Aboriginal Women's Groups
of La Perouse and the Healing House

The visits to the Healing House of these Groups of Women from the Community at La Perouse were Organised by Esme Holmes of Langton House Health Services of the South Eastern Area Health.

Other Aboriginal Women's Groups of La Perouse were organised by Bruce Stewart, under the direction of Ms Linda Boney, Manager of the Aboriginal Home Care Service of Alexandria.

This Healing House Poem, dedicated to the Aboriginal Women's Healing House, is from Ms Shirly Murphy.

THE HEALING HOUSE POEM

We endure for the sake of the family
Mostly with no ray of hope,
Lives weary and hard and confusing,
Still we cope.

Yet it takes its toll on us sisters,
We wonder will this never end,
So we slip out at night,
Seeking empathy with our friends.

Our choice of venue restricted,
Not designed for confidential revealing,
So with joy in our hearts sometimes we come,
To this wonderful house of the healing.

We are warmly and wonderfully welcomed,
Made to feel as though we have come home,
We all find that our spirits have lifted,
That we don't feel quite so alone.

If we like we can choose to do nothing,
Except eat and rest and recover,
Yet we find we all share in the programs,
And share in our love for each other.

We rediscover the beauty of nature,
In every aspect of flower and leaf;
For this place has a wonderful aura,
Of beauty, tranquility and peace.

For two days we are bathed in this aura,
We are caring and sharing and giving,
We renew the bonds of our friendship,
Our lives are still well worth living.

So thank you again all our friends here,
And thank you house for revealing,
That despite all the trauma, tragedy and pain,
In the future, there is still hope and healing.

Shirly has been coming down to the Healing House since the very first visit by La Perouse; she is an old hand at bringing women together. She is dedicated in working for the La Perouse School, in the Canteen, with After School Care, Catering, Meeting Community needs and so on.

The La Perouse Women's Healing Song

Esme Holmes is the strength of the groups; her wonderful voice, her understanding of spirituality, here are the words of a song made up about the Healing House by one of these groups, with musical accompaniment provided by Esme.

LIKE LINKS IN A CHAIN

Like links in a chain, thirteen women came,
Like links in a chain, thirteen women came,
We sat and talked of our pain….and glory.

Something happened , words can't explain,
River rolled and streams they flowed,
Something happened , words can't explain,
River rolled and streams they flowed,
Something happened and God only knows.

O the pain flew free, ain't nothing to fear but pain,
O the pain flew free, ain't nothing to fear but pain,
Like a bird, inside, you know our spirit flies.

In the circle of hope we sat, love flowed from hand to hand;
Light of the candle lit up; thirteen women came.
Next day we walked the track, took us to the Sacred rock.
We poured our sadness out, she cried, she cried, she cried.

Like links in a chain, thirteen women came,
Like links in a chain, thirteen women came,
We sat and talked of our pain….and glory.

Let the pain fly free, ain't nothing to fear but fear.
Let the pain fly free, ain't nothing to fear but fear.
Like a bird inside, O Lord, our spirit flies,
Like a bird inside, O Lord, our spirit flies,
Like a bird inside you know,
You know our spirit flies.

These women have also made a video, which is available through Barbra Asplet. The video depicts the whole property of the Healing House with all of its wonderful scenery.

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