Glad Tidings

20/12/2010 - Online Supplement – Part Three

Townsville Mission to Seafarers has had a big year being part of the diocese’s 100 years celebrations and organising the annual Sea Sunday service in St James’ Cathedral. The Bishop of North

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Ian and Sue McGilvray have been flat out running the very popular MtS centre in Dampier in the last 12 months. Those huge iron ore ships just keep on arriving from the

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Queensland Bill Ray, a staunch supporter of MtS’ work at the port of Townsville officiated at the Sea Sunday Eucharist. Following the service Bill launched an impressively researched and

presented “History of the Mission- 1927 to 2010” and blessed the mission’s new people mover partly funded by the ITF Seafarers Trust Fund.

northern hemisphere and Ian does a terrific job attempting to visit as many of them as possible. The MtS centre provides a wonderful oasis for the

world’s seafarers to visit, enjoy and contact their loved ones.

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Portland mission’s chairman Capt Peter Gracias and committee have taken the decision to discontinue their ministry as a “house committee” of the MTS Victoria and to carry out

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their work as a new independent entity- the Flying Angel Portland -next year. The ministry will still operate from the mission’s current building within the Port of Portland and be

supported by the Australian Council..

AWARDS FOR BRISBANE’S ADRIAN WILLES & MTS AWARDS FOR BRISBANE’S ADRIAN WILLES & MTS AWARDS FOR BRISBANE’S ADRIAN WILLES & MTS AWARDS FOR BRISBANE’S ADRIAN WILLES & MTS FREMANTLEFREMANTLEFREMANTLEFREMANTLE

Adrian Willes, our centre manager at MtS Brisbane, was nominated for an award at this year’s Lloyds List DCN annual dinner held in Sydney. He was nominated in the category of the “New Generation Award” – an award for a person under the age of 36 working in any sector of the Australian Maritime or Trade industry deemed to have made a special contribution to their industry during the

last 12 months. Adrian was thrilled to be awarded “a highly commended” certificate on the night. He was particularly chuffed as he was the only nominee in that category who was engaged directly in humanitarian work; and saw the recognition of his work a recognition of the unsung work that the world’s seafarers carry out on a daily basis.

Once again the Fremantle Flying Angel club was amongst the award recipients in the Seafarers Welfare Award sponsored by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

Dennis Claughton gave a rousing “thank you” speech to the packed room. Our good friends at Australian Mariners Welfare Society were also deservedly nominated for an award in this category.

Fred Lockiwtz tells us that Esperance centre has had a rewarding you with many seafarers visiting the centre and taking full advantage of all the facilities. Earlier in the year Col Brown

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met with Fr Frank and the volunteers (and seafarers) in Esperance and had an enjoyable night making a presentation on the work of our centres around Australia.

Fred Lockowitz Esperance’s manager has a rich seafaring background and is a great friend to seafarers visiting the quite isolated port of Esperance. Keep up the fine work Fred and Frank.

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Capt. Dave Ellis chairman of MtS Brisbane has sent us this photo of himself and Fr Ken Spreadborough from the parish of Coolangatta- Palm Beach on the Gold Coast. Dave (on right in photo) was stunned when Ken, last month, arrived at the mission door with bags containing over 600 beanies knitted by Ken’s parishioners and friends In Dave’s words, “This was a four hour round trip for Ken and his wife Betty. What a wonderful gift for our seafarers. It is fantastic to have the Mission to Seafarers in Brisbane be supported by parishes across the vast state of

Queensland.”

Dave added, “in recent years we have provided, via parishes such as Ken’s over 6,000 beanies to thankful seafarers…many seafarers come from poorer Asian and Pacific countries and have minimal cold weather clothing. Beanies can

reduce total body heat loss by up to 50% in sub zero temperatures and serve a very real and practical purpose in a seafarer’s working life onboard ship.” Dave, who spent many years on the world’s oceans should know. Great work Ken and safe driving (and knitting!).

Some of our readers will have had contact with the very popular Tessa Perfect who is Executive Assistant to Secretary General Tom Heffer, and Director of Justice & Welfare Ken Peters. Tessa contributes an enormous amount to the life of the mission at central office. So it seemed fitting that Ken Peters when in Australia last March, bought a present or two to take

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back to London for Tessa. She has sent us some rather humorous photos of Ken’s gifts, one of which Tessa is stylishly sporting in the photo above. The Australian Council would like to thank all those in central office for their marvellous support and friendship over the last 12 months and wish you all a wonderful Christmas. Given the current

delicate state of the battle for the Ashes not too much should be said about cricket here -

suffice to mention that Ken Peters confessed he was barracking for the Aussies and there is no doubt whatsoever which team Tessa is supporting. But Tom’s well being is our real concern, and seems destined for profound disappointment in the New Year!

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Newcastle’s chaplains Garry Dodd and Stefan Sapun recently happily accepted an invitation from the captain and crew of the “Maizuru Benten” to bless the ship and crew visiting Newcastle port. Garry and Stefan also officiated at a moving blessing of the fleet in Newcastle Harbour on December 12. Garry was delighted to receive some 140 Christmas puddings baked by his friends in the Cooks Hill Womens Guild the other day. He and Stefan cannot wait to head towards the coal terminals to give these delicious gifts to the visiting crews in the coming week.

THE BEST NEWS OF ALLTHE BEST NEWS OF ALLTHE BEST NEWS OF ALLTHE BEST NEWS OF ALL ---- COMES COMES COMES COMES FROM PORT HEDLAND!FROM PORT HEDLAND!FROM PORT HEDLAND!FROM PORT HEDLAND!

The Port Hedland Seafarers centre’s hardworking managers Andrew and Shelley Gillie were overjoyed mid year when Shelley gave birth to beautiful twin babies. Shelley although on maternity leave is still “volunteering” at the centre and this week has filled and wrapped 400 Christmas presents

for the seafarers visiting Hedland. Thank you Shelley for the fantastic photo of Emma and Samuel (there is no prize for guessing that Emma is in the pink). After a few early hiccups the twins are thriving and are soon to experience their first Christmas with mum and dad.

Celebrating the birth of a child and its first Christmas seems the perfect way to conclude this newsletter.

A joyous and blessed Christmas to all.

Col Brown