APSIG newsletter no. 62: November 2006

Outstanding display of historic Bibles

On Wednesday 4 October 2006 a group organised by APSIG were privileged to have a guided tour of the Historic Bibles Display organised by the Bible Society in Canberra. Set out in the very modern Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture in the grounds of St Mark's Theological College, in the suburb of Barton in the A.C.T., these historic books drew admiring looks from the librarians. We were fortunate to have the Rev. Dr John Harris with us, who was Translation Consultant with the Bible Society before his retirement.

The display included a unique and rare collection of Bibles dating from 1495 to the present day. The collection included a Geneva Bible, reputedly owned by William Shakespeare, a Tyndale New Testament and the Lord Hopetoun Bible which has been used for the swearing in of each Governor General since Federation. Also on display were Bibles dating from the early days of the Colony, including copies of the first Aboriginal and Asia Pacific language scriptures.

Our thanks to the Bible Society, Deveni Temu and Dr Harris for organising this interesting event.

House of Welcome in Canberra

Canberra APSIG members were fortunate to be able to visit the Papua New Guinea High Commission in mid-August. We were welcomed by Mr Charles Lepani, the High Commissioner and shown through the renovated buildings which are decorated with superb pieces of art in all media, especially carved and turned wood. We were shown part of a film made in Mr Lepani's home district, the Trobriand Islands, which records the life of the people. We also met Helen Sanny, the Third Secretary.

Renamed by Prime Minister Michael Somare in 2005 as Kamasan Haus (House of welcome) this Canberra showplace made a wonderful excursion. We were very glad to visit the representatives of our nearest neighbours.