Workshop Report: Guthega 2025
Participants at the SDN 2025 Annual Workshop, Held at Guthega NSW
From left top row – Rosaria Palmese, Roberta Baker, Harry Creamer, Sacha Free, Chris Larkin, David Purnell, Lesley Shuttleworth, Mark Spain, Mary Stringer and David Crew. Sitting - John Russell, Dayle Summerfield, Carol Baker and Dave Smith.
The annual Social Developers Network workshop was held at the Tiobunga Ski Lodge at Guthega in the Snowy Mountains of NSW.
It is a striking place and an excellent venue for an SDN workshop.
There were fourteen participants - six men and eight women. Most had attended an annual workshop, but this was the first experience for three people.
We came from Canberra, Melbourne, Beechworth, Deniliquin and Port Macquarie.
The workshop took place over four days and included a music concert, a poems session and an afternoon when people went for a bushwalk. With brisk mountain air and mostly sunshine every day this summer in the Snowy Mountains provided a relief to the heat and humidity elsewhere.
We quickly formed a family of friends, sharing our thoughts, emotions, hopes and fears in an atmosphere of trust and support.
A fascinating variety of presentations was offered, as the titles indicate:
- Living ethically in a world in crisis
- What actions do we take in a chaotic world?
- ‘World Leaders’ exercise
- Speaking truth to power
- A history and philosophy of Buddhism
- Race relations in Deniliquin
- What makes a community?
- Therapeutic communities
- ‘Corbett’ – a going forth project
- Restorative practice conference
Acknowledgment of John Russell
We also held an afternoon tea to say farewell to John Russell as this was his last SDN workshop. John was instrumental in founding SDN with Ned Iceton in the 1970s.
We noted his long history of commitment to community and social justice in many walks of life.
Reflections:
- I loved the venue and the inspiration it provided for ideas and discussion.
- Genuine connection and a real sense of community began immediately.
- The mature approach in drawing up the agenda and discussing various sessions was a joy.
- I valued the rich conversations and preparing our meals together.
- I enjoyed all the presentations and the ease with which we all got on together.
- The concert was a highlight for me, especially the sing-alongs.
- Ethical considerations arose and were dealt with in respectful and caring ways.
- The experience was uplifting and positive.
- I had a deep experience of humanity striving for its best.
- Overall, the joy of meeting and mingling with thoughtful, kind people aware of the world we inhabit and all its highs and lows.
