Just a short note this week - but a very positive one. Last week was the possibility of doom and gloom and what we needed to do to make sure it didn't happen.

This week is a comment following the inspiring story from Gay Morris last week.

In the case of the Owairtilla project, the community itself decided that it wanted a "cleaner" way of life and took the necessary steps to achieve that incredible aim. Certainly they needed (and still do) some help, and it's not as though they're exactly in suburbia with all the distractions that brings, But nevertheless they're doing something which is quite outstanding in the Northern Territory where such communities are (with the exception of the "Big Cities") common.

You'll notice that I used the word "community" rather than "commune" Whilst this gathering of like-minded people exhibit many of the attributes of a commune, I understood from Gay's description that these people, although sharing some resources just as we city folk do, are individuals who choose how they live within the behavioural boundaries set by the group.For example I heard no suggestion that they pooled all their income. Traditionally we tend to link the word communes with either a religious group or other marginal group of "hippies" or such like. However, Andrew Jacobs of The New York Times wrote that, contrary to popular misconceptions, "most communes of the '90s are not free-love refuges for flower children, but well-ordered, financially solvent cooperatives where pragmatics, not Psychedelics rule the day". Unfortunately some sects still give the word commune a less than favourable flavour.

None of that applies to the COMMUNITY ar Canteen Creek. They have chosen a way of life and an administration structure which in some ways could be seen as a mini-city with its mayor and councillors. It may be a little easier from them who due to their isolation don't have to cope with the distractions of a larger community with enormous diversity. However we can still learn from their example. We are a Rotary Community with our own ideals and way of life. We can exist as a community within a community and (hopefully) spread the word of our ideals of peace an understanding as we light up Rotary.