GLAD TIDINGS No. 10 PART B

Norm Stevens our long serving and much loved ship visitor at the port of Albany recently looked after some visiting seafarers from the Philippines. While the “Harvest Rising” was docked a few of its crew were happy to pose for the camera.

A show of faith at Albany MTS

Seafarers from the Philippines

One of the seafarers Leon made Norm’s day when he proudly revealed a tattoo of the “Flying Angel “ on his arm. Latest is that Norm has made an appointment to visit Leon’s tattooist!

In this edition:

• A show of faith at

Albany MtS • Newcastle’s

commissioning at the cathedral

• Progress in Thevenard • We say, “Good bye”

• Eden update

• A ship visitors’ course

at Port Hedland

GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 10 Part B

Newcastle’s Commissioning at the Cathedral

Revd Garry Dodd has recently happily advised that he is soon to have the support of another chaplain at MTS Newcastle. On 15 July 2012, the Revd Michael Davies is to be commissioned at Newcastle Cathedral. The MTS family extends Michael a very warm welcome and wishes him

all the very best for the 15 July celebrations. Our thoughts and prayers are with Michael as he embarks on his new ministry.

Without doubt the hard working crews on Newcastle’s coal ships will be the real winners once Michael swings into action.

Steady progress is being made to establish a permanent seafarers’ centre at the Port of Thevenard in South Australia. At a meeting convened by Archdeacon Brian Jeffries, a number of local people from the Ceduna region expressed interest in helping set up and operate a centre at Thevenard. Two of our South Australian ship visiting chaplains- Thomas Karama from Port Giles and Peter Linn from Port

Lincoln attended the meetings to offer their considerable experience and support to the Thevenard team to help them get started. We are also very thankful to Thevenard’s Port Manager and Harbour Master Peter Codrington for his keen interest and encouragement. Once Thevenard ministry is established we will have a working presence in 27 ports around Australia (one more than MTS in the UK).

Progress in Thevenard

We say, “Good bye”

Father Thomas at Thevenard

Our best wishes go to the Revd Jed Crispin who has recently left as chaplain to the MTS Melbourne, and to Tim Hopwood until recently our manager at MTS Bunbury. Tim and wife Rose have moved to Tasmania via a short working holiday at the Flying Angel Fremantle, and we hope that Tim soon finds his way to the front door of Hobart MTS where he is sure to be welcomed with open arms.

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Eden Update

Following a request from the local parish that we vacate our residence in Eden we have fortunately secured another place from where we can carry out our work. The new centre will be only a short walk for the seafarers coming from Snug Cove and is ideally situated in the middle of the town’s shops and conveniences.

Our Port Kembla mission has taken the Eden ministry under its wing and expects to be able to support the Eden until such time as it can stand on its own two feet. The future now looks promising. A very special thank you must go to the Sydney Bethel Union who generously continue to support our efforts on Twofold Bay.

Dampier’s highly respected chaplain Ian McGilvray has travelled to Port Hedland mission once again to run the Merchant Navy Welfare Board (UK) accredited ship visitors training course. Ian was well pleased with the course and the quality and enthusiasm of those attending. Usually our courses are run indoors in our centres but Ian’s latest had a nice twist. The participants were able to travel by launch on Hedland Port’s waterways and observe up close and personal much of the good advice Ian shared. When Ian speaks of matters maritime we all listen as he served for many years

A ship visitors’ course at Port Hedland

at sea and knows what he is talking about. Two of the ten volunteers doing the training course were from Tanzania so Ian took the opportunity to practice his Swahili that was learned during his time as a missionary in Africa. This course, now in its third year, still proves to be popular with Ian catering for the western seaboard and John Kewa for the eastern (and SA). The course has now been held 15 times in locations all around the nation and hundreds of our staff and volunteers have gained their certificates. Well done to all those going that extra yard.

GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 10 Part B

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