Saturday 17 September

We have had the Sydney OCDS Secular Carmelite community with us this week on retreat.  Going on retreat surrounded by building activity can be a distracting.  However they seemed to have the gift of tranquility in the midst of the activity around them.  Can you pray int he midst of a building site?  Well, of course!

Joyce Mitchelmore, OCDS serenely reading

During the week we also were blessed to have Presentation Sister Zita Power with us from Queensland.  Zita is the sister of the late John Power, OCD who was prior here from 1972-5 and then a missionary in the Philippines for 15 years.  John died in 1994 and is buried in our cemetery beside the chapel here.

Sr Zita Power

More Sydney OCDS came last night when I welcomed them and spoke about the building of the priory and sought their feedback on the refurbishment of the retreat centre.  They were particularly keen to examine the model that Peter Coad built of the project.  Incidentally we would love to hear from anyone their hopes and dreams for a refurbished retreat centre.  What would you really like to see here in our retreat centre?  You can contact me gregburke2002@yahoo.com.au if you like?

Our new water supply

The builders have been busy this week in a number of areas.  The long trench, over 600 metres, all the way down to the parish church was dug and the new pipes laid and the trench then filled in.  They worked fast and efficiently.  As we don't have any decent maps of the underground services to the property the digging resulted in the water being twice cut off for a short time.  The retaining walls have been finished and the outline of the house oratory is now clear.

Looking over the cemetery to the site, retaining wall to left

On Friday another two slabs were poured.  These were the floors for four bedrooms and the dining room, kitchen, pantry and guest room. 

New slabs are covered in black plastic

On Friday it was good to have Alex Coutts, our architect, back on site.  Alex has been visiting family in the United Kingdom.  He had inspected the site and was very happy with the progress.  We discussed a number of issues regarding the refurbishment of the retreat centre which is really phase two of our project.

Two rooms with a view

Next week the builder will prepare to pour the big slab for the front of the building.  One thing when the slab are poured is that one has a much more accurate sense of the size of rooms, their orientation and the view.

I shall miss any excitement next week as I will be away leading a retreat with the Sisters Disciples of the Divine Master.  I return on Sunday 25 September.

Monday 12 September

Since I last wrote Spring has come to Varroville.  The trees and shrubs are in blossom.  The smell of their perfume is in the air.   The sun comes up earleir and sets later.  These longer, sunnier days have been wonderful.

During the week a group of us with retreatants John Collins and Kathleen visited the site.

Frs Shemil, Greg Burke, Paul Maunder with John Collins and Kathleen Bashford

Waffle pods in place

We were interested in seeing waffle pods about which we hadn't previously  heard.  Waffle pods are polystyrene panels which are part of the formwork for the slab.  They also help insulate the floor of the building.

On Friday we had not just Spring showers but genuine rain.  The site was a mudbath but still they managed to pour our first three slabs.  the building progresses.  It is amazing really how much time and work goes into the ground under the building itself.

The first slabs in place

Life here is always interesting.  This morning after mass there were three steers wandering around the grounds.  So off we went to see what was up.  They were not our farmer's.  Shane said he saw them walking down the road and herded them into to our place.  We rounded up two and got the other back where he belonged across the road.  I missed the rest as I had to leave to take a retreatant to Campbelltown for her journey home to Wagga Wagga. 

I have just finished a retreat on Henri Nouwen which was well received.  I have another retreat beginning on Sunday which will take me away for a week.

Sunday 28 August

Life is more than building.  Since last Sunday the Carmelites from our three Australian houses (Varroville, N.S.W., Morley, W.A. and St Ives in North Sydney) came together for a week-long chapter meeting.  This involved sustained reflection on our life in Australia, and our hopes in the face of difficulties and challenges.


It was also a time to renew the bonds of Christian dedication and friendship that bind us.  It was especially good to have, Fr Jim Noonan, the Irish Provincial with us.  His relaxed presence and his sharing of the experience of our brothers in Ireland, England and Nigeria brought helpful insights.

Fr Jim Noonan, the Irish Carmelite Provincial

We voted in a new leadership team leaded by Fr Aloyius Rego with Frs Greg Homeming and Paul Maunder as councillors.  We agreed on a concluding statement which listed our hopes, affirmed what we had begun and made a number of propositions for our future.  We met and listened to our sisters from the Australia/Oceania Association of Carmelite nuns and the Secular Order of Discalced Carmelites in Australia/Samoa and New Zealand.

Attentive listening by Jim, Jennifer, Aloysius and Greg Homeming

In the photo we are from left to right: Sunny Peackal, Gerard Moran, Tadgh Tierney, Sr Marie Therese, Br Graham Neist FMS (facilitator), Greg Homeming, Sr Jennifer, Paul Maunder, Peter Dowd, Greg Chee, Jim Noonan, Aloysius Rego, Mary Clancy, Des Williamson, Mary Heffernan, Greg Burke, Lorraine Murphy, Gabriel Maliakkal, Shane Kelleher and Johny Arattukulam.

