After many years of planning, the essential work of replacing the roof of St Alban’s Kooringal (Wagga Wagga) is now complete.

The original 1958 shingle tile roof was deteriorating and with asbestos present, a full roof replacement was required. Due to the complexity of the project, it was expensive and difficult to find contractors willing to undertake it. The cost of $180,000 was ultimately funded by a NSW Community Building Partnership Grant ($15,000 for church) and one also from a Riverina Water Community Grant ($15,000 for hall), parishioner donations, and the shortfall was made up with a loan from the AIDF.

The project was not without drama. Originally due to be completed in early 2020, the bushfire reconstruction effort in the Snowy Mountains meant that the cranes were not available in Wagga Wagga. And when the decision was made to complete the work in April 2021, high winds put off the first attempt and then a local train derailment just prior to the second attempt made the cranes again unavailable. With winter coming the job had to get underway and the various contractors worked over two very long days of the first weekend in May to ensure not only that the roof came off safely, but that the new one was sufficiently installed as to make the church watertight for rain due on the following day.

Securing a loan from the AIDF and securing various grants required a partnership between the Diocese and our Parish and we are very thankful for Emma Body (Registrar’s Office) and Adam Wright (AIDF) in particular. More than all this, God is building His Church in Wagga Wagga! St Alban’s has experienced renewal in recent years with new ministries begun and a significant number of newcomers joining our congregation. St Alban’s has now been secured for the ongoing witness of mercy ministry and evangelism in Kooringal, Wagga Wagga.

by Reverend Scott Goode

During November South Wagga Anglican celebrated the five-year anniversary of the amalgamation of St Alban’s Kooringal and St Paul’s Turvey Park. Bishop Mark and Monica joined us for the official opening of the newly refurbished St Paul’s hall and amenities – the result of a NSW Government Stronger Country Community Funds grant.

This updated our 1962 facilities to modern ground-access amenities and gave our hall a face-lift, including a new meeting room and storage cupboards.

During a speech, the Reverend Scott Goode spoke about our church buildings as our ‘family home’ in which we invest so we can see God grow His family.

No sooner had this event finished, and Bishop Mark began officiating at his first of four weekend services where we gave thanks and celebrated our five year anniversary.

The last five years have been a challenging but wonderful story of welcome, shared ministry, new initiatives and outreach.

The weekend finished with a Baptism and Confirmation service where six people publicly declared their faith in Christ. The theme of the weekend was from Paul’s letter to the Thessalonians (1:2-3): ‘We always thank God for all of you …We continually remember before our God and Father your work produced by faith, your labour prompted by love, and your endurance inspired by hope in our Lord Jesus Christ.’

by Reverend Scott Goode

As church ministry was suspended from mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, South Wagga Anglican Church received the timely news that it had successfully received a NSW Government Stronger Country Communities Fund grant for $122,000 to undertake an amenities and hall refurbishment at St Paul’s Turvey Park. Five months later the parish has just opened its Sunday services and now has modern amenities and a completely fresh look. Although the building had undergone many renovations since 1962 when the hall was built (the church itself was added in 1982), the toilets were original and well and truly past their use-by-date.

Before!

The project involved the construction of a modern (ground access) toilet block, a new meeting room and significant storage areas.

After!

This now means we can cater for the many church and community groups which operate from St Paul’s church and hall including mainly music, children’s and youth ministry, interest groups and parish events.

Of course it may take a little long­er before all these groups are fully functioning again, but when they do come back, they will certainly be well catered for. The successful grant application was a result of a hard-working team in the parish who sub­mitted a well-researched application and in partnership with the diocesan office, whose assistance was vital.

by Reverend Scott Goode