Funeral of Fr Woods’ relative,
Julian Tenison Woods, 18.06.2009
All in the Family
The funeral of Julian Tenison Woods,
Sydney, 18 June 2009
Mary MacKillop and Father Julian are close.
On 18th June relatives and friends gathered at Northern Suburbs Crematorium for the funeral of Julian ‘Mac’ Tenison Woods, who died in Concord Hospital on 2 June, aged eighty-two.
Julian was born in Sydney on 8 April 1927. His parents, both from Adelaide, were Mary (nee Cecil Kitson) and Julian Gordon Tenison Woods, a grandson to Catherine and James Woods, the brother of Fr Julian. Julian’s life is reflected in the chapter on his mother in Three Women of Faith, Gertrude Abbott, Elizabeth Anstice Baker and Mary Tenison Woods (Kent Town 2000) by Margaret Press RSJ. In his childhood and youth, his mother became a public figure in and beyond Australia, as far as the United Nations base in New York. She was remarkable as a lawyer and courageous advocate for women and children, especially children brought before the courts or in government institutions. She was also a most loving mother to her red-haired son whom she called ‘Mac’, sharing her love, her care, her deep Catholic faith, her energetic, thoughtful, intelligent approach to life. Her close friends in Sydney, where they lived much of their lives, became family to Mary and ‘Mac’. With his parents’ marriage short lived, his mother was the only parent Julian knew.
The funeral brought together members of this Sydney ‘family’, staff and fellow residents from his place of care, representatives for the Kitson family (Peter Le Marquand), the Woods and the Tenison families (Pam and Norm Tobin and Michael Petchell) and Sisters of St Joseph. The sharing among these, the eulogies and the prayerful service brought very present, with maybe unexpected immediacy, both Blessed Mary MacKillop and Fr Julian, both named several times, both dear to Julian. With some of the residents present in wheelchairs and a sense of the love in which he was held by all, there was a pervading sense of fragility, faith and peace.
Living with the increasing disability of cerebral palsy, Julian had the inner qualities and supportive environment to live a full life, always being as active as possible, with great effort. He told me in the early 1980s, at Weemala Home, at Ryde, ‘God has a plan for me and it’s in process’. He spoke of his mother and added, ‘Mother always told me to think’. There was some concern as to how he would cope, we learned at the funeral, after his mother’s death in 1971, but the concern soon proved groundless. He had a strength of his own.
Both his Sydney ‘family’ eulogist, Greg Cannon, who had known him since 1944, and Jennie Connolly, Supervisor of the Royal Rehabilitation Disability Services that provided his care, who had known him since 1973, spoke of his inner qualities, his patience, a Christ-like patience, said Greg, his acceptance of disability, his humility, his peacefulness, his wide interests, his enjoyment of company and his easy, gentle, likeable nature, his quiet sense of humour. The carers, Jennie said, found it an honour to care for him. He was never demanding. When changed government legislation in 1993 enabled people with disability to live more independently in a small group, Mac opted to move from Weemala with its over 170 residents to a small unit. He found new independence. There was a remarkable peacefulness felt by all carers and visitors in the home at Homebush where he lived. Jennie mentioned that he and the other residents regularly gathered to read the Scriptures. He deeply appreciated the care of the local priest and the visits of the local parishioners who regularly brought Holy Communion. His love for reading continued, his room filled with books. When his family friend, Peter Le Marquand, would ask if he would like anything, his only occasional request was for a tape or disc with some hymns.
In the 1980s he showed Wilma Burton RSJ (Perthville) and me his copy of Margaret Press’s book, Julian Tenison Woods. Wilma, who visited Mac and his fellow residents weekly for four years, knew Mac well, and shared his mail from his English cousins. She also knew his close bond with John Roarty, both men strong in mind and in their deeply held Catholic faith, both disabled by cerebral palsy. The quieter Mac was proud of the even more disabled John, full of energy, writing and travelling to speak up for the dignity of the disabled. By Wilma and John’s arranging, and some young volunteer friends, Mac and John in their wheelchairs attended the 1989 centenary Mass for Fr Julian in St Mary’s Cathedral. Not long after, a former legal student of his mother’s, Pat McDonnell, learned of him and visited, asking what he should call him. ‘Julian’, was the reply. He claimed his name. Last November, while unable to attend the Tenison Woods reunion in Adelaide, he enjoyed sharing with his friends the invitation from Pam Tobin (nee Tenison Woods) and all news of the event.
After moving from Weemala, Mac again faced personal loss with the death of his dear friend, John, in 2000. Again, he drew on his inner reserves, finding and sharing peace and companionship with others around him. In the last years of his life there were two highlights spoken of at the funeral. He had for a long time hoped to visit Blessed Mary MacKillop’s grave and centre at North Sydney. To his joy he received a personal invitation from Jan Barnett RSJ, who arranged with Pat Benn, an RSJ Associate who had visited him for some years, to bring him and one of his friends on the long desired visit. The warm welcome extended to him and the festivity of the event he talked of again and again.
Typical of his wide ranging interests, he had a keen interest in the stars. While he had travelled to America and Europe (he loved Lourdes) with his mother, meeting her sisters in London, and could recall these travels, travel beyond Sydney in recent years seemed out of the question. However, with the courage he had shown all his life and the cooperation of others, he visited Parkes observatory, a joy surpassing books he had read.
Julian’s Sydney ‘family’ were pleased to find Josephite Sisters at his funeral. My great aunt was one of your early Sisters, said Doreen Cannon meeting Connie Cummings RSJ and myself. She died from the fire with the hurricane lamp. My mother was called after her, Mary Laurentia Bridget Honner. Mary MacKillop went to my great aunt when she was dying.
At the funeral of this gentle, lovable prayerful man, Blessed Mary and Fr Julian felt very near. Julian ‘Mac’ had taken to himself the examples of their lives and the lessons his faithful mother had taught him. As we farewelled him, all that had been divided came together, in a way that transcends time.
From ‘family’.
My family always thought that Mac had a direct line to God! On many occasions when we had a problem, my mother Frances would call Mac and ask him to say a prayer. And, sure enough, things would always work out. I think that God gave Mac a very special ministry. Greg Murray, the youngest in the photograph.
His life was an example to all who knew him. Doreen Cannon.
Julian was a quiet, friendly, caring man with a sense of humour, many interests and good company. Peter Le Marquand.
Jan Tranter RSJ
Julian (second from left) with his mother and members of the Cannon and Murray family
From left: Pat Murray, Beryl Cannon (sister of Archbishop Eris O’Brien, and mother of Frances Murray), Peter Murray, Clare Murray, John Murray, Mary Tenison Woods, Frances Murray, Greg Murray
