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The Order's mission is two-fold: to give an example of living by Christian principles, which is what ‘tuitio fidei' really means, and to serve our Lords the sick, which is ‘obsequium pauperum'. That we refer to the sick as ‘our Lords' has its roots in former times in the Order when it was impressed upon all those early, dedicated knights that they were to demonstrate their humility towards their fellow man, and also in recognition of the Gospel teaching of Christ: ‘What you do to the least one of these, you do to me.'
Every member of the Order has the duty to carry out works for those in need. The Order¹s humanitarian tradition is renewed daily in our hospitals, health centres and clinics, with the commitment of our 12,500 members and 80,000 permanent volunteers, assisted by over 20,000 doctors and paramedics. Ordinary or extraordinary, the mission never changes. And nor do its recipients - the elderly, the disabled, refugees, the homeless, terminal patients, lepers, children and substance abusers. In addition, Malteser International, the Order's relief corps, tackles the great emergencies - natural disasters, epidemics, armed conflicts.
I am very encouraged by the work undertaken by the members of the Australian Association and your many and faithful volunteers. Our work in the world today is as much needed as ever it was and I exhort you not to lose heart, to continue along the paths which you have set out upon so successfully, with so much energy and enthusiasm. Your newsletter, launched with this first issue, will no doubt prove an effective tool in communicating throughout your beautiful, vast land and in telling the world more of who we are and what we do.
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THE ORDER OF MALTA APPEAL TO CLOTHE THE HOMELESS PEOPLE
 Every night of the year there are over 100,000 people around Australia who are homeless including over 15,000 "sleeping rough". In the inner city area of Sydney alone roughly 800 people are homeless with over 300 of them sleeping in parks, shelters and the like. They are men and women, young and old, and even single families. And this sad situation is repeated in every capital city.
Some years ago, in conjunction with Sydney's Matthew Talbot Hostel, a member of the Order of Malta designed, manufactured and distributed 1000 coats for the homeless. These were not just ordinary coats. With input from the residents of the Mat Talbot, they were specially designed for sleeping rough; they were long, durable, water-resistant, light to carry and very warm.
Unfortunately there are none of the original coats left and with winter here now, the Order is doing it again; this time for 2000 coats ... but it needs your help.
For just $50 you can keep a homeless person warm this winter. For $500 you can keep 10 homeless people warm. Here is an opportunity for you to make a direct contribution to the welfare of people less fortunate than yourself.
Donations can be made by credit card or cheque using the enclosed Appeal Envelope. Alternatively, you can make a donation over the phone by calling +61 2 8394 9599 or via the website www.smom.org.au. Please give generously.
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CARING FOR THE VULNERABLE
The Sovereign Military Order of St John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta is the world's oldest Catholic charity, having been established in 1048. Its origins date back in Jerusalem, when the Knights Hospitaller cared for and protected the poor, sick or injured pilgrims to the Holy Land. It is unique in that it is a religious order and also one of the ancient Orders of Chivalry and also a Sovereign Entity, having diplomatic relations with 103 countries including Permanent Observer Status at the United Nations.
Guided by the same spirit as the original Knights Hospitaller, today the Order of Malta is best known for its mission: obsequium pauperum "service to the poor and the suffering" by providing services and facilities to support the sick, the elderly, the handicapped and those who are marginalised and homeless.
Operating in over 120 countries across five continents, the Order of Malta has over 12,500 members, 80,000 permanent volunteers, and 20,000 medical personnel including doctors, nurses, auxiliaries and paramedics who serve communities in need without distinction of race or religion.
In several countries including Italy, Ireland, Germany and France, the national associations of the Order of Malta provide first aid training, ambulance, first aid services and emergency medical services.
Through its worldwide relief corps, Malteser International, the Order is also engaged to aid victims of disasters, epidemics and armed conflicts.