On Wednesday Sr Jennifer from the Varroville Carmel, Lorraine Murphy, the Australian/Samoa OCDS President, Mary Heffernan OCDS President New Zealand, Shane Kelleher, Sr Marie Therese President of the Association of Carmelite nuns and Mary Clancy, OCDS who with Lorraine and the local OCDS group has responsibility for the Carmelite Priory Bookshop visited the site.


Our concluding document the draft of which was crafted by our facilitator Br Graham Neist, FMS was titled "Unless the Lord build the house".   The scriptural quote came from the ceremony of blessing of the new priory which took place during the chapter.  The scenes and intense activity of the work on the foundations was seen as a fitting image for the context of the Australian Carmelite Vicariate at this time in our history.

"We desire to put into place solid and suitable foundations for the future development of Carmelite life in this part of the world.  Like the actual priory building it is difficult to see the final result from simply looking at the foundations, but with commitment and determination we believe we will see our dream come to life."

On Thursday Aloysius leads the procession to building site

We gather, listen to scripture and pray

Aloysius is assisted by Pete in the blessing

During all our meeting the workers on the site worked away smoothly and efficiently.  The work of drilling the piers has continued.  The deepest was over 4 metres deep.  Though most are just over 1 metre deep.

First you drill, then you place in the reinforced steel

Then you fill them with concrete

The plumbing is now making an appearance

So it was an eventful week in our life together.  There will be changes that will come as a result and the new priorities and direction it has set.

Today is Sunday, a day of rest and in the day the Church asks us to reflect on the spiritual and moral issues involving Migrants and Refugees.  Bishop Peter Ingham will celebrate mass this afternoon in the parish church for the people of many the nationalities and cultures that make up our Church and nation.  It will be followed by a very inclusive celebration.

Peace and Blessings on all.

Sunday 21 August

Today is Sunday and the day before our chapter begins and so a quiet day.  However, the Manummel Province today celebrates their Province day as it is the feast of their patron, Pope St Pius X whose saved their existence was threatened when they were a Third Order Regular OCD Congregation.  So happy feast to all Manjummel OCD.  

In a mood of mild celebration Shemil and I walked up to the site.  On the way we passed one of the great characters in our community- the goose.  The goose hisses at anyone coming or going, friend or foe alike.  Whatever about his welcome he is the sole survivor of a flock.  It is odd that he is nameless but he is not so much a pet as a watchgoose.

The goose guards our ute and all vehicles

The underground water tank now has a lid

We walked up to see the underground water tank with its new lid.  Because of the rain there was a lot more water on the building site than in the tank.  If you are wondering how we got such a nice aerial photo of the tank then see the image below.  The photos were taken from the top left pile.

The cottage roof tiles have been recycled

Looking over the entry of the new priory to the old novitiate

Coils of reinforced steel for the piers lie between us and the chapel

Thursday 18 August

It has been a busy few days with some showers and lots of mud. 

Tidying the drenched site

Looking over the site from under the fig tree towards the chapel

Yesterday,Peter Coad, the architect in association with Alex Coutts, came in the morning and we checked where the fire hydrants are to go.

Formwork for the rain water tank

Putting in the form work for the lid of the water tank

The first construction on the site took place yesterday.  The big hole for the underground water tank was formed into a tank.  The workers put in the reinforcing and then dropped in a mould in sections which was then filled with more reinforcing and then concrete.  I was entranced watching how the did this after lunch yesterday when I turned to leave and tripped over a branch and fell head long into the mud.  It all happened in slow motion and I was not even aware of what was happening.  There was no lasting damage done but I was a bit bruised.  The workmen were concerned.  One told me my missus would not be happy.

Nothing daunted at 3.00pm Aloysius, Gerard, Johny and I gathered with other members of the Scenic Hills Association for a meeting cum photo shoot on the road opposite our place.  We gave interviews to the reporter from the Macarthur Chronicle to highlight our concerns about Coal Seam Gas extraction in the our locality.

Next week we have our regional chapter at which we elect new officials and set our our priorities for the next three years.  To give thanks for the past three years we had a meal together at the Catholic Club.  As happens we met people we knew there who we had married or who were parishioners.  Sadly no photos were taken.

Today  they are finishing off the tank by putting on the lid.  Johny and I were there this morning saw the formwork go on as well as the concrete supports of the lid.  Johny took the photos.  He is famous for his photos.

Maurie's office- drilling piers on the muddy site

The builders have been drilling the piers and then placing the steel reinforcement before pouring concrete into them.  They have done three sections of the building.  The site was very boggy this morning.  Shoes pick up a weight of muddy clay.

A line of piers

Maurie's muddy boots

Sculptural installation- future drains and sewer covers

Monday 15 August

The cottage has gone completely.  It was all demolished by Friday, 5 August.

