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100 years of history at Osborne Park

September is a big month for us at Osborne Park Uniting Church this year. One hundred years ago, on 5 September 1915, our little church opened its doors for worship for the first time. To  commemorate the occasion, the church is planning a number of events over the week beginning with an open day on the actual anniversary date, where there will be an opportunity for the  community to see some of the old photos and books from the early years, provided by church members and the City of Stirling.

Although all the plans are not finalised, we hope to have some events over the week from Saturday 5 to Sunday 13 September, when we will hold a Special Anniversary Service at our normal  time of 9.30am.

The decision to build the church was made with the help and encouragement of the local Member of Parliament, Mr John Veryard MLA. Those present at the meeting represent many families  whose association with the church continued through its history and to this day. The building, it was decided, would be erected on the ground given by the Osborne Park Company. We have a picture of the sales brochure, which is similar in style to the Grenville Church. Originally, an unlined weatherboard building on wooden stumps, with a corrugated iron roof made up of six foot sheets, as was the standard in those times, it had a small wooden spire at the  front pointing to heaven.

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State Youth Games: Bring it on!

State Youth Games is a weekend of fun, games, sport and friendship for 16–28 year olds, held annually in Bunbury over the long weekend in June. The games provide an opportunity for church  teams to come together and compete over the weekend in a range of sports and activities in a friendly and fun environment.

Run by Youth Vision, a project of the Churches of Christ, the games are open to any denomination. Cameron Barnes, State Youth Games co-ordinator, said that the games are structured in a  way that is open and welcoming, to give people who aren’t familiar with church an opportunity to hang out with Christians in a casual environment. This also gives young Christians an opportunity to invite their non-church friends along for a weekend of fun.

“I’m constantly hearing stories of people who, by their own admission, would never have set foot in a church building, but were quite happy to come along to a sporting carnival. Through State  Youth Games they discovered a community of people they could belong to, and through that community found out about a God who loves them,” Cameron said.

It’s also a way to breakout of the confining structures of youth ministry and day-to-day activities, in preparation for adulthood.

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Budget should take a long-term view

When next week’s Federal Budget is delivered, UnitingCare Australia will be looking for programs and policies that invest in people, to advance Australia’s resilience and productivity.

“The Budget needs to do two things at once. We need to live within our means. And we need to invest wisely to improve future living standards. This means we need to consider increasing government revenue, and ensure that all aspects of the budget recognise the value of upfront investment in people,” said Lin Hatfield Dodds, national director of UnitingCare Australia.

“Tax loopholes need to be closed and investments need to be targeted towards Australians who face barriers to participation in the economy and community life.”

“Adequate payments for recipients of welfare, and provision of access to important services remain key priorities.”

“Funds that support vulnerable people provide a great return on investment. Providing support helps people reach their potential, and yields savings down the track as we prevent social problems from escalating. It also enhances the quality of our collective life, making Australia a better place to live,” said Lin.

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Emergency Hospitality – WA’s best kept secret

One of the best kept secrets of the Uniting Church in Australia is the Emergency Hospitality Project, a program of the WA Uniting Church Adult Fellowship. It started to help country folk  coming to the city, faced with fully-booked hotels and huge costs. Willing city hosts provide a bed and breakfast. As ‘kids from the bush’ living close to major hospitals and with good public  transport close by, we appreciated this chance to give a helping hand and it has been a gratifying experience.

We have met a wide range of country folk and enjoyed their company greatly. So much so, that we decided to set-up our studio as a granny flat with bathroom and kitchenette, to provide a  choice of company or complete privacy. This program is for anyone with an appointment in Perth needing a clean, comfortable bed at a reasonable cost in one of the world’s most expensive  cities – not just for medical emergencies.

Disappointingly, this service has not been used as much as expected. For more information call 0447 910 007 or email emergencyhospitality@wa.uca.org.au.

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From the Archives: World War I chaplains

Throughout 2015, to mark the centenary year of the ANZAC landing at Gallipoli, Revive will be publishing a series of articles highlighting the men who provided chaplaincy to those who served  in WWI.

Rev Arthur Fry was born in South Australia in 1864 and was ordained into the Methodist church in 1887. He transferred to Western Australia in 1894 and was sent to York. After three years in  York he served in Coolgardie, Geraldton, Perth and West Perth.

In 1911 he was appointed secretary of the British and Foreign Bible Society, a post he held for 16 Years. On 6 October 1916, at the age of 51, Rev Arthur Stephen Joyce Fry joined the Australian  Army as a military chaplain. He sailed to England as a transport chaplain on the HMAT Suffolk.

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Introduction of No-Fault Insurance applauded by disability sector

National Disability Services (WA), representing more than 100 disability service organisations including Good Samaritan Industries (GSI), applauds the State Government on reports that a No-Fault Insurance Scheme will be included in the upcoming 2015 State Budget. GSI is an agency of the Uniting Church in WA.

NDS has campaigned strongly for a fairer insurance scheme in WA which will cover all people catastrophically injured in a vehicle accident regardless of who is at fault.

According to Insurance Commission of WA figures, an average of 92 people are catastrophically injured on WA roads each year, including 44 people who are deemed ‘not compensable’ because no one is to blame for their accident.

The decision to implement a No-Fault Insurance scheme will ensure those 44 people are compensated for the cost of their lifelong care, bringing WA into line with the rest of Australia and correcting the serious injustice where those with catastrophic injury are divided into two camps: compensable and not compensable.

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Filling a need in Gingin

There are many benefits in living in the country, but at Gingin Uniting Church, we have become aware of a looming major community problem: Alzheimer’s and a lack of services and carer  support. After some input from Rev Dr Bill Jenkins at our 5th Sunday combined churches service, we decided to take it further and offer a full-day free seminar run by Alzheimer’s Australia  WA, as a community service activity. Bill is a Uniting Church minister and a psychologist who has conducted research into dementia.

There was much interest and thanks before the event, and leading up to it we have discovered several community members who have both training and/or experience with Alzheimer’s care, as  well as families already struggling to cope.

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KCO: The journey

This year’s Kids’ Camp Out (KCO) was all about the ‘Journey’. Held over the weekend of 14–15 March at Advent Park in Maida Vale, even the rain couldn’t stop these campers, junior leaders  and camp leaders enjoying food, friendship, craft, games, storytelling, music and dancing; all while reflecting on their journey with God.

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Uniting Church in Australia calls for an immediate moratorium on offshore transfers

The Uniting Church in Australia is one of more than 100 Australian organisations calling for an immediate moratorium on transfers to immigration detention facilities on Nauru and Manus Island in Papua New Guinea.

The call by churches, human rights groups, aid agencies, faith-based organisations and others follows the case of a five year-old girl who attempted to commit suicide after an extended period of detention on Nauru.

“The plight of this poor young girl is a tragic example of the damage the Australian Government is doing by sending asylum seekers into such unsafe, harsh environments,” said Rev Elenie Poulos, national director of UnitingJustice Australia.

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Juniper reveals future retirement lifestyles in Menora

Innovative contemporary living is a hallmark of Juniper’s newest retirement living community which was officially opened in Menora on Thursday 23 April.

Chief Executive Vaughan Harding said the Juniper Elimatta Retirement Living project demonstrates the organisation’s forward thinking response to meeting the needs of older Western Australians.

“Juniper Elimatta Retirement Living successfully promotes apartments for life and ‘ageing in place’ – a concept where housing and community design enable residents to live and enjoy their home for as long as possible,” Vaughan said.

“The project demonstrates the best in retirement housing where residents enjoy independence as well as companionship, wellbeing and security that come from community living.”