Almanac Book Launch: ‘Painting Martha’ by Andy Thurlow

 

On Sunday, as I stood before a congregation of family and friends sitting in the Langmeil church pews in Tanunda waiting to hear about the 3 books Ian Hauser (IJH), ex-Paralympic superstar coach Kevin McIntosh and I were about to launch and re-launch, I couldn’t help but notice how comfortable people looked.

You see, one of my most meritorious achievements will not go down in the annals of Lutheran Church history (unless I record it here!).

When my wife Marley and I arrived in the Barossa Valley some 30 years ago and attended the Langmeil Lutheran Church in Tanunda, it had the reputation for having the most uncomfortable pews in the Valley, if not the world.

A carpenter, who clearly wanted the congregation to stay awake, had constructed this seating without any form of lower and/or middle back support.  The top rail, a single sadistic board, in the wrong place and at the wrong angle, pressed mercilessly into the thoracic 2nd and 3rd vertebrae. Only someone with extreme scoliosis could have found any sort of comfort. Most people leaned forward occasionally to get relief.

To make matters even worse, the gap between the seat and the top rail was cavernous so, inevitably, children would fall through the gap. Handbags, hymnals, Bibles, stationery and toys meant to distract children went the same way. During most services there was an inevitable clunk and the sound of parents trying to shush children with concussion.

 

 

Then these monsters needed big feet, and to shuffle into one of them meant often tripping over and falling into the laps of fellow sufferers.

Of course, for those of us looking sometimes for distraction, this was some sort of black humour.

I’m also not sure what sort of psychological effect this had on pastors. For anyone to be able to fall asleep on these pews during a sermon was surely testament to poor pastoral preparation and overlong delivery.

So, we (well, with all modesty, I, being the instigator of stirring the pot and leading the revolution) formed a Pew Committee, the way a church works, and set about changing these torture racks.

Local cabinetmaker/builder/brilliant artisan Derek Radke took home a pew and redesigned it (superbly). Those who know Derek would understand his attention to design, detail and mastery.

I ran a poll to see what colour the congregation wanted for the upholstery, and the most generous Wohler family (of store fame) kindly donated the fabric.

On Saturday mornings, congregational members turned up at Derek’s workshed to turn the pews around. It was a terrific team effort. The pews are so comfortable now that pastors have to really work hard to keep us all awake.

 

This didn’t seem to be a problem last Sunday at the book launch.

All 3 of us presenters at times found it emotional. I think I got the award for the most active tear ducts. However it all went well. IJH and Kevin were brilliant.

 

Marley had prepared a sumptuous afternoon tea and the 130 guests enjoyed catching up, so much so that some had to be politely ‘moved along’  so that we could get to the ‘after party’!

 

 

They rolled on to our place where the party continued, the red flowed, pizza was delivered, and the last people to go to bed shuffled off at 1.30am!

 

The ‘stayers’: Image: Russel Hansen

 

Here are some responses:

Tim Ziersch: Thanks again for a wonderful experience with the launch of your books. Regarding the book about the Mayers, the comment that for me summed up the impact that Rolph had on my life was the one about how democracy in action shaped how Rolph interacted with everyone around him, but particularly with the young people for whom he was responsible. It helped me recall how he truly believed that everyone was equal and treated as such regardless of whether they were staff, students or cleaners. I experienced this when I joined the faculty for a couple of their end of year fishing trips to Venus Bay where, although I was a ‘student’, I was treated enthusiastically as an equal. That was real equality, not just words.

Trish Handford: Along with the rest of the world I imagine, I’ve always had a general appreciation for all Paralympians. Hearing Kevin McIntosh’s stories of Kieran, his respect and admiration shone through for not only the athlete but also the man. As someone who would not normally read a book involving sport, my interest was ignited that there is far more to this book than sport and I look forward to reading about this remarkable man.

Pastor Brian Schwarz, 5-time Premiership winning footy player with Sturt FC in the 60s and one of the first readers of my novel: Who am I?  What does my birth mother look like?  Why was I adopted?  Painting Martha is a story of a search for unknown family members.  The search is long, frustrating, emotional, ultimately successful and wonderfully rewarding.  ‘My world has suddenly, but gloriously expanded’, says the initial searcher.  ‘The jigsaw is complete’ says the father she found.  I found this book deeply moving.  This is partly because it is loosely based on the family history of the author who is my friend and partly because of the issues it deals with:  the glory and perils of young love, the stability and fragility of families, the undergirding provided by faith in a loving God, and even on life in Adelaide and the Barossa, as well as the UK and Channel Islands.  I enjoyed this book so much I read it twice.  I heartily recommend it to you.

 

All 3 books – biographies ‘Kieran Modra: The Way I See It’ and ‘A Singular and Outrageous Blessing: The Story of Rolph and Margaret Mayer’ – and my first novel, ‘Painting Martha’ are selling well, and if you would like a copy (or 3) they are available on http://www.amazon.com.au , at Barossa Valley Christian bookshops, or the Langmeil Church office. Make sure you are ordering the correct Kieran biography (see attached picture). Email us at [email protected] and I can mail you copies.

 

It was great to catch up with Almanac royalty – IJH, RITV and JTH at the launch after-party.

And here’s a photo of some of those associated with Kieran at the launch:

 

Kevin, Kerry Modra (Kieran’s wife), Para-cyclist Felicity Johnson, Kieran’s great buddy and training partner Mike Hoile, Para-cyclists Steve Kemp and Sarnya (Parker) Moss and Kieran’s sister Tania Hill.

 

…and Kevin McIntosh and me.

 

Thanks to everyone for making it such a wonderful weekend. Hope you enjoy the books.

 

All photos courtesy of Marlene and Andy Thurlow unless otherwise indicated.

 

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