Wahroonga Friends Bulletin - 20 May 2026
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Wahroonga Friends Bulletin - 20 May 2026
Stories of Resistance, Revival
and Survival at Sydney Film Festival
Above - Nuxalk filmmaker Banchi Hanuse’s documentary, Ceremony, captures Nuxalk resistance and revival
in the Bella Coola valley in British Columbia, Canada. Photo: Sydney Film Festival
The 73rd Sydney Film Festival, running from June 3–14, features 248 films from 81 countries.
Included in the program are films about First Nations resistance, a Palestinian uprising and communities seeking justice. The following is a selection of films that may be of interest.
Ceremony (2026)
Nuxalk filmmaker Banchi Hanuse’s latest documentary beautifully captures Nuxalk resistance and revival in the Bella Coola valley in British Columbia, Canada. It centres around the voices on local community radio and attempts to restore the presence of ooligan — a fish used for food and medicine — which inexplicably disappeared decades ago.
Hanuse weaves together stunning scenic shots, archival footage and captivating animations to tell a compelling story of Nuxalk survival and resistance.
Palestine 36 (2025)
Set during the era of British colonial rule in Palestine, this historical drama chronicles the 1936–39 Arab revolt, which started with a six-month general strike and was followed by an armed uprising.
Directed by Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir, the film captures Palestinian resistance and the brutality of British colonial rule. Jacir is also the founder of Philistine Films, an independent production company in Palestine and Jordan that supports independent Arab filmmakers in the region.
The film was shot in Jordan and Palestine, navigating the difficulties of filming in territory under Zionist occupation. It won Best Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival and was officially submitted as Palestine’s entry for the Oscars.
Sukundimi Walks Before Me (2026)
This documentary follows First Nations Sepik resistance to a massive open-cut gold and copper mine along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea.
The Frieda River Project — proposed by Australia-headquartered Chinese-owned company PanAust — would have irreparable environmental and social impacts, threatening the livelihoods of the 400,000 people in the Sepik River’s catchment area.
Yumburra (2026)
Follows First Nations writer Bruce Pascoe living on his farm on Yuin Country in regional Victoria, where he grows native grains and revives First Nations farming practices.
Pascoe faced a racist backlash in some of the mainstream media, political establishment and academia to his book Dark Emu, which challenged the colonial narratives of First Nations land management and food production.
Landmarks (2025)
This documentary follows the protracted investigation into the murder of First Nations Chuschagasta leader Javier Chocobar, killed in 2009 while defending his community’s land in rural Argentina.
Argentine filmmaker Lucrecia Martel’s first documentary centres the act of violence within centuries of dispossession, resistance and exploitation.
As current far-right President Javier Milei seeks to open up vast swaths of Argentina — including Indigenous lands — to mining and agribusiness companies, local communities face increasingly violent threats to their safety and livelihoods.
Steal This Story, Please! (2025)
This documentary explores the life and career of Amy Goodman — the legendary United States journalist and co-founder of Democracy Now!.
Everybody to Kenmure Street (2026)
Drawing on mobile phone footage, news coverage and interviews, this documentary captures community resistance to the Home Office’s attempts to detain two Sikh men in Glasgow in 2021.
Árru (2026)
Set in the northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, this drama tells the story of a Sámi reindeer herder confronting a mining project encroaching on her lands.
[View the full Sydney Film Festival program here.]
Stories of resistance, revival and survival at Sydney Film Festival
Latest Street Homeless Count
Data Paints a Bleak Picture
The latest 2026 Street Count data paints a bleak picture of New South Wales’ (NSW) homelessness rates, especially in the Hunter and Central Coast. While Sydney and Byron Bay saw encouraging reductions, the biggest regional increases in those sleeping rough were recorded in the Hunter and Central Coast, alongside Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie. Across NSW, 2,308 people are without a roof over their heads in 2026, a five per cent increase from the past year. In the Hunter, Newcastle was the worst for homelessness, with 66 people on the streets based on checks undertaken by the land-based Street Count undertaken in March. There were 60 recorded in Lake Macquarie, 35 in Port Stephens, 34 in Singleton, 16 in Maitland, six in Muswellbrook, five each in the Upper Hunter and Dungog, and four in Cessnock. "While the scale of the challenge is significant, it’s encouraging to see our record investment in housing and homelessness services is laying a platform for change, with results starting to show in priority areas like Byron and the CBD where much of our early focus was directed.
Elsewhere, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie also saw 52 and 47 person rises, respectively, to sit at 151 and 116. Street counts took place between 23 February and 19 March 2026, in more than 461 towns and suburbs in 77 local government areas (LGA) across NSW. Ms Jackson goes on to say what the main contributors are to these numbers. “The overall numbers are stabilising too – back in 2023 there was a 34 per cent increase in rough sleeping recorded, that slowed to 8 per cent last year and now 5 per cent in 2026. We are making headway, but it won’t happen overnight. “The data tells us that a lack of affordable housing and high cost of living are the most common drivers of homelessness, which is exactly why the NSW Government is laser-focused on building more homes as quickly as possible. Collaboration between government, community organisations and local councils is crucial, and we will continue to work together to innovate and expand our efforts to provide safe, secure and affordable housing for all.” Singleton was the biggest mover with 28 more people on the streets in comparison to last year’s results. On the Central Coast, 100 people are sleeping on the streets, 34 more people than in 2025. Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson says the homelessness snapshot helps steer government investment in the right direction. “These results really shine a light on how our targeted intervention can reduce rough sleeping. The urgent need to address the root causes of homelessness remains a work in progress to ensure that no one in our community is left behind,” she says. 2026 Street Count - NEW FM
Registration Now Open
August 2026 Yearly Meeting
Register now for Yearly Meeting and explore the developing program.
