Cathedral of a Thousand Stars (Radio Adelaide)

By Lisa Burns

Deep in the South Australian outback lies a place only accessible
via dirt track and almost 200km from the nearest town.
Out-of-towners know the small, mostly Aboriginal community of
Oodnadatta as little more than a fuel fill and a quick feed. Few
venture beyond the bowsers of the iconic Pink Roadhouse.

But over at the church ground rises the Cathedral of a Thousand
Stars. It’s an open-air church run by Julia Warren, a local
Aboriginal woman. Julia founded the Oodnadatta Faith Community in
2007, on the same earth that missionaries from the United
Aborigines Mission built the Oodnadatta Children’s Home in 1924. A
slab of concrete is all that remains of the Home, but for
generations past and present, its impact has been much more
lasting.

Cathedral of a Thousand Stars follows the stories of two Aboriginal
women separated by time but united by place. Their stories are
shaped by family, culture, survival and hope, and together they
highlight the diversity of spirituality and faith in
Australia.

A heartfelt thank you to the Aunties for sharing their stories.
Julia Warren (Preacher, Oodnadatta Faith Community Leader), Mona
Olsson, (Yankunytjatjara Woman, Stolen Generations Survivor),
Reverend Denise Champion (Adnyamathanha Woman, Minister at UAICC
Port Augusta), Linda Sutton (Poet, Writer, Former Minister &
Gulf FM 89.3 Broadcaster), Karina Lester (Yankunytjatjara Woman,
Aboriginal Language Worker, Niece of Auntie Mona Olsson) and
Merrilyn Maine (Organist at Western Link Uniting Church).

Oodnadatta Image by Lisa Burns.png Open-air church Oodnadatta Faith
Image Lisa Burns.png

Thanks also to the Oodnadatta community, Ian Dempster from Uniting
Aboriginal and Islander Christian Congress, Reverend Jenny
Swanbury, Radio Adelaide, the CMTO trainers and mentors, and my
friends and family for their ongoing support throughout the making
of this feature.

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