Kaniva Presbyterian Church was blessed to have a visit from Mobile Ministry Maintenance group. This group is made up of retired Christians with many qualifications to do volunteer renovations on Church properties, campsites etc. They came from Colac, Gippsland, Port Macquarie, Underbool, Wangaratta, Barwon Heads, and Bordertown.
On Friday 6th October, three caravans with five members pulled in around the hall. Over the next few days trees were pruned and removed with the yard tidied up ready for more to arrive. Monday saw six caravans set up with nine eager workers pulling up floors in the church, boards off the front of the hall, pressure washing the rest of the hall walls etc. With locals helping it wasn’t long before the white ant damaged stage and bearers were removed. Oh what fun those pests had had while the church was locked up during covid! The next day saw two mobile homes join the campsite! Paint tins came out and the hall, window frames, doors etc all got freshened up. After replacing bearers and stumps the 134 year old native pine floors were put back in place and the lower half of the church painted inside. The spouting on the hall was removed and replaced and painted.
During the week there were day visitors calling in on their way to Adelaide. Locals supplied morning and afternoon teas and hot lunches and dessert for up to 18 people each day. Friday saw a few of the vans pull out to head to SA. Then with a final clean up the last six vans pulled out Saturday morning to join an annual Vic/SA gathering at Aldgate.
Members of the congregation are so thankful for all the work these caring people put into fixing our property and the wonderful fellowship that we all experienced over the eight days together.
This article appeared in the Nhill Free Press & Kaniva Times, 25 October 2023.