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NEWS FROM THE WORKS OF MALTESER INTERNATIONAL
- ORDER OF MALTA WORLDWIDE RELIEF
Malteser International is the worldwide relief agency of the Sovereign Order of Malta for humanitarian aid. The organisation provides aid in around 200 projects in more than 20 countries without distinction of religion, race or political persuasion. Christian values and the humanitarian principles of impartiality and independence are the foundation of Malteser International's work. www.malteser-international.org
EARTHQUAKE IN ITALY - THE ORDER OF MALTA PROVIDES EMERGENCY AID
 News of the April 6 earthquake that devastated central Italy, sent shockwaves around the world. As images of the devastation played out on televisions screens in Australia, project teams from the Order of Malta were one of the first emergency relief services to respond to the crisis.
On Piazza del Duomo in the historic town of L'Aquila, the Order of Malta disaster response unit set-up a 32-bed mobile hospital with six doctors and twenty rescue workers to care for the sick and injured.
In nearby Poggio Rio and San Felice d'Ocre, the Italian Emergency Corps of the Order of Malta (CISOM ) which includes doctors, medical
assistants and emergency medical technicians, provided shelter for over 900 people in temporary tent cities.
At the time of printing this newsletter, the CISOM continue to provide shelter, hot meals and medical assistance for those affected by the April earthquake. The CISOM are expected to remain responsible for the management of the two camps for the duration of the state of emergency.
Having passed the acute emergency phase, the priority of the Italian Corps volunteers is to listen and to console the survivors. "The first day we set up the ‘counselling tent,' where people could tell what they had experienced the previous night and could somehow ‘empty their minds'," says Maurizio Valentini, team leader and counsellor for several years among the ranks of CISOM.
"The worst is still to come: they will have to adapt to this new situation, because they are going to be in tents for a long time. We have done everything for families to stay together, and now we are planning a tournament for the children, like in a summer camp, and for the elderly we will get board games and cards so they can relax and try to reconstruct their daily life."
It is estimated that 280 people lost their lives in the earthquake, and tens of thousands of people lost their homes.
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MYANMAR - MALTESER INTERNATIONAL CONTINUES RELIEF PROGRAMME IN THE IRRAWADDY-DELTA
 One year after cyclone Nargis devastated large parts of Myanmar, reconstruction and rehabilitation works in the severely affected Irrawaddy Delta are still far from being finalised.
Malteser International has committed to continue its rehabilitation and reconstruction programme for populations living in the region affected by cyclone Nargis until 2011, with areas of focus including health care, water, sanitation and disaster preparedness. An Australian based project team has also been involved in this international aid effort.
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PROJECTS OF THE ORDER OF MALTA AUSTRALIA
GORMAN HOUSE - THE ORDER OF MALTA SERVE THE POOR AND NEEDY IN INNER CITY SYDNEY
 Gorman House is a residential facility providing detoxification and health care for people affected by alcohol and drug addictions.
Run by St Vincent's Hospital in the inner Sydney suburb of Darlinghurst, Gorman House was near closure when the NSW branch of the Order of Malta stepped in and adopted it as a charitable works project in late 2005.
At that time, the service only had funding capacity to operate a five-day-a-week service, and many homeless men and women who used the service were being turned away. Since 2006, with the Order's commitment and financial support, Gorman House has been operating a seven day round-the-clock health service for some of the most marginalised people in our community.
Last year alone Gorman House admitted 1440 people, with an average of 120 admissions per month (a 40 per cent increase in admissions when compared to the five-day operation a few years earlier).
The majority of the people who come to Gorman House come with severe alcohol dependencies. Addictions to heroin and methamphetamines, such as the street drug ‘ice', are also common. Many of these people have lost relationships with family and friends, are without work and income and suffer serious physical and mental health conditions alongside their addictions.
Gorman House provides treatment for non-medical detoxification. While staying at Gorman House, residents are taught basic health tips and life skills such as cooking and budgeting. Social activities such as art classes and singing are also available for residents.
People treated at Gorman House are encouraged to continue onto rehabilitation, although many return directly to their old ways. For these people, their time at Gorman offers refuge from judgment, the pain of addiction and the hardships of life on the streets. They leave Gorman House having had five days of sleep, food, warmth, company and something that is unique for many, respect.
