Around this time last year I was thinking of public evangelism and matters addressed by the Freedom rallies. The following letter was generated, and the reply standard administrivia in the negative.
FYI here it is..
City of Adelaide
GPO Box 2252
Adelaide SA 5001
17th March 2022
Dear Sir/Madam,
Re:
1.Preaching Permit (On street activity)
2.Speakers Corner
3.Amphitheatre.
1. At the moment the pre-conditions for a City of Adelaide Preaching Permit seem particularly onerous. If one person were to seek a flexible permit for annual use it amounts to $438. In addition, factoring in as a research exercise the only broker willing to quote on the compulsory $20M public liability insurance, meant a total yearly outlay of over $1100. Even if it were only Sundays, missing out on passing CBD weekday foot traffic, it’s well over $700 because of the PLI. I do note the Busking permit is currently free with no PLI requirements.
Secondly, the form requires preferred start/finish dates and times, restrictions on 30 minutes in one particular location only once per day, moving on 50m from that location, not before 10am, providing examples of any material to be handed out, besides further applications required to the five other authorities operating within Council’s boundaries, if within their remit. I have not referred to the further Rundle Mall restrictions because I had something in mind along broader lines than end is nigh sandwich boards down the Mall.
The Permit system proves extremely costly, a major hindrance to ad hoc arrangements, and leaves honest and conscientious speakers open to fines and harrassment by aggressive and persistent activists, the professional offence takers who will work the system accordingly. And as an aside, it could be construed as a tad hypocritical to define Preaching to include ‘moral truth and right conduct in speech or in writing’ when cultural Marxism, cancel culture, overbearing HR policies all do the very same as secular religion. The situation in 2022 is I believe untenable without deregulation, and yes, I realise this could require parliamentary or legal redress. It is very important at this time to find an appropriate legal outlet for the airing of opinion and thought without slander or vilification.
So my first request to City of Adelaide is that you respectfully consider deregulation of the Preaching Permit conditions. I am now unemployed and do not have that sort of money to hand, it is way too high a hurdle for most, besides the prohibitive ongoing organisational aspects.
2. As a separate but related issue, is the admittedly understandable neglect of Speakers Corner in Botanic Park. I have found no reference to it on the COA website, and the front counter was unaware of its existence. History Trust research revealed its whereabouts, the initial site marked by the Salvation Army monument, the subsequent location seemingly just north of Botanic High School by the First Creek bridge, though with Womad in the park it is currently restricted access and hence unavailable for reconnaissance.
A suggestion for initially revamping the Botanic Park site before a possible later relocation.
Current site - I don’t know yet if the benches remain. (They do)
The Salvation Army memorial to their first preaching in Australia.
I am proposing a revivification of Speakers Corner (not to be confused at any time with the Adelaide skills training business of course) alongside a possible relocation later within any new amphitheatre. There is a rich history worldwide of spiritual, political and socially progressive causes being advocated from defined outdoor locations with codified protection for their public proclamation. Democratic engagement is at an all time low, and these were places that from early colonial times aspiring politicians could cut their teeth at the stump, developing policy and rhetorical skill whilst learning to handle a crowd. Don Dunstan in the 50s was the last reference I found, with everyone from varied religious denominations, across the political spectrum to unions, suffragette and peace activists in earlier times.
It could become an enticing prospect for young tertiary political science students and political staffers to engage with the public, influence and shape thought, and a place to observe, teach and practise Civics as part of a secondary education curriculum. The advice and FAQs from Speakers Corner Sydney give a good flavour of what aspiring speakers should consider.
Many people will never enter a church but would stop to hear the gospel preached outdoors, free to come and go as they please, particularly when the speaker is fielding questions. The atmosphere can be great, one of creative disruption, and could become a cultural drawcard in itself besides giving people the opportunity to make a more informed choice as to the authority, or not, of Jesus Christ. Again I would advocate it as a necessary field experience component for bible college students learning to craft and deliver an interactive sermon.
My observations are that both political and spiritual ministers, and their audiences, would ultimately benefit from this format. Politicians interactions with the public are carefully scripted, guarded and managed with a compliant mainstream media not looking to jeopardise access to parliamentarians and risk revocation of a press pass. This is one reason why both of those albeit hard working professions frankly are not held in the highest esteem by the general public, due to the bubble effect and lack of transparency and genuine accountability. I am proposing one possible cathartic move towards an eventually healthier democracy and society.
As an evangelical Christian of over thirty years, and an ex-teacher, I have been disappointed by the clergy’s unwillingness to open up the style of traditional services to something more dynamic and interactive whilst of course always maintaining good order. They politely resist a more effective pedagogy that checks learning and stimulates, rather than inducing a soporific effect, for it would require more developed pastoral skills and greater maturity in differences of opinion within congregations, and they will avoid any conflict whatsoever than risk lively debate. Managed decline is not helping in our churches nor in our political process, and this could be one possible means of addressing a bottleneck, far wider and more constructive input that just might deliver worthy output.
3. Regarding the amphitheatre, until last week I hadn’t realised we’d lost the old Festival one, and so it was with a degree of interest that I read of the Lord Mayoral comments in The Advertiser and Music Network entertaining the prospect of a new venue and floating the location. May I suggest using the southern and western portion of Elder Park. The park remains underutilised, turf often recovering from an event, the Rotunda had sleeping bags etc the other day.
The location itself is a jewel in the city, great sunny views north, excellent transport links, and utilising the natural fall of the land down to the river creates an almost perfect topography for an amphitheatre, requiring significantly less earthworks or construction.
Additionally this deals with the sizeable portion of Adelaideans who are not comfortable with building on the parklands belt. Elder Park is virtually the site of the previous amphitheatre, and the lovely view driving north on King William Rd is maintained as terraced seating would follow existing contours. All that would be required, very much dependant upon scale, design and budget, is the performance platform. It could be built out onto the Torrens if space required, though maintaining the riverside promenade is important. Perhaps the pathway could deviate up into a wider access terrace through the seating before returning back down to the water’s edge.
Ideally terracing should incorporate alternating turf and concrete or stone benching, besides aesthetics grass will aid drainage and lessen the heat bank, and the hard surfaces are a dry seat for those not bringing camp chairs.
The incorporation of Speakers Corner into an Elder Park amphitheatre allows the possibility of scheduled lunchtime talks for city workers, shoppers and tourists. Plus, being in close proximity to Parliament House, Universities and the cultural precint, it becomes an established adult space to play, on words, for both invited and the uninvited.
I would like to see a new amphitheatre as a designated unamplified Speakers Corner doubling as large capacity venue for music, theatre and public address. I included the last humbler image as an example of something that could easily fit up against the current Festival complex with relatively very little in the way of expenditure, to get the ball rolling, and in case the parklands are instead selected, though Elder Park seems to have it all. The very first image is included as one suggestion of a revamp if for now the Botanic Park location of Speakers Corner is the only one on the cards. In any event, a permanent lecturn with a welded loop is handy for laying folders on and to bikelock a daypack to, allowing speakers more confidence roaming around the front of a crowd.
So, in summary, preaching deregulation, revivifying public speaking in a safe space via a Speakers Corner, and promoting Elder Park as the standout amphitheatre venue. What could possibly go wrong? :)
Sincerely and kind regards,
David L. Ross
Comments