Register for Yearly Meeting
View the developing Yearly Meeting program
More information about Yearly Meeting
See - Quakers and the Still Small VoiceWhen we sit in silence on Sunday morning, Quakers often like to say that we’re “listening”. But what does that still small voice sound like? See it here Quakers and the Still, Small Voice
May QBC - Anthony Benezet: Quaker, Abolitionist, Anti-Racist
The May QBC (Quaker Book Club) selection is Anthony Benezet: Quaker, Abolitionist, Anti-Racist, preeminent biographer David Chanoff.
In Anthony Benezet: Quaker, Abolitionist, Anti-Racist, preeminent biographer David Chanoff tells Benezet’s story―who he was, what he did, how he did it, and why it was that William Penn’s “Holy Experiment” of Pennsylvania provided the matrix for the historic transformation the abolitionist educator brought about. Indeed, Chanoff carves out a place for this forgotten American hero as a pioneering figure among those who launched American ideals onto the world stage. Read the Friends Journal review, here. Obtain a copy here Anthony Benezet
e- Wahroonga Send news of f/Friends and newsletter items to quiver...@yahoo.com.au Agenda items for Business Meeting should be emailed at wmnwah...@quakersaustralia.info or handed to a co-clerk. Visit us at "Our Home" First days (Sunday), 9.30 am Meeting for Worship - Wahroonga Friends Meeting, your local peace church. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 59 Boundary Road Wahroonga NSW 2076 Email:wmnwah...@quakersaustralia.info Web: Wahroonga Local Meeting | Australia Yearly Meeting A Zoom meeting occurs 9.30 am Sundays Meeting link Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting 918 558 7747 Passcode: 554662 Phone: 02 8015 6011 Please contact Paul Carter if you have any problems.
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Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
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Stories of Resistance, Revival
and Survival at Sydney Film Festival
Above - Nuxalk filmmaker Banchi Hanuse’s documentary, Ceremony, captures Nuxalk resistance and revival
in the Bella Coola valley in British Columbia, Canada. Photo: Sydney Film Festival
The 73rd Sydney Film Festival, running from June 3–14, features 248 films from 81 countries.
Included in the program are films about First Nations resistance, a Palestinian uprising and communities seeking justice. The following is a selection of films that may be of interest.
Ceremony (2026)
Nuxalk filmmaker Banchi Hanuse’s latest documentary beautifully captures Nuxalk resistance and revival in the Bella Coola valley in British Columbia, Canada. It centres around the voices on local community radio and attempts to restore the presence of ooligan — a fish used for food and medicine — which inexplicably disappeared decades ago.
Hanuse weaves together stunning scenic shots, archival footage and captivating animations to tell a compelling story of Nuxalk survival and resistance.
Palestine 36 (2025)
Set during the era of British colonial rule in Palestine, this historical drama chronicles the 1936–39 Arab revolt, which started with a six-month general strike and was followed by an armed uprising.
Directed by Palestinian filmmaker Annemarie Jacir, the film captures Palestinian resistance and the brutality of British colonial rule. Jacir is also the founder of Philistine Films, an independent production company in Palestine and Jordan that supports independent Arab filmmakers in the region.
The film was shot in Jordan and Palestine, navigating the difficulties of filming in territory under Zionist occupation. It won Best Film at the Tokyo International Film Festival and was officially submitted as Palestine’s entry for the Oscars.
Sukundimi Walks Before Me (2026)
This documentary follows First Nations Sepik resistance to a massive open-cut gold and copper mine along the Sepik River in Papua New Guinea.
The Frieda River Project — proposed by Australia-headquartered Chinese-owned company PanAust — would have irreparable environmental and social impacts, threatening the livelihoods of the 400,000 people in the Sepik River’s catchment area.
Yumburra (2026)
Follows First Nations writer Bruce Pascoe living on his farm on Yuin Country in regional Victoria, where he grows native grains and revives First Nations farming practices.
Pascoe faced a racist backlash in some of the mainstream media, political establishment and academia to his book Dark Emu, which challenged the colonial narratives of First Nations land management and food production.
Landmarks (2025)
This documentary follows the protracted investigation into the murder of First Nations Chuschagasta leader Javier Chocobar, killed in 2009 while defending his community’s land in rural Argentina.
Argentine filmmaker Lucrecia Martel’s first documentary centres the act of violence within centuries of dispossession, resistance and exploitation.
