This story and photographs initially appeared as a press release from Dr Joe McGirr and have been reproduced with permission. 

Pastoral care co-ordinator Reverend Leonie White has been named as the 2022 Wagga Wagga Local Woman of the Year.

Independent Member for Wagga Wagga, Dr Joe McGirr, made the announcement during an International Women’s Day 2022 event on Tuesday 3 March, held jointly by Dr McGirr and the Wagga Wagga Women’s Health Centre.

Dr McGirr paid tribute to Reverend White’s dedicated service, which dates back more than two decades.

‘It is during the hardest times, whether it is for individuals or the community, that Leonie’s compassion shines,’ he said.

‘She is dedicated to helping patients, and their families and hospital staff, and to the wider community. Even the challenges presented by COVID-19 have not prevented Leonie from being available when she is needed.

‘It is a pleasure to present this award in recognition of Leonie’s long history of service to her community.’

Reverend White, an ordained Anglican deacon, has worked in pastoral care at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital for more than 20 years, initially as a volunteer, then as assistant to the co-ordinator of pastoral care before she was ultimately appointed as co-ordinator.

She also serves as Anglican chaplain at Wagga Wagga’s Calvary Hospital.

A part of the Disaster Recovery Chaplaincy Network, Reverend White also volunteered her time during the Black Summer Bushfires.

More recently, Reverend White has been confronted with the challenge of providing pastoral care during the COVID-19 lockdowns, which prevented many volunteers from being able to visit the hospital.

This has meant that Reverend White is sometimes the sole pastoral care worker available to patients, but she has continued to be available to patients, as well as staff, when she is needed.

Reverend White says she was surprised and humbled by the presentation of the 2022 Wagga Wagga Local Woman of the Year award.

‘I never take for granted that I am allowed into the most vulnerable places and times in people’s lives – I treasure the opportunity to serve the community that I love in this way,’ she said.

‘I come from a family of those that serve; from nurses, missionaries, Rural Fire Service, teachers, researchers, farmers, and those that create beautiful things to lift people’s spirits and those that in their everyday lives do the best they can in the place that they find themselves with courage, compassion and care. I have the most amazing team to help me in normal times.

‘I am privileged to live in a caring and supportive community in the Eunony Valley, where love of the land and the environment is strong and where a helping hand is never far away.

‘My role can be one of daily challenges and sadness, but there are also moments of great joy when someone recovers from a serious illness or accident and goes home.

‘There have been many memorable occasions where the pastoral care team, some 45 of them, has made a difference in someone’s life. We see our role as companions on the way to healing.

‘Some of my team have volunteered because of the care that they received when loved ones had been ill.

‘My care of staff is one of ‘presence’, an encouraging word and a smile – they know that I am there if they need me.’

For Rev White, one of the highlights of her time as co-ordinator at Wagga Wagga Base Hospital, was seeing the completion of multi-faith space.

‘Prayer has always been a big part of my life – like breathing. Sometimes it is on the run and sometimes in the peace of my garden and, of course, in my beloved Anglican Parish of Wagga Wagga church of St John’s,’ she said.

‘The award to me is a celebration of the leadership role women have in the community – it celebrates all women’s contribution not just mine,’ she said.

‘Many women daily juggle work, family and community, some like me are appreciated in the workplace, at home and in the community – not all get the recognition that they deserve.

‘They get up each day and face the world they find themselves in and do the best they can with what they have and it feels like a thankless task.

‘This award is in recognition for all their effort and struggle. This award says ‘you matter’.’

After enjoying a rewarding career in the Royal Australian Navy, and while serving as a civilian instructor at RAAF Wagga, I was prompted by a desire to better equip myself for ministry to enrol in a Bachelor of Theology through St Mark’s. Although I didn’t realise it at the time, this is where my journey towards ordained ministry began. Encouraged by both lay and ordained members of the parish to enter into the ordination discernment process, I increasingly sensed that God was calling me into the role of deacon.

Since my ordination a little over two years ago, I have had the privilege of serving in a number of contexts, and each has been both a blessing and a rewarding experience. Licenced initially to the South Wagga parish, a typical month would include preaching and service-leading across the parish’s two worship centres, leading a Bible study, hospital and nursing home visits and working alongside others in our pastoral care team. I also led a Carevan team which connected our church with a team of volunteers and guests from all walks of life as we hosted community meals.

Each of the ministries I have served in has brought me into contact with such a diverse group of people, both from within the church, and from the wider community. Since ordination, I have been privileged to lead a number of funeral services within the South Western region of the diocese. Ministering to those who grieve the loss of loved ones, and being able to share the love of Christ and the hope we have through him has been incredibly rewarding. It has also been a joy to celebrate God’s grace through the ministry of baptism.

January 2021 saw in a new season of ministry with a move to the Wagga Wagga parish to start a new role as the Anglican chaplain to The Forrest Centre’s two residential aged care facilities – Mary Potter and Loreto Home of Compassion.

I work within a team of dedicated carers to provide spiritual and pastoral support to residents, family members, staff and volunteers.

In addition to leading a weekly worship service at each of the centres, I conduct room visits and spend time with residents and family members. It has been such a blessing to get to know many of the residents, and to be a listening and supportive presence. It is such a privilege to be able to minister to the elderly, and although there is often sadness in their circumstances, and indeed loss for both family and staff in their passing, this role is such a rewarding one. I rarely leave the centres without feeling uplifted by the interactions I have with residents and staff alike.

To better equip myself for this role, I have recently commenced a Graduate Certificate in Ministry with an emphasis on chaplaincy and pastoral and spiritual care of older people.

As a member of the household of deacons, I am greatly encouraged by my fellow deacons who serve throughout the diocese, and by those who lead us. A deacon’s role is to serve, however, through our baptism we are all called to a ministry of service, modelled on the servant ministry of Jesus Christ. May I encourage us all to prayerfully and continually seek to discern God’s will for us in our own ministries so that we may faithfully live out our calling.

by Reverend Craig Rogers

St Martin’s College is welcoming new students studying at Charles Sturt University Wagga Wagga campus and students studying medicine through UNSW at Wagga Wagga Campus. St Martin’s College had its origin in the Riverina Diocese and the Canberra-Goulburn Diocese in 1992 and has since grown to a 98-bed college (12 x 8-bedroom cottages, a 2-bedroom flat and the chapel) that surrounds the centrally-located Fairfax Community Centre (affectionately known as ‘the Fax’). Community, inclusion of all, support, care and excellence are at the heart of all the College does.

2020 has been a difficult year for all people. The College saw its numbers drop on 30 March 2020 from about 80 students to 10 students as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic and the decision on the University to close its campuses and go on-line for all of session 1 and all of session 2 (for most students). It is ‘return to normal’ for the University in January 2021. And more than 40 returning students are looking forward to that. So how did they manage 2020?

Meg from Milthorpe, in her third year of a four-year social work course, writes:

‘I have had the pleasure of being a Residential Advisor at St Martin’s College in 2020. Though this year was difficult we continued to host events, whether virtual or in-person, with students, according to restrictions and guidelines. The current pandemic did not limit the spirit of the St Martin’s community as we all worked to adapt to ensure we could still connect with each other.

 

‘St Martin’s is such a warm and inclusive community where students can make lifelong friends. It is an environment that fosters growth whether that is socially, academically or professionally.

 

‘What I value most about St Martin’s College is the family environment. This enabled me to make a smooth transition into university life and has given me the opportunity to make many lifelong friends.

 

‘The advice that I would give to future students is to immerse yourself within the community and step out of your own comfort zone! This will allow you to have many opportunities opened up to you as well as give you the chance to make your university experience the best it can be!’

Romy, a Vet Science student going into Third Year, commented:

‘Despite the lack of people on campus, the few that stuck around during COVID became the many, and life went on. I think we probably spent more time with other college students than normal, given that we were all confined to our rooms for online lectures and there were few other excuses to leave the house than to play some backyard cricket with the neighbours.

 

‘Being on campus is a no brainer, especially in first year, because you only have to walk 5-10 minutes to your lectures. Within walking distance there is also the pool and gym too for the sports enthusiasts. Life at Martie’s is great because you get to know the other students really well, and you’ll probably spend a lot of time in each other’s cottages sharing dinner and studying together in what can feel like a family home.

 

‘I value the shared space that we have within the college, including the outdoor and indoor area of the Fairfax Centre, which we can use at our leisure to study/relax/cook or just have a nap.’

In the summer break, the diverse interests continue. Josh and Seb are out doing contract grain harvesting over summer and two others are doing grain receivals at the grain silos. Others are in retail – Bunnings, Boost Juice etc. Some are working in Vet clinics. Nursing students are finding work in Aged Care. A few students have returned home to farms, a few are doing catch-up placements because of COVID-19 restrictions (in places like piggeries, dairy farms etc) and our performing arts students have put on a production. Animators are finding work on projects and our international PhD students are continuing their diverse research work in exotic areas including dung beetles, micronutrients, and environmental sciences. One of our undergraduate Social Work students has just presented at a National Health Conference (by zoom) on a new initiative in TeleHealth.

St Martin’s is a vibrant community that unobtrusively encourages faith and whole-person development in a supportive and pastorally-rich environment.

Check out the website at www. stmartinscollege.org or take the aerial drone tour of the College at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Oe HHwpl6NbPOO8M8obvpqqtXdNB XCAJ_/view?usp=sharing

Applications are on the website and are now open for 2021.

by Bill Anscombe

An advertisement appeared in the latest Newsletter from Friends of St Saviour’s Cathedral, which was an ‘Invitation to a Soup and Sandwich Lunch that Isn’t’. The Soup and Sandwich Lunch has been an annual fund raising event for the Friends, but this year COVID restrictions put a stop to it. The advertisement was an invitation for individual ‘friends’ to host functions of their own.

In response, two friends of St Saviour’s from Wagga Wagga, Elaine Campbell and Ruth Rush, organised an event which, in short was called, ‘The Four P’s’, but in full, better described as, ‘A Pizza, Patty Cake, Plonk and Poetry Luncheon’. Husbands Wes Campbell and Colin Rush also got involved; Wes providing transport, photography skills and support in the patty cake manufacture, while Colin thought it was easier to provide the plonk and poetry rather than walk to Goulburn for a second time.

The Luncheon was held on Saturday 24 October at the home of Ruth and Colin Rush. COVID restrictions placed limits on attendance, but in the end 18 were entertained. It was ‘touch and go’ with the weather at first, with people spread throughout the lounge, dining and family rooms for drinks, nibbles and conversation. Then, although clouds still hovered, the sun shone through at times, so all moved out to the rear Patio overlooking the garden for Pizza, more drinks, entertainment, cakes and caffeine.

Reverend Colin Rush reciting poetry

The entertainment, well, it had a sort of religious link, and the poems ranged across topics including, ‘Not Bloody Golf Again’, ‘A Bush Christening’, ‘Husbands’ and ‘The Revolt of the Lawnmowers’.

Takings for the event were supplemented through sales at a small Trading Table which Ruth and Elaine had set up. When the guests had departed, happy and well satisfied in all departments, the amount deposited in The Friends of St Saviour’s Cathedral Bank Account was $550.00. Not a bad effort!

by Reverend Colin Rush

You can find out more about the Friends of St Saviour’s Cathedral and how you can be involved on the Cathedral website at: https://www.goulburncathedral.org.au/friends-cathedral-0

Early in 2019, St John’s chorister and local manufacturing jeweller, Roley McIntyre, approached the then rector of Wagga Anglican, The Venerable David Ruthven, with an idea of producing a wholesale jewellery range based on images from St John’s Wagga Wagga. They would be available for sale as an ongoing fundraiser for the parish.

Archdeacon David, assistant priest Reverend Gavin Krebs and parish secretary Kim Hoey were very excited about the potential of the idea and took it to Parish Council.

Parish Council agreed to the proposal and to the initial outlay for the master patterns and subsequent castings, wax casts and first set of items.

The branded range of Wagga Anglican jewellery was launched at Synod 2019, with lots of interest from Synod members. While the initial cost to the parish was a substantial outlay, the jewellery paid for itself within eight weeks of launching, with excess stock available as gifts for Baptisms and special occasions.

Roley was able to fulfil all customer requests including special orders of cufflinks, clip-on earrings and gold crosses. For some people, the range of jewellery inspired them to create their own silver or gold treasure set with precious gemstones.

The initial range was in sterling silver. Roley has since added to the initial range to include gold items, which are proving to be popular.

The parish receives ongoing funds from the sale of their stock, and as a percentage of all sales via Sculpted Jewels website, Sculpted Jewels retail store, or as a donation when parishioners and friends are inspired by the range to create a special order.

This has been a very successful partnership for both parties and we look forward to continuing this into the future.

by Anna Krebs