Local Church News

Four Uniting Church ministers this month celebrate 50 years since their ordination. Six ministers were ordained together at Albert St Methodist Church in March 1957. The four surviving ministers Rev Doug Mitchell, Rev Paul Trigge, Rev Graham Ross, and Rev Colin Baxter will celebrate with their wives and the wife of Rev Reg Hirche at Albert St Uniting Church in Brisbane ...

14 July 1926 – 20 December 2006 Margaret was born in Brisbane and with her family traveled around Queensland with her Father’s Public Service work. While her family were part of the Presbyterian Church, through her host family in her college days (Teacher training at Kelvin Grove Teachers’ College) Margaret connected with her local Eagle Junction Congregational Church. After various ...

11 September 1934 – 5 January 2007 Samiuela Toa Finau was born on 11 September, 1934 at Hihifo, Ha’apai. He grew up there with his parents, ‘Elina and Kisina Finau, and attended Primary School in Ha’apai and then attended Tonga College from 1948 to 1953. In 1961 he studied at the Sia’atoutai Theological College and from 1962 to 1963 he ...

Born 21.11.1918  Died 26.11.2006 Elizabeth Craigie McChesney-Clark was born in Swinton, Scotland, the eldest child of clergyman Benjamin Scott Williams and Helen Wallace Craigie Aitchison. After spending her school days in Leeds, Elizabeth won a scholarship to attend Cambridge University. She graduated with a Master of Arts in 1940 and completed her Cambridge Teacher’s Certificate at Selly Oak College, Birmingham ...

You may never see them, but they are there, people living by themselves, depressed, anxious or confused – people battling a mental illness. A group called Group 61 has formed on Brisbane’s north-side as a multi-denominational response to mental health issues. The group supports 30 people with a team of 40 volunteers, a number of whom come from Chermside-Kedron Community Church, ...

A new multi-cross cultural committee has been set up within the Queensland Synod. Chairperson Rev Dr Apichart Branjerdporn thanked Moderator Rev Dr David Pitman for his support in the creation of the committee. “The establishment of the committee brings joy, enlightenment and hope to the culturally and linguistically diverse people and other overseas church ministers or workers coming into our ...

Minister at the Queensland Synod’s most southern congregation Banora Point Rev Robert Eric Saunders died tragically just days before his retirement in November. Born in South Australia in 1943 and brought up in the Methodist Church Rob trained to be a primary school teacher before entering the ministry. He was an effective minister who knew how to grow congregations and ...

The death of Ossie Dale on Sunday, 12 November, brought to an end a vigorous and varied ministry that spanned over fifty years in first of all the Methodist Church and then in the Uniting Church. Ossie worked in the church for two years after completing his schooling at Ipswich Grammar, testing his call before he offered as a candidate ...

Margaret Merefield, one of the district’s most active community workers, devoted much of her life to nursing and the care of others, Mrs Merefield died suddenly on 22 July at her home at Mowbray Rd, Herberton, aged 81. The service was held at the Atherton Uniting Church with a eulogy by Rev Shayne Blackman. In 1990, she began as health ...

Spread over two weekends in two locations over a hundred excited children from across North Queensland attended this years Kids Camp Out in Townsville and Cairns. A non-stop program included crafts, playing games and rides with a special worship service organised and led by children on Sunday morning. Youth and Children’s Ministry Unit (YACMU) Regional Worker and Camp Out organiser ...