The NSW Branch of the Order of Malta is proud to support St Vincent's Hospital and Gorman House in providing health care to those who need it most.
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THE ORDER SUPPORTS THE SMALL VICTIMS OF BUSHFIRE CATASTROPHE
 On 7 February this year, the worst bushfires in Australian history devastated regions of Victoria. While the physical scars of the inferno are clear for all to see, the deep psychological wounds, particularly in young children, may be harder to detect and may take longer to heal.
Experts say that disasters, such as bushfires, have two key elements in common: a loss of trust and a loss of control. The large number of fatalities from the fires and the obliteration of whole communities, have only added to the psychological trauma of anxiety, stress, loss and despair.
The Order of Malta is supporting a project in which Primary school children from the town of Marysville will receive professional counseling to assist them in coming to terms with the effects of the fires and in rebuilding their lives.
The Australian Association, with support from national associations from America and Canada, has also committed to providing:
- ongoing support for victims and families
- reconstruction and community rebuilding projects
- respite for families
The February 7, 2009 bushfires in Victoria killed 173 Australian victims, destroyed over 2,000 homes and burnt 400,000 hectares across the state.
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ORDER OF MALTA VOLUNTEER PROFILE - ROGER MCGRATH
Roger McGrath is a Friend of the Australian Order of Malta.
 His involvement with the Order started in 2006 when, as a volunteer worker as St Vincent's Hospital Sydney, he became involved in an initiative of the NSW Branch of the Order and Gorman House (a Hospital facility providing detoxification treatment and health care for homeless men and women, see page 3).
At that time, Gorman House only had funding capacity to operate a five-day-a-week service, it was turning away many hundreds of people in need and staff were at a breaking point.
The Order sought to provide immediate financial support for Gorman House in order to re-establish a seven day service, provide some assistance for the Gorman House staff, as well as companionship and support for its residents.
Roger has been an active member of the Gorman House project in all these ways. He has been actively involved in the three-year fundraising
appeals for Gorman House, approaching individuals and business for support. His efforts have contributed to success of the SMOM
Gorman House appeal: namely, the reopening, and continued operation, of a seven-day service at the facility.
Roger also helped co-ordinate a part refurbishment of the Gorman House premises, funded by the Order, which included renovating the bathrooms and landscaping a garden area for residents to use. His primary passion is the coordination of volunteers for the trice-weekly barbeques at Gorman House. Roger's efforts here bring individuals, families and business groups to Gorman House to help prepare a meal with the residents. The volunteers assist the Gorman staff and provide important companionship and interaction with the residents. He says: "it means so much to them to know that we care".
Roger instinctively subscribes to the Order's mission "service of the sick and poor" although he puts it in these words, given to him by his parents: "I expect to pass through this world only but once; any good therefore that I can do, or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature, let me do it now, let me not defer or neglect it, for I shall not pass this way again".
The Order of Malta made Roger an Officer of Merit in 2008. St Vincent's Hospital, also recognising his tireless commitment and contribution, awarding Roger a Mary Aikenhead Award Special Commendation the same year.
The Order of Malta is a registered charity
ABN 58 751 180 753
The Order of Malta,
Level 2, 118 Devonshire Street,
Surry Hills NSW 2010
Phone: +61 2 8394 9599
Fax: +61 2 8394 9533
Email: communications@smom.org.au
www.smom.org.au
If you wish to download the PDF of the newsletter click here.
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We are living in challenging times which demand much of all of us. There are disquieting economic circumstances, as well as deeply concerning issues for the most disadvantaged of this world. We as members of the Order, a lay religious Order of the Catholic Church, have a duty to look to the needs of those less fortunate than ourselves. Founded in Jerusalem, our 900-year old tradition attests to our extensive experience in humanitarian and health care activities, and today the work of our 59 Order organisations is carried on, day in and day out, in over 120 countries. We are also aided by our Ambassadors, accredited to 102 countries, who work as a humanitarian diplomatic network.