As current far-right President Javier Milei seeks to open up vast swaths of Argentina — including Indigenous lands — to mining and agribusiness companies, local communities face increasingly violent threats to their safety and livelihoods.
Steal This Story, Please! (2025)
This documentary explores the life and career of Amy Goodman — the legendary United States journalist and co-founder of Democracy Now!.
Everybody to Kenmure Street (2026)
Drawing on mobile phone footage, news coverage and interviews, this documentary captures community resistance to the Home Office’s attempts to detain two Sikh men in Glasgow in 2021.
Árru (2026)
Set in the northern part of the Scandinavian Peninsula, this drama tells the story of a Sámi reindeer herder confronting a mining project encroaching on her lands.
[View the full Sydney Film Festival program here.]
Stories of resistance, revival and survival at Sydney Film Festival
Latest Street Homeless Count
Data Paints a Bleak Picture
The latest 2026 Street Count data paints a bleak picture of New South Wales’ (NSW) homelessness rates, especially in the Hunter and Central Coast. While Sydney and Byron Bay saw encouraging reductions, the biggest regional increases in those sleeping rough were recorded in the Hunter and Central Coast, alongside Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie. Across NSW, 2,308 people are without a roof over their heads in 2026, a five per cent increase from the past year. In the Hunter, Newcastle was the worst for homelessness, with 66 people on the streets based on checks undertaken by the land-based Street Count undertaken in March. There were 60 recorded in Lake Macquarie, 35 in Port Stephens, 34 in Singleton, 16 in Maitland, six in Muswellbrook, five each in the Upper Hunter and Dungog, and four in Cessnock. "While the scale of the challenge is significant, it’s encouraging to see our record investment in housing and homelessness services is laying a platform for change, with results starting to show in priority areas like Byron and the CBD where much of our early focus was directed.
Elsewhere, Coffs Harbour and Port Macquarie also saw 52 and 47 person rises, respectively, to sit at 151 and 116. Street counts took place between 23 February and 19 March 2026, in more than 461 towns and suburbs in 77 local government areas (LGA) across NSW. Ms Jackson goes on to say what the main contributors are to these numbers. “The overall numbers are stabilising too – back in 2023 there was a 34 per cent increase in rough sleeping recorded, that slowed to 8 per cent last year and now 5 per cent in 2026. We are making headway, but it won’t happen overnight. “The data tells us that a lack of affordable housing and high cost of living are the most common drivers of homelessness, which is exactly why the NSW Government is laser-focused on building more homes as quickly as possible. Collaboration between government, community organisations and local councils is crucial, and we will continue to work together to innovate and expand our efforts to provide safe, secure and affordable housing for all.” Singleton was the biggest mover with 28 more people on the streets in comparison to last year’s results. On the Central Coast, 100 people are sleeping on the streets, 34 more people than in 2025. Minister for Homelessness Rose Jackson says the homelessness snapshot helps steer government investment in the right direction. “These results really shine a light on how our targeted intervention can reduce rough sleeping. The urgent need to address the root causes of homelessness remains a work in progress to ensure that no one in our community is left behind,” she says. 2026 Street Count - NEW FM
Registration Now Open
August 2026 Yearly Meeting
Register now for Yearly Meeting and explore the developing program.
Register for Yearly Meeting
View the developing Yearly Meeting program
More information about Yearly Meeting
See - Quakers and the Still Small VoiceWhen we sit in silence on Sunday morning, Quakers often like to say that we’re “listening”. But what does that still small voice sound like? See it here Quakers and the Still, Small Voice
May QBC - Anthony Benezet: Quaker, Abolitionist, Anti-Racist
The May QBC (Quaker Book Club) selection is Anthony Benezet: Quaker, Abolitionist, Anti-Racist, preeminent biographer David Chanoff.
In Anthony Benezet: Quaker, Abolitionist, Anti-Racist, preeminent biographer David Chanoff tells Benezet’s story―who he was, what he did, how he did it, and why it was that William Penn’s “Holy Experiment” of Pennsylvania provided the matrix for the historic transformation the abolitionist educator brought about. Indeed, Chanoff carves out a place for this forgotten American hero as a pioneering figure among those who launched American ideals onto the world stage. Read the Friends Journal review, here. Obtain a copy here Anthony Benezet
e- Wahroonga Send news of f/Friends and newsletter items to quiver...@yahoo.com.au Agenda items for Business Meeting should be emailed at wmnwah...@quakersaustralia.info or handed to a co-clerk. Visit us at "Our Home" First days (Sunday), 9.30 am Meeting for Worship - Wahroonga Friends Meeting, your local peace church. Religious Society of Friends (Quakers) 59 Boundary Road Wahroonga NSW 2076 Email:wmnwah...@quakersaustralia.info Web: Wahroonga Local Meeting | Australia Yearly Meeting A Zoom meeting occurs 9.30 am Sundays Meeting link Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting 918 558 7747 Passcode: 554662 Phone: 02 8015 6011 Please contact Paul Carter if you have any problems.
|
|
|
| | |
|
|
|
| |
Join our Cloud HD Video Meeting
Zoom is the leader in modern enterprise cloud communications.
|
|
|
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