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Dame Phyllis Frost AC
DBE 14-9-1917 to 30-10-2004 |
NEWS ARCHIVE |
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| Dame Phyllis Frost accepted
an invitation from Strathdon Community Council in 1982 to become Patron
to Strathdon Community and contributed in a significant capacity for
22 years until her recent passing. Strathdon's publications over the years contain thought provoking gems written by Dame Phyllis. Some have been selected below which aptly reflect her passion for life and the need for selflessness in today's society. Her past thoughts in relation to Christmas remain relevant today. |
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Christmas
Greetings from 1997 |
| On the centre of my drawing
room mantle piece stands a little carved wooden donkey. It is perhaps
my most loved possession. It is only about four or five inches high
but its little body can transport “great big me” back to the shepherd’s
field in Bethlehem.
From time to time a branch from the ancient straggling old olive trees that surround that area may die, be blown off in a storm, or be pruned back by a tree surgeon to preserve the health of that plant. Master carvers in the town will eagerly tender with the government for the limb of olive wood and, if successsful, then proceed to carve little donkeys out of the centuries old wood. I am the owner of one of these little donkeys. I always wonder whether the wood that is my tiny creature ever saw or heard the angel hosts in the sky on that special night 2000 years ago. Maybe it was bathed in the light of the very bright star that shone over a lowly stable in the darkness at that time. I shall never know, but I do know that this little wooden creature, with its long ears and its tiny, graceful hooves, was part of a tree that grew in that sacred place, and as I stand and gaze at it on the mantle piece it transports my thoughts back to that time and place when the Prince of Peace lay in a manger, giving eternal hope to humanity. It carries my soul back to wonder at that amazing miracle which Almighty God bestowed on His people that first Christmas night. Christians throughout the world will pause again at this festive time to pay their tributes and love to the Baby who gives them hope of Peace on Earth and goodwill to all. May you too have a happy and blessed Christmas this year. |
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Christmas Message from
1993 STRATHDON LINK DECEMBER 1993 |
Once again it is my pleasure to ask you to recall with me the true meaning of Christmas. It seems so sad to see commercialism and personal greed imposing themselves on perhaps one of the two most important incidents in Christian history that the world has ever known. The coming of Christ as a tiny, helpless baby has so much importance and purpose for the reason of living, and it hurts me, as it does you, to see such purity and reality debased by greed and selfishness. Not for one moment do I think we can stop the spirit of this misuse of Christmas, but I do believe that we as individuals can rise up against the gross commercialisation of this time. We can enter into the real spirit of Christmas, we can bestow our gifts, we can have our family reunions – if they are possible. We can be part of the whole Christmas without encompassing the commercialisation. My best wishes to you all for a holy, happy and wonderful Christmas. I think we in Australia do not realise the horror and tragedy of wars that are still going on in other parts of the world, but we must all pray and work for peace on earth and goodwill to all of God’s children. Phyllis I Frost |
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Food for Thought |
| 1992 "The history of Strathdon Community runs like a golden thread through the eastern suburbs of Melbourne." 1998 ''In necessary things, unity; in non-essential things, liberty; in all things compassion and common sense." 1999 "Be sure not to overlook your opportunity to uphold human rights and justice. Stand firm and, with compassion and understanding, continue to follow in the steps of the Master and his Golden Rule." 1999 "Work is only work when there is something you like to do better" 2000, at the age of 83 "Just because you're getting on in years it doesn't mean you can't continue to make a useful contribution." |
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Articles |
| The Age: Vale Dame Phyllis, community champion | |
| news.com.au: Dame Phyllis Frost dies | |
| Herald Sun: Saintly Dame Phyllis dies |