1. NEWS FROM
OUR EAST COAST CENTRES Issue: 08
EDEN CENTRE UP
AND RUNNING
By Colin Brown
National Co-ordinator
Our newest centre established in the old church hall at St John’s SS Yongala memorial
Eden, on the far south coast of NSW not far from the Victorian
border, is almost ready to welcome seafarers coming into
Twofold Bay.
TOWNSVILLE REMEMBERS
Jim Pether has come over from Wellington to help set up the new THE SS YONGALA SINKING
ministry and has commenced ship visiting the mainly log and
woodchip ships loading at Eden port. Port Kembla’s John Kewa
has visited Jim on a couple of occasions to lend his consummate Graham Miller recently organised a memorial service at the
skills and advice. Townsville Cathedral for the centenary of the sinking of the SS
Yongala off Townsville in 1911.
Unfortunately Jim has not been in the best of health and will be
returning to Wellington under Sheila’s protective care to ensure The service generated a great deal of interest within the Townsville
that he regains his good health. Jim plans to return to Eden later in community and far beyond. The tragic sinking of the luxury passenger
the year. We thank Jim very much for his invaluable contribution liner and the loss of 120 lives due to a cyclone off the coast of
and wish him a speedy recovery. Townsville was not discovered by divers until 1958 and is now part
of Queensland maritime folklore.
Our Townsville volunteers once again were reminded of the dangers
of living in FNQ when the port (and our centre located within the
port) were closed for several days in February as cyclonic weather
and tumultuous seas threatened the region and its inhabitants.
Graham was actually in Adelaide attending a meeting of the
MtS Australian Council at that very time, which led him to ruefully
comment that he was not sure whether on his return home he would
“have a house or job or seafaring centre to return to”! Thankfully he
returned to all three we were relieved to hear.
Jim Pether on Eden ship

2. NEWS FROM
OUR EAST COAST CENTRES Issue: 08
HOBART’S MISSION
HISTORY HONOURED BY
GEORGE & BRUCE
In February this year, Hobart’s chaplain Bruce Mitchell dedicated
a plaque on the old St David’s Mission Church in Campbell Street,
Hobart, now an art gallery. This building was the first home of the
“Mission to Seamen” in Hobart from 15 August 1915 to April 1956
and served seafarers well during these years. Bruce says “that in the
first year there were over 6,000 seafarers through the doors”.
Mr George Brown, a long time supporter and advisor to the mission
unveiled the plaque. The 1915 version of the “Flying Angel”
GLADSTONE’S NEW BUS surmounts the text on the plaque. The ceremonial unveiling was part
of the Australian Wooden Boat festival. During the festival Hobart
mission had several hundred visitors for an “open house” day and
Trevor Phillips reports that all at our Gladstone centre are happy inevitably recruited a few good volunteers.
to see the arrival of a new bus courtesy of the ITF. Trevor’s volunteers
travel long distances over some ordinary roads to collect seafarers Thank you George and Bruce for keeping the MtS flag (and angel)
from the numerous terminals on the Gladstone coastline so a new bus flying high in Tassie.
is always a welcome (and much used) addition.
Hobart’s George Brown & Revd Bruce Mitchell
CONGRATULATIONS TO
NEWCASTLE’S GARRY,
PAULA & BABY CHARLOTTE
Great news has just arrived from Garry Dodd our chaplain
in Newcastle. Paula has given birth (nearly typed “berth”- an
occupational hazard) to a magnificent baby girl named Charlotte.
Congratulations to the proud mother and father, and especially
the wonderful Abi who now has a little sister to love and care for.
Charlotte- the youngest flying angel Does anyone out there do baptisms in salt water?

3. NEWS FROM
OUR EAST COAST CENTRES Issue: 08
CHANGING OF THE GUARD
AT PORT KEMBLA
Port Kembla’s chaplain David Masters retired recently. John Kewa
has moved from Melbourne to fill the big gap Dave has left and
John is already fully immersed in the life of the centre acting as
pastoral care coordinator.
John says that he is thoroughly enjoying the new environment and
devoting as much time as he can to ship visiting. Last year saw
some 1,000 ships visit Kembla so John has his work cut out.
Thankfully, we have not lost Dave to the cause as, after having
a well deserved break, he will return as a volunteer. He will be
welcomed back with open arms. Kembla’s John Kewa
BRISBANE’S COMPASSION
An explosion onboard the MV Qian Chi in Moreton Bay saw three
badly burnt Chinese seafarers rushed to Brisbane hospital. The
explosion occurred in the engine room caused by the hot oil burner.
Only the injured engineer with burns to his arms and face could talk.
The second engineer and cadet remained in intensive care for some
weeks but now all three have recovered sufficiently to return home to
be cared for by loved ones.
Brisbane’s chaplain Dan Vun and wife Helen gave the three crew
great support and comfort over the weeks it took the medical team
to address their dreadful injuries. And of course, Dan and Helen’s
ability to speak a number of Chinese dialects also proved an asset in
establishing a relationship with the three seafarers and their families.
It should also be mentioned that Dan was able to track down a small Revd Dan Vun- Brisbane hospital
restaurant nearby to the hospital that sold Brisbane’s best sweet and
sour rice a meal highly prized by the recovering seafarers, and which
Dan attributes to lifting their spirits on a number of occasions!