CAMPSIE EARLWOOD CLEMTON PARK CONGREGATION MINISTER: TREVOR JENNINGS 0409 648 623
  • Home
    • ABOUT >
      • Minister
    • Offerings and Donations
    • Campsie Uniting Church >
      • Drop in
    • Earlwood Uniting Church
    • Clemton Park Uniting Church
    • Beth Eden Congregation
    • Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
    • Galilee Congregation
    • United Church of Tonga
  • Services and News
    • Activities >
      • Baptisms
      • Bible study
      • Weddings
  • Bookings
    • Bus Bookings
  • Tongan Language
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Contact Information and Inquiries
  • Preschool
  • Study Group
  • Stillness and Silence
  • Indigenous Garden
  • Home
    • ABOUT >
      • Minister
    • Offerings and Donations
    • Campsie Uniting Church >
      • Drop in
    • Earlwood Uniting Church
    • Clemton Park Uniting Church
    • Beth Eden Congregation
    • Free Wesleyan Church of Tonga
    • Galilee Congregation
    • United Church of Tonga
  • Services and News
    • Activities >
      • Baptisms
      • Bible study
      • Weddings
  • Bookings
    • Bus Bookings
  • Tongan Language
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Contact Information and Inquiries
  • Preschool
  • Study Group
  • Stillness and Silence
  • Indigenous Garden

Jimmy Silas

17/9/2016

0 Comments

 
A memorial service was held at the Drop In on Thursday 15th September for Jimmy Silas. Residents and staff from Frank's boarding house, community support staff, others who attend the drop in and volunteers all participated in honouring Jimmy's life.

As there were no relatives of Jimmy's at the ceremony people shared what they knew of Jimmy's life. One by one people spoke offering some anecdote or fact or memory. it was like putting together a jigsaw puzzle with some many pieces missing. 

We discovered that Jimmy's real name was Kaki Biliu and he was born on the island of Daru, Papua New Guinea. Jimmy was born among the bushes in the traditional way of giving birth in the 1940s. As a child he had witnessed a number of attacks on his village by neighbouring villages. He and his siblings hid in the bush until the attackers were driven off. One of his brothers was drowned at sea while trying to cross to the Torres Strait islands.

He came to Sydney and worked for the railway, living for many years in a hut beside the railway line. He assisted with the rescue of people during the Granville train disaster in 1977. 

Jimmy had not seen his family in years. He made contact with his sister in Brisbane by phone about seven weeks ago but sadly they had not been able to meet up before his death. 

Those who lived with Jimmy spoke of his dignity, his gentleness, kindness and his honesty: his word was his word. He loved classical music and spent his days listening to ABC Classic fm and reading his bible. 

He was buried at Riverstone Cemetery, New South Wales on Friday 16th September 2016.


Jimmy is very much missed at the Drop In. May he rest in peace.
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Minister of Campsie Earlwood Clemton Park Uniting Church Congregation

    Archives

    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    May 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    February 2018
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016

    Categories

    All
    Being
    Listening For God
    Mantra
    Quotes
    Reconciliation
    Silence
    Stillness
    Wildness
    Wisdom

    RSS Feed

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.