Sydneyโ€™s forgotten zig-zag railway

The historic Thornleigh zig zag railway, in Sydney's north, was the third and apparently final such transportation infrastructure built in New South Wales. It is also the least known of the three tracks. A zig zag railway, also called a switchback railway, is a method for climbing or descending steep terrain where a direct railway …

A tale of two leaders

Many years ago, in my early 20s, one of the most significant books I read was a book on the Puritan theologians of the seventeenth century, written by J. I. Packer. Its American title is A Quest for Godliness, but my copy had the earlier British title, Among Godโ€™s Giants: Aspects of Puritan Christianity. Hereโ€™s how Packer begins …

A critical defence of Christian anarchism

Christian anarchism is a theological and political doctrine holding that ultimate authority belongs to God rather than the state, and that the teachings and example of Jesus radically undermine coercive power, violence, domination, and nationalism. Christian anarchists typically emphasise the practice of nonviolence, voluntary community, mutual aid, economic justice, and radical discipleship shaped by the …

Morning prayer for Wednesday 13 May 2026

Invocation + In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. Pause for reflection Good morning, heavenly Father.We worship you, the creator and sustainer of the universe. Good morning, Lord Jesus.We worship you, Saviour and Lord of the world. Good morning, Holy Spirit.We worship you, sanctifier of the people …

12 Australian poetry websites you must visit before you die

Australian poetry has a long and notable history, and contemporary Australian poets continue to produce work that is original, engaging, diverse and at times formally experimental. Yet for emerging and established writers alike, finding pathways to publication can be daunting. Many established journals accept limited submissions, small presses operate with scarce resources, and competition is …