Religion

The spirit of Mapoon’s old people could be felt as the community opened its long-awaited church last Thursday. In an emotional ceremony, community leaders spoke of the long battle to have a church built in Mapoon after the state government ripped down the last one in 1963 when it forced all residents to leave the Mission.

Geoff Wharton. The opening of the church at Mapoon last Thursday is an event that links today’s Christian movement in the community with the earliest days of Mapoon Presbyterian Mission and the Moravian Church missionaries who came to evangelise among the Tjungundji People in 1891.

Alba Brockie. Perhaps you have wandered past the old cream coloured building between the Uniting Church and the Butcher and wondered “what goes on in there?”, “what is the story behind this old place?” The current Aladdin’s Cave that is the Uniting Church Op-Shop is located in Tennant Creek’s oldest still used building, the Australian Inland Mission Welfare Hut.

Sheryl Lowe. Father Woods Park statues will be the focus of discussions between Wattle Range Council and the Penola Catholic Community in coming weeks ... Cr Price successfully moved for Council to approach the Catholic Church leaders at Penola to see if they would support the relocation of the statues to Penola due to the safety concerns at the current site.

Nicholas Rupolo. It’s the perfect blend of luxury and elegance. This old church built in 1890 was recently converted into a luxurious retreat by Melanie Absolom and her husband Kevin. The church features its original stained glass windows, an open and elegant living area and a mesmerising cache of history in its walls.

Kirstin Nicholson. The district was filled with the sights and sounds of 110 motorbikes and 44 cars on the weekend, all part of the Gannawarra Memorial Toy Run (GMTR). The toy run was organised by John Webb and his team for the Combined Churches group. Toys and money collected on the day, and in the collection bins around the district, will be used for hampers to be distributed across the district in December. 

Ruth Arthur. On Monday, following a call from my sister, Diane, that she thought there might be a photo opportunity in Moulamein not seen before, I travelled to see her and the new experience for Moulamein that was about to happen.

Emma Pritchard. The Church of the Holy Apostles in Copmanhurst is widely admired and loved by many, having served the Copmanhurst community and surrounding districts for more than a century. Strong family connections and lifelong memories have been formed, along with an intense interest in its history and preservation. And it has also generated plenty of interest in the property market.

Tony Piccolo. The local Afghan Community in the South East have told State Members of Parliament of their fear for the safety and wellbeing of family and friends living in Afghanistan following the withdrawal of allied forces and the installation of a new Taliban Government. The community shared their stories with a delegation led by religious leader Sheikh Ghulam Ali Haideri and State Member of Parliament, Mr Tony Piccolo who visited Naracoorte to offer support to people who are dealing with the confronting and difficult fallout from the events in Afghanistan.

Roz Knights is so excited she can’t keep stop smiling as an old aviation building on Bloore St is being transformed into the new Kyogle Community Food Pantry ... "This is my way – through the Lions Club and my Christian beliefs – to give back to people,” Roz said. “In the past I’ve been helped by so many people.” For a moment, Roz’s eyes fill with tears and then she smiles again as she looks up at the grey building and gushes about the local philanthropist who offered the site at a “phenomenally low rent”, she said.

Geoff Helisma. Not too long ago, the space behind the Anglican church building in Wharf Street, Maclean, was used as a place for vehicles to turn around; nowadays it’s a vibrant vegie garden, with each raised bed’s name inspired by ‘Gifts of the Spirit’ (Galatians 5:22-23) and the garden, itself, christened ‘Fruits of the Spirit’ ... “It’s worthwhile, viable, beneficial to the community and marvellous for those of any age who want to get out and share life with others.”