Many of you will know Ben Palmer, one of our Housekeepers at Romana. Ben has previously had some very serious health issues involving his brain (I will not even pretend to understand the complexities of this issue.) Ben informed Amanda and me this morning that he was aware that all was not right with his physical health in this regard and that he was headed into hospital. We know that he has been admitted to hospital.
Please pray for Ben.
Lisa, sister of Romana reso Jaimie, sent out a loooooong email to her friends and acquaintances about the journey of her brother – and asking said people to consider sponsoring Jaimie in Run Melbourne. The following paragraph is pretty glowing about SCH – please enjoy and be encouraged by it.
‘He’s raising funds for the wonderful community housing organisation where he lives, Servant’s. I shudder to think where we’d be at if they hadn’t of entered our lives. They provide him with so much more than just shelter: a genuine sense of community and belonging. Please consider sponsoring him, even a small amount helps and most importantly – it reminds him that there are people rooting for him. This is direct as charity gets!’
Like Elvis before them ………… the Halls have left the building. The Romana building that is. What great service the Halls have given to Servants – as Housekeepers at both Carrical and Romana, both as committee members, Brian as Chair, various sub-committees and small groups and generally, well, just a great example to us all of what servanthood is all about.
Soooooooo, how did Matt and Amanda go about replacing them? First and foremost we recognized that finding another couple just like the Halls was not going to happen – so we looked to younger, single men. Three young men, Ben Palmer, Alan Morrison and James Turnbull have now moved into Romana and have commenced their tasks as Housekeepers. Ben and Al are already very well known to us (they have worked with us for years already and last year they managed Hamer together beautifully as the Donohoes took a break) whilst James is new to The Wonderful World of Servants. We are very much looking forward to seeing these guys make their mark upon Romana. They are moving in at an incredibly stable time in the life of the house. Please pray for these men as they commence their tasks at the house.
Ok, listen up folks – it is far too painful to keep typing Old Trinity Grammarians. As of now I decree that it is OTG. If anyone in future asks me ‘what is this OTG caper all about old chap’ I will direct them back to this post and take it as conclusive evidence that they have failed to read said post!! I am keen at this point to type something about ‘rolling pins’ and ‘relentlessly beating people’ ….. but I won’t.
This evening I attended the monthly board meeting of OTG (You’ve got it! Good work!!) as a guest to talk about the burgeoning relationship between SCH and OTG/the broader Trinity community. I was particularly asking them to become involved in Team Servants ’16. The response was favorable.
On a slightly different Trinity angle – another group of Year 9 boys, 6 in total, visited Romana yesterday to host a lunchtime BBQ for/with our resos. These Monday gatherings are always fun and beneficial …….. but the gathering yesterday was one for the ages. I now regret not taking some happy snaps and posting them of the Servants Facebook page. The banter and the cross-pollination between the 2 groups was insanely good – just an incredibly special time. One of those occasions where it didn’t matter if you were a privileged schoolboy or a Servants reso – everybody was truly all the one. At moments such as these I feel incredibly blessed to do what I do for a living.
A group of 9 students from Balwyn High School visited Romana on Tuesday lunchtime to host a BBQ for the resos and to get to know what we are on about a little more. Following a hugely successful BBQ I returned with them to school to show the Voices from Carrical doco and to talk further about our work. It was a good day – I am very hopeful if developing a much fuller relationship with BHS in the coming months/years. 3 of their students are representing Team Servants ’15 and have already secured some more than significant sponsorship from Rotary Club of North Balwyn.
Yesterday a Carrical reso began some volunteer work in the gardens at Romana – under the watchful eye of one of the more capable Romana resos. It was very special seeing this arrangement come together. Just one of the very many lovely relational things we continue to see in the houses.
The Halls recently had a well-deserved break from living at Romana. Ruby and Andy stepped in as cover for a few nights, as they have done previously, and did a great job. A couple that Amanda and I have identified as potentially future Housekeepers, Liz and Edgar, had a couple of nights on site too – their first experience of the Housekeeping role. They did terrific job and were really well received by the residents. Nothing like planning early for the future!
The one year birthday party at Romana on Sunday was a really nice occasion. Many people popped in for lunch/arvo tea – including a few surprises from the broader Servants family. The sun shone, the food was terrific and everyone seemed to enjoy themselves. Big thanks to Brian and Pat for all their work behind the scenes organizing such a good day.
It’s true!! We have been operating at Romana for one full year. I think it’s reasonable to say that our first 12 months there have been a great success. To celebrate our first anniversary of operation at Romana Brian and Pat Hall will be hosting an ‘open house’ on Sunday 17th May between Midday and 4.30pm at the house. There will be a lunchtime BBQ followed by an afternoon tea. If you are intending to attend please let me know via email for catering purposes.
Romana currently has 17 residents. The 18th moves in on Wednesday and the 19th on Thursday. The Halls tell me that the mix of resos is terrific and that the house has got off to a splendid start. I am in no hurry to fill all 24 positions – I would much rather take plenty of time and be as sure as possible that our initial intake is as good as it can possibly be. We are having our first House Meeting with resos this Thursday evening. There are some wonderful stories coming out of Romana already. The relationship with the Slovenians is terrific. We have made our first monthly payment to them. A member of Camberwell Rotary brought around a wonderful box of ‘welcome’ flowers to the house today. Exciting times at Romana.
There are some pretty wonderful photos of the Romana Opening on both the Servants site and Facebook page. Can I please encourage to ‘like’ the Servants FB page if you have not as yet managed to do so?
The Romana Opening was wonderful. When I think back to some of the great Servants occasions – Anthology launch, Not For Business Breakfast, theatre Opening Nights etc – the opening on Saturday absolutely stacks up alongside these events. The event showed us once again just how well networked we have become in recent years – there were so many people from so many varied networks in attendance. And for those reading this who were not there on the day – just how good a chap is FR Ciril?!?! Everyone was thrilled to see the house looking so terrific, and the only slightly negative feedback I received (which I quietly took as a compliment anyway!) was the chap from The Good Guys telling me not to be so angry!!!! Thank you President Warren and committee for your involvement on the day. It was a day I believe we should all feel rightfully proud of.
Today was a day of extremes for me personally.
Having arisen at 4.30am and settled in to watch the Manchester City v Aston Villa game an email arrived from Harvard informing me that they were not offering me a place on the course I was expecting to attend in July. This has been very difficult news to digest. (pleased to report that City trounced Villa 4-0)
At 1.00pm this arvo we opened the doors of Romana to our first 3 new resos! This was such a good moment – one which I trust all involved with Servants will feel suitably proud of. We welcomed Ben, Natalie and Jaimie into the house. By next Wednesday we will be 2/3 full. Progress Leader took some pics of me, Fr Ciril, Rotarians and Ben later in the afternoon at Romana.
We have just completed a huge week of progress at Romana. The change in the house in the past week has been nothing short of dramatic.
We are now moving quickly towards taking our first resident in on Thursday 8th May.
Romana is starting to look just wonderful now. We are within the budget – just. Today I moved the opening day for residents back a few days from Wednesday 30th to Monday 5th May; this will give all involved the opportunity to ensure the house is looking spot on for the first resos in.
Today 5 pretty switched on students from the Melbourne High Philanthropy Club spent several hours at Romana involved in a few volunteering tasks. It was a good day, some manual work was achieved, but, more importantly, we now have several young men who have had their eyes opened to the world of Servants and what we do and why we do it. During the final part of the day I took the guys to Carrical to meet a few residents – this proved to be a positive, thought-provoking exercise for the students. I have little doubt that some good things will happen for Servants as a result of today’s investment.
A group of boys from Melbourne High are visiting Romana on Easter Sunday for a volunteer day. This is our first foray into the world of Melbourne High – hopefully many good things will eventuate from it.
The week just ending has been the busiest week at Romana to date. All week the house has been full of builders, tilers, painters, Rotarians, folks coming for interviews etc. It has been a veritable hive of activity. The one possible delay at this stage is the delivery of white goods to complete the Managers and Residents Kitchens. I am still hopeful of moving the first reso in on Wednesday 30th April – but this might now be delayed by a few days. The progress is immense – day by day we are just seeing the house taking shape between our eyes – it is an exhilarating process. The generosity that so many people are showing Servants is very touching; we have been given truly great deals by several tradies – all of which helps to keep the costs down and helps us to come in under budget.
The official opening for Romana will be the lunchtime of Saturday 17th May – at Romana, not surprisingly!
Further details will be forthcoming – but this is the date to put in your diaries.
The first room at Romana was chosen by a resident today. Natalie chose Room 7. We are on our way!
In other Romana news Brian and I had a site meeting today with Architect Steve and Builder Jeff. Everything is on track for Project One Builders to hand the house back to us on Wednesday 23rd April. We are currently on track for taking in the first residents on Wednesday 30th April.
I am working towards a tentative Opening Ceremony type of event on Friday 16th May – with a BBQ at lunchtime.
At some stage in the very near future I am going to have to stop interviewing people for Romana. The referrals from workers have been quite outstanding – with very few people that I would not even consider housing. From this week future residents are coming back to the house to start choosing rooms. And just FYI, there are currently 2 females who look set to move in from Opening Day.