"Yesterday along with fellow Chatliners Joann Kelly, Heather Chong and Liz Hyde, I attended Shelagh Shaw's ordination as an Anglican Deacon at St David's Cathedral in Hobart.   It was a very happy occasion and I did take a few photos, using my husband's digital camera for the first time.

       Shown on the photo below are Shelagh and the Acting Dean.






"It was an inspiring service combining the formalities of processions, wonderfully embroidered vestments, choral music, etc with many down to earth touches.   Three Deacons and three priests were ordained - 5 of them older women whose rich life experiences will be put to good use in their new positions.   Because of her years of experience as a Lay Reader at Coventry Cathedral Shelagh will be based at St Davids.

"Here is the piece Shelagh wrote for the ordination program:

'As a child of the 2nd World War I spent my early years safe in the county of Gloucester in a beautiful part of England.   On returning to the Midlands after the war I settled back to life in a busy city with some reluctance.   After marriage and two children I went to teacher training college and qualified as a primary school teacher.   Eventually I became head of an inner city multi cultural school in Coventry and later head of an Anglican school.   After I retired from school I went to Oxford and studied Theology for three years, obtaining a B.Th.   During these years my children grew up and my daughter left England for Hong Kong, then Singapore and ultimately Tasmania where I often visited her.

'I worshipped at Coventry Cathedral for about thirty years and during that time became a licensed Lay Minister.   I did not apply for the ordained ministry because I knew that there was an upper age limit of 55 years.   It was not till I finally moved permanently to Tasmania that I could begin to realize that dream.

'The 11th February marks more than just a special day for me, it marks a lifelong dream.   I always knew that God was there for me and now I will have the opportunity to show that I am there for Him.'

Shelagh and Liz Hyde are shown on the photo on the right.



"Liz Hyde is from SI Deakin in Victoria, whose Friendship Link is SI Coventry - Shelagh's old club.   Another link with Coventry was Shelagh's stole, which was made by the Coventry Cathedral Embroiderers.    The one she wore yesterday was red, with the flames of the holy spirit and a dove of peace.   They have also made her one featuring the Tasmanian blue gum (our floral emblem) and Mt Wellington, the mountain that towers majestically above our city.









"Like a number of Soroptimists, Shelagh is also a Red Hatter.   They were well represented at yesterday's service too.   I imagine it's the first time a Bishop has had his photo taken surrounded by a group of Red Hatters!   During the service the Bishop commented that with her red hat, Shelagh might be about to jump rank and become a Cardinal."

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