Living sustainably as a tenant in God’s creation
Local
During Season of Creation, RICHARD EVANS travelled to Clayton Bay to speak to a man who is doing more than his bit to care for our common home.
Gerry Thompson had been retired for several years when, in 2016, he decided to buy nearly six hectares of scrubland an hour’s drive south-east of Adelaide.
There was only about one per cent of native vegetation remaining on the plot and he was keen to ensure its role as a natural habitat for wildlife.
The former forester and environment protection officer decided to call the property Tenison Woods.
There is both logic and romanticism behind the choice of name.
As well as paying tribute to the 19th century priest Fr Julian Tenison Woods who was also a scientist, geologist and botanist, the name Tenison closely aligns with the French verb ‘tenir’ which translates as ‘to hold or care’ and Gerry sees himself as God’s tenant in caring for his creation.
His cottage at Tenison Woods is in sympathy with its natural surrounds.
“I live in a place of God’s creation and I am just its tenant,” Gerry insists.
“Tenison Woods has given me that opportunity to give good stewardship to this natural refuge.
“Everyone has a responsibility to nature in some manner and this is mine.”
While the driving force is keeping his land as natural as possible, there is a strong alignment with Church teachings in the form of Laudato Si’, Pope Francis’ 2015 encyclical, and promotes a deeper understanding of how people are connected with the environment and their need for a greater appreciation of nature.
Gerry is an attendee at monthly meetings of a Laudato Si’ group within the Mount Barker parish which is working on an action plan to help enrich nature locally.
“I think the idea of Laudato Si’ is that everyone undertakes some sort of stewardship for the natural environment in their own life and it’s something we can do individually and as a group,” he said.
“My philosophy is to live sustainably as measured by my ecological footprint and to offer my stewardship to God. Because of my strong environmental background, I have always thought that I am on earth for this purpose. Understanding Laudato Si’ has helped me find that purpose.”
Despite a lifetime’s knowledge of working in the environment sector, the task at Tenison Woods has been more than first imagined.
“While it has cost a bit, it has been rewarding,” he said.
Attention to detail is everywhere at Tenison Woods starting with a long, in-ground trough that encircles the small, sustainable house that Gerry had built from scratch. The trough is there to keep out the creepy crawlies and, impressively, it works.
Numerous rare species of orchids and eucalypts are concentrated around his land and despite the size of the property, which encompasses pink-gum and mallee woodland, it is manageable for one person to look after.
Gerry is proud to say he knows where every plant lies.
“The plant species that I record here include plants such as wattle, sheoak, Christmas bush, hopbush, bottlebrush and native apricot,” he said.
Some areas have been fenced off to allow sensitive vegetation to survive from the effects of browsing animals, particularly kangaroos.
“While the kangaroos could jump the high fences, they are generally respectful and stay out,” Gerry said.
Birdlife is a particular pleasure. Since fencing off an area directly in front of his house and planting it with native groundcovers, parrots (noisy) are now regular visitors. Up to a dozen magpies jostle for pecking order during their daily visits. Raptors such as brown falcons and kites are a great joy too.
Everything is off-grid: the back-up generator to the solar power system is run once a year only to ensure it is still working and a fire protection plan has been thought through in every detail. Fire resistant plants around the house and a minimum of 5000 litres of water is set aside to help fight fires should that day come.
“I enjoy living here, it is peaceful,” said Gerry.
“After I retired, I decided to study the Bible and after 15 years I am still learning”.
There is time still for non-wildlife exploits and Gerry is a man of many parts. A classic motorbike enthusiast (BMW is the ultimate, he is keen to point out), he practises French and Mandarin and is an accomplished didgeridoo player.
But nature prevails.
“As St Paul instructs in one of his letters, not everyone has been given the same gifts and roles within the Church and we cannot all be teachers or tent makers,” Gerry said.
“My calling is to manage God’s creation through nature. That has given me the purpose that God intends for me.”
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