Just the chimney and fireplace left of the cottage

Looking at the cottage site from the belltower

Rubble awaiting removal- all that is left of the cottage

I showed Greg Homeming over the site that evening.  He claimed it looked like the Great Wall of China.  I thought this particularly inscrutable.  He also eyed the fig tree and thought it should go. 

Then from Monday 8 August they set to work demolishing the farm yard and buildings.  They were a little too enthusiastic.  I thought we had an agreement that we would keep the last three bays of the barn.  However on Tuesday after lunch I went up and found it all been demolished.  The farmer had moved out his last bails of hay and the tractor was out in the yard.

The barn begins to go

The barn has gone but the farm yard remains

The cleared site- just add one new priory!

So that set me off to find a place for the tractor out of the weather.  I walked around with Andrew Theiring which was helpful.  The west facing covered area of the novitiate seemed best.  By Thursday the tractor and slasher were snug there.  All we need to do now is get a new battery so we can start the tractor without jump leads.

Also on Tuesday I took Des Williamson up to view the site.  He was delighted the farm sheds had gone.  Not too surprisingly he was also keen to see the end of the fig tree.  When the regional chapter is in session next week we may need to discern the fate of the fig tree.  I hope not.

The fig tree

The main work last week was clearing the site and getting the levels set.  Towards the end of the week the surveyors came back and plotted out marks which were recorded in an apparently simple but sophisticated instrument so that the builders could find exactly where everything was to go.  This is actually quite complicated.  There are many levels in the building and few 90 degree angles.  This is what will make the building interesting to walk through.  But it does mean that the builders have to be painstaking, precise and patient.

On Friday I missed seeing Maurie,the foreman.  In the evening as I was approaching Fairy Meadow parish in Wollongong for the disco sponsored by the Bethzatha group for disabled people my phone rang.  It was Gerard.  There was no water in the novitiate.  The novitiate was needed for a big retreat group.  He thought the builders may have turned it off.  I doubted if this was the case.  It seemed more likely that the builders had broken a pipe in the excavations and not known where it was going or if it was still needed.  I gave him Maurie's number.  It was all sorted as best as could be at that hour.

First thing on Saturday morning while we were at mass the plumbers arrived and set to repairing the pipe.  This was not so easy as we do not have a record of where the various pipes are.  Thankfully they found the tap to turn off the water so that they could then fix the problem promptly.

Today, Monday, the excavators are digging down into the rock to excavate the big underground water tank.  There are plumbers all over the site.  They are preparing to dig the trenches for the new water supply which will be needed for the fire hydrants and our new water supply.  This trench will be at least 600 metres long!

Excavating our underground rainwater tank

Much of the cost of the new priory is for things that we will never see as they are underground- such things as the pump for the fire hydrants, the new pipes and the foundations of the priory.

The foundations are complicated.  Basically the building rests on piers which are holes drilled into the ground which then have steel reinforcement placed in them and are filled with concrete.  The concrete slab is floated on these, sometimes with a 'waffle pod' between the concrete and the soil.  All this is necessary because our soil is reactive clay.  It expands when wet and contracts when dry.  So, as we know from the retreat centre building, reactive clay can crack large buildings.

Just how gluggy the wet clay can get was clear when I took Jim Noonan the Irish Provincial over the site on Thursday.  My boots and his sandals doubled in size.  Cleaning them was a chore. 

They start drilling the piers tomorrow.  It will be a busy week on site.

Today is the feast of the Assumption and Indian Independence Day.  Happy celebrations!

Wednesday 3 August

We had the formal site meeting with minutes today. When I arrived the architects Alex Coutts and Peter Coad, with the builders Marc, Maurie and Kevin Cohen were standing near the large Hoop Pine I wanted to keep. (I had thought it was a bunya nut- both are araucaria: araucaria bidwillii is the bunya nut and araucaria cunninghamii is the hoop pine.) They announced they had solved the problem threatening the tree by some minor modifications to the building and adjacent landscaping. Soon we were joined by Matthew Taylor, the landscape architect. We all agreed on the changes. Then we walked up to the fig tree.

The Moreton Bay fig tree was walked around and its extraordinary roots were followed before Matthew decided it could be saved with some trimming of branches and roots as well as protection for pipes etc. The builders got out some bright fluoro spray paint and got Matthew to mark what he wanted done. Sam, the arborist came later and he had his professional views and suggestions about how things were to be done.

We then sat down to our formal meeting. The minutes are very succinct- there is a column headed action which is described as "an instruction to proceed". Not much leeway there. One thing I learned was that the builders intend to set out the site, get all the levels exactly right before the drillers come for the piles which will go down to the rock so that the slab can then float on the piles. After this they will erect the steel frame and put on the roof. Only then will the brickies come and begin to lay the walls using Timbercrete.

Meanwhile the demolishers were beavering away. By afternoon the outside toilet was all that was left of the cottage. Most of the debris had been removed, as well. The site is looking clean. They start on the farm sheds tomorrow.