Susila Dharma Report – Subud Australia

I am in my second year as SD chair Australia. Since having been tested I have concentrated on getting ICDP, the International Child Development Program into Australia. The Development is truly amazing. I usually get  an idea, ponder over it and things happen by themselves. I talked about ICDP to internationally known Roland Blauensteiner. He told his son Alex who is not in Subud, about it. Alex decided that he would like to join me. He is a business developer and has many skills in this direction.

There was no possibility to get Laila Armstrong to Australia. I was told that there would be a three day introduction course  in Oslo, Norway. A very devoted couple offered us $ 1500 to pay for the course for both of us, another couple offered us to use their apartment in Oslo while they were holidaying at the Sunshine Coast, I paid for both tickets as there was no SD money in the kitty.

At the course in Oslo we met a young lady from Brisbane. She is studying for her PHD in psychology at the University of Oslo.  At the same time she is training to become a fully qualified trainer to work with us as of next year.

I talked to a friend (Maria) here who harvests my olives, about what I am doing, mentioning that my feeling is to start working with “Save the Children Fund”. She said she had a friend (Teresa) working there. I contacted my friend when back from Oslo asking whether she would join me for coffee and bring Teresa along. Teresa had already spoken to her boss (Marie) about ICDP. So we made our get-together into an official meeting with Maria (my Olive Friend) Alex, Marie, Teresa, Rosemarie from the Sunshine Coast, Sandra Bennet new in Brisbane, Alex and me. Everybody was truly inspired by ICDP. The boss, Marie, knew many parenting programs that are funded by the government, having even trained with some of them. She said none of them had what ICDP has. Everybody present is very keen to work with us.

Murray Clapham introduced us to the Grameen Bank. They give micro credits to poor women and have a very good scheme that works.  Shan, who works with Grameen Bank from Sydney, donating 50% of his time and uses the other 50% in a Corporation earning his bread money, came to Redland Bay on  Friday night June 14. We spent all Saturday together, Alex, Shan and I developing ideas how we could work together.  I am going to attach Alex’s report about the developments with Grameen Bank. I am attaching also Alex’s profile.

We are blessed with a new member joining us, Sandra Bennet. I am attaching her profile as well, as it speaks for itself. We are having inspiring meetings together. Alex and Sandra do a lot of ground work and we will have a very important meeting again in Redland Bay in August.

Not too much can be said about the money side.  Subud Brisbane is still upholding their commitment to 5 children at Mithra Foundation, which is around $ 3000 per year to complete their academic education.

The Sunshine Coast members are very supportive and keen to find a way to come on board too. They recently organized a lunch fundraising party for ICDP. These very few members sent us a check of $ 110.00. This is a great achievement.

We are working maybe like farmers, toiling the soil, preparing the meadow for growth, or play or performance? Whatever it will turn out to be.  I can see that the blessings of Almighty God are with us.

I am in the process of selling my property, my paradise, in order to free myself for whatever may come. It can be bigger than we first anticipated. We will see. I am buying an apartment in the next town, not too far from the train, but still with a beautiful view and the stars above.

On July 15th I will travel to Europe, where I will spend one week with our Son and then proceed to Wolfsburg for one week. The Wolfsburg group has invited me to celebrate their 50years in Subud with them from July 25/26. I accepted, I had lived there for 8 years, and found my husband there. As Ludwig and I were so busy (I worked at Volkswagen and in every spare minute in the ISC office helping to prepare the 1975 World Congress) the Wolfsburg and Wendhausen Groups organized a truly fairy tale Wedding for us.

Renee Goetz
SD Chair Australia
Redland Bay, 11/07/2008