PARISH OF NUMURKAH-NATHALIA
MINUTES OF PARISH COUNCIL MEETING
HELD IN HOLY TRINITY HALL, NATHALIA.
THURSDAY 21st NOVEMBER 2013.
- 1. Welcome and Opening:
Rev. Sally Boothey opened the meeting with a prayer at 8.05pm
2. Present:
Rev Sally Boothey, John Stammers, Judy James, Bev Leaf, Rob Elliott, Mary Muntz, Bev Patrick, Robyn Pendlebury, Carol Lugg, Merle Cobbledick, Keith Schier, Wendy Watson.
3. Apologies: Lou Hamon, Margaret Mitchell, Win Knight, Heather Stammers, Marj Smith, Ron Cobbledick.
4. Confirmation of Minutes:
MOTION: “That the Minutes of the Parish Council held 17th October 2013 be confirmed as a true and correct record.”
Moved: Keith Schier. Seconded: Bev Leaf. Carried.
5. Business Arising from previous minutes:
5.1 Holy Trinity smart meter yet to be installed.
5.2 Booking to be made for 24 for the Parish Council Dinner on 12th December at 7pm.
5.3 St George’s High Tea – very successful afternoon, thanks to Robyn Pendlebury’s organization. A profit of $838.50.
5.4 Certificate of Currency (Public Liability) has been received from the Diocese.
6. Correspondence:
Inwards:
6.1. Bishop: Benalla Parish Beer mission.
6.2. Registrar: St Mark’s North Albury Christmas Tree Festival
6.3. Primate: ABM Philippines Appeal.
6.4. Joan Harding: Garden Party balance sheet – $657.17 donated to the Parish.
6.5. Moira Shire: Permit for St George’s fete raffle ticket selling.
6.6 Christmas Bowl/Sunday Journal/Bible Society/Bush Church Aid/CBM/Defence Anglicans/St Mark’s Benedictine Abbey/Anglican Overseas Aid/Nungalinga/Church Stores
6.7 Solar City Pest Control: fridge magnet.
6.8 Bishop: Ordination 30th November
Outwards:
6.9. Letters of thanks: Numurkah Town Band, Wattle Warblers, Numurkah Primary School Choir for performing at St George’s Fete; Joan Harding for holding the garden party; Robyn Pendlebury, Fiona Pattison, Rob Elliott for St George’s High Tea; Denis