It’s been a huge summer for Australia.
Month: March 2020
For 25 years, The Mandorla Art Award has been operating in Perth WA as a unique invitation to artists from all backgrounds to submit their works which are inspired by biblical scripture. Over time, this National Christian Art Award has grown to include submissions by some of Australia’s most celebrated contemporary artists, including Brian McKay, John Coburn and Anh Do.
Uniting Church in the City (UCIC), Wesley Perth is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the historic building opened in 1870 on the corner of William and Hay Streets, Perth, this April.
The celebrations will also mark the 190th anniversary since the congregation had its beginnings in the Swan River Colony in 1830 with a party of Methodist settlers from Hull, England arriving and taking up residence. The Hardey family established themselves on the Maylands peninsula, building Tranby House and farm. They conducted the first Methodist service under a Jarrah Tree in Hay Street, Perth on Sunday 6 June 1830.
Rev Steve Francis, Moderator of the Uniting Church WA, has written to Hon David Kelly MLA, Minister for Water; Forestry; Innovation and ICT; Science; Youth, to thank him for his recent decision to place a freeze on the logging of two-tier karri forests in the South West.
The Uniting Church WA has been vocal in the past about the need to protect our forests.
For this year’s International Women’s Day, Kate Leaney, Social Justice Officer at the Uniting Church WA, takes 5 minutes with us to reflect, and share some of her inspirations and passions.
I’ve never met anyone who loves horses as much as Minna Sanders. And from this love of horses, a beautiful endeavour has grown.
Minna, having just finished Year 12 at Seton Catholic College, recently won a Good Sammy Business Start-up Award. This bubbly, passionate teenager was one of six recipients who received a cash grant to go towards setting up her own business.
Good Samaritan Enterprises (previously Good Samaritan Industries), is a Uniting Church WA agency providing employment options for people living with disability. They’re lovingly known throughout WA for their ‘Good Sammy’ op-shops, but they also provide a range of services helping people find meaningful employment. The award has been a huge asset for Minna, who will use the grant for advertising and supplies for her micro business – Minna’s Creations. She is now well on her way to getting her pyrography woodwork into the market.
An art exhibition held at Willetton Uniting Church in February has raised over $1 500 for the Uniting Church in Australia National Disaster Relief Fund, supporting those impacted by bushfires around the country. Willemina Foeken, artist and member of Willetton Uniting Church, held the exhibition in February, with a second one to be held from Sunday 8 to Thursday 19 March, at the Diamond and Jewellery Centres of Australia (DJCA), 97c Flora Tce, North Beach, Perth.
Now retired, Willemina previously worked as a school art teacher. These days, she still teaches art, but to small groups of up to six people in her home studio. She has been passionate about drawing her whole life, and inspired by her environment.
This summer’s bushfire season has left Australia damaged and sore. In true community spirit, we’ve also seen some amazing stories of people coming together to volunteer their time, donate their money, and support each other in harsh times of need.
The Uniting Church in Australia has been, and continues to, provide a range of support for people and communities affected by devastating bushfires around the country – both in crisis care and long-term recovery. In the first 11 days of 2020, 63 Uniting Church chaplains were engaged at 36 bushfire crisis centres. Together they volunteered 1 677 hours of chaplaincy with people directly affected by the fires, some of them experiencing the worst days of their lives.