunteers wearing raincoats. The suggestion that the Mothers' Union provide refreshments was met with suspicion - perhaps the word "Union" may have led the authorities to think that they would cause trouble by criticising the system.
	Mrs Hilda Weatherley Court Work Convenor

Permission had to be obtained through the Justice Department, and Mrs Joyce Hayman, who as initiating the proposal, was interviewed by a female parliamentarian in this regard. However, the woman approved of what Mothers' Union aimed to do, and permission was granted to go ahead with the proposal. Apparently the opening day of the service received considerable press coverage with the Reverend Alan Nichols, who was in charge of Anglican media, also being present at the inauguration.

In those early days, Mothers' Union provided its own urn, whereas today the courts do so, with Mothers' Union supplying the tea, coffee, and biscuits as before. The collection box for many years had the words "Smile, God loves you" printed on it. This has now been superseded by a collection box featuring butterflies.

The provision of refreshments is carried out by Mothers' Union at Children's and Juvenile Courts in Sydney and Wollongong. Within Sydney, the service is provided between 9:30am and 12 noon at St James Court in Elizabeth Street on Mondays and Fridays; at Campsie on Wednesdays and Thursdays; at Lidcombe on Mondays and Thursdays; at Bidura Court, Glebe Point on Tuesdays and Fridays; and at Sutherland on Tuesdays. In Wollongong refreshments are provided at Court on Mondays and Fridays between 9:30am and 12 noon. Voluntary Worker badges are provided, and it is important that volunteers wear these as they are an indication of the personal commitment of the wearer to the work being done.

Popular magazines and copies of the Bush Church Aid paper are provided for those waiting at the Court. On one occasion a man objected to the number of women's magazines and the lack of any for men. However he commented that he liked to read the "goss" in women's magazines. On occasions obstinate clients have caused solicitors to seek a strong cup of coffee.

It can be seen that at the various courts there are many people under stress to whom Mothers' Union voluntary helpers can bring some relief. It is significant that in 1999 the locals courts issued Certificates of Appreciation and Recognition to about sixty women at a function in the Cowper Room in St Andrew's House. These were presented by Stephen Scarlett, the Senior Children's Magistrate, and Lyn Baker, the Director of the Local Courts. Both stressed the importance of the work of the volunteers.

Christians have a long tradition of care; as far back as 324 A.D., a Roman soldier called Pachomius along with others drafted with him was locked up in the prison of the city where the army stopped for the night. It was the kindness of Christians who brought comforts to the soldiers which brought about his conversion to Christianity - the result of the visible example of Christian concern in action which applies just as much today as it did in 324 A.D.

Information provided by:    Mrs Joyce Hayman and Mrs Fay Cocks
                                              

The people helping must be Christians but not necessarily MU members and must adhere to the Code of Conduct.