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GLAD TIDINGS No. 12 PART C
In this edition:
• Bunbury
commissioning
• Port Giles – from blue
to green
• Sydney move
complete
• Fremantle’s visitor from
the Solomons
• Christmas in
Geraldton
• Townsville conference
update
BUNBURY COMMISSIONING
A hearty congratulations to the image below including- from • Worrying trend in
Bunbury MTS manager John left to right- Katherine Weaver, Fr Piracy
Smyth and chaplain Graeme Graeme Weaver, Sara Weaver,
Weaver on being officially Bp Allan, John Smyth, Bianca • BBC focus on MTS’
appointed to their respective Rogers & Kate Smyth. John Work
ministries late last year. brings to the role his many skills
Bunbury’s bishop Allan Ewing, a and experience in • Bishops’ conference in
strong supporter of the management, welfare service WA
seafarers’ centre led the service and pastoral outreach, and will
that welcomed both John and prove a great blessing to MTS
Graeme into the MTS family. A Bunbury.
number of those present are in
PORT GILES - FROM BLUE TO GREEN
It is easy to forget that seafarers some fruit was met with great
with a bit of shore leave on land joy - a radical change from
crave to experience the very endless weeks at sea
simple things that most of us do surrounded by blue and grey
and take for granted. For water and the smell of salt. A
example, a recent excursion, simple kindness and an
organized by Jeff and June interesting local experience can
Harrison, for some seafarers often rejuvenate the spirits of a
visiting Port Giles to visit local fatigued and homesick crew.
gardens and the chance to
smell some flowers and pick
GLAD TIDINGS February, 2013 No. 12 Part C

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SYDNEY MOVE COMPLETE
G
After almost six months of not the Revd Ian Porter with the
having a centre from which ministry are Revd Tae Kim,
to operate, Sydney MTS has Revd George Gayagay,
finally moved into its new Revd Un Hui Tay, Mr Jong
premises on Sydney Harbour Nam Jo, Mrs Gabrielle
located at 24 Hickson Road, Burcher and Capt Jack
Millers Point. The new Starmans (CA). Please
telephone number is +61 2 update your records
924 13009 and email is accordingly.
sydney@mts.org.au. Assisting .
FREMANTLE’S VISITOR FROM THE SOLOMONS
Our Fremantle and Albany Cross - he has a strong heart
centres were delighted to for those who work at sea. In
have Deacon Luke Foai Luke’s words, “I have a vision
spend time with them prior to to build a centre in the
Christmas. Luke as part of the Solomons in order to care for
Anglican Board of Mission’s the welfare and lives of
Encounter programme seafarers…seeing that we do
travelled from Honiara to not now have a centre for
gain exposure and them”.
experience in the work of the Our people at the Fremantle
Mission to Seafarers in Flying Angel have assured
Australia. Luke’s dedication, Luke of their prayers and
willingness to help and strong practical support in the years
pastoral priorities were very to come, to ensure Luke’s
welcomed by our ministry vision becomes reality- for
teams. Luke has completed the benefit of the many hard
the certified ships captain working seafarers on the
course from the Maritime Pacific Ocean. Thanks Luke
College in the Solomons. As a for sharing with us your
former captain of the inspirational passion &
Church’s vessel, the Southern commitment. Good fortune.
Page 2 GLAD TIDINGS February 2013 No. 12 Part C

3. CHRISTMAS IN GERALDTON
Bill Ross has kindly sent some God’s love in a practical
photographs of Geraldton way. The seafarers expressed
centre’s exciting Christmas their appreciation of being
day celebrations with crews thought of in this way, to the
visiting Geraldton port. Some extent that one captain
168 gift bags were distributed making a special visit to
to the crews of eight ships in present us with a photo of his
port over the Christmas crew.”
period. Bill reports that, “For Bill is nearly ready to intrepidly
us at the centre, it was a climb the gangways again
delight to see the faces of following his recent
the seafarers receiving their successful operation.
gifts, and be able to share
TOWNSVILLE CONFERENCE UPDATE
Please note that our the world’s 1.2 million
Townsville biennial seafarers will begin to
conference will be held from improve.
the 19-22 August. The timing Graham Miller recently sent
of the conference has been out to all centres attractive
chosen so that the MTS family and detailed brochures
will all be together the day concerning the conference.
the Maritime Labour Included in the package was
Convention 2006 (called the the conference registration
‘Seafarers’ Bill of Rights’) form. This needs returning to
finally becomes international Graham by 7 June 2013.
law; a cause for spirited Please mark the date in your
celebration and gratitude, in diaries. It should be a most
the hope that the working enjoyable and memorable
2 conditions and well being of gathering in the tropics.
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4. WORRYING TREND IN PIRACY
For a number of years the largest oil producer has seen
majority of pirate attacks on 62 attacks in the last 12
hapless seafarers crewing the months. The attacked vessels
world’s biggest ships have were all carrying oil or gas.
been in the waters off Somali. Alarmingly, pirates in West
At this time as many as 191 Africa have been more
crew from 14 merchant willing to use greater
vessels and fishing boats are violence than their Somali
still being hostage. In the last counterparts, as their income
6 months incidents of piracy is made by selling the cargo
in the Gulf of Aden and the on the black market rather
Somali basin have than from ransoming crew
decreased due to the members.
increased use of armed The Seamen’s Church
guards on ships, international Institute of New York has
naval patrols, and seasonal produced some excellent
bad weather. However, the materials on assisting
new hot spot for attacks is chaplains deal with crews
West Africa’s Gulf of Guinea. suffering post piracy/hostage
The Gulf which includes trauma. Visit
waters off Nigeria, Africa’s http://www.seamenschurch.
org
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5. BBC FOCUS IN ON MTS’ WORK
MTS Australia has been February and March, when
invited to assist in the under the gaze of the
production of a popular camera, Bishop Chris Jones
prime time BBC television will meet with Colin to
programme called “A Parish welcome him to Australia,
at Sea” which follows the life then transport the chaplain
and work of chaplains in with crew from the
unique settings. The MTS (UK) “Balmoral” to an MTS centre
has appointed Revd Colin Still for some hospitality and
who has considerable refreshment. Just how much
experience of chaplaincy on of our participation ends up
cruise ships to minister to the in the final programme to be
passengers and crew of the aired in the UK is anyone’s
“Balmoral” currently sailing guess. But fingers crossed;
the high seas. The BBC is and at last we might be able
onboard filming Colin’s to shake off the rather
interaction with passengers deflating tag that “we are
and crew on the journey. The the invisible ministry to
“Balmoral” will visit Hobart, invisible people”.
Sydney and Brisbane over
BISHOPS’ CONFERENCE IN WA
In March, the Australian over 8-12 March, at
bishops will be meeting in Shoalwater (Rockingham) on
WA. MTS chairperson Chris the shores of the Indian
Jones will be attending, and Ocean- a vast expanse of
presenting to the conference water but to us, seen as
a report on the work of our simply one of MTS’ “parishes”
organisation in recent times. as we pray and care for,
Fremantle’s Flying Angel “Those that go down to the
vehicles will also be providing sea in ships, who work in the
a free shuttle service to help great waters” (Psalm 107:23).
the conference participants
move around, including
collections and returns to the EDITOR
airport. We pray for Chris in Colin Brown
his role as chairperson of MTS Executive Officer
and for the success of the Australian Council of the Mission
to Seafarers Incorporated
conference itself to be held
www.mts.org.au/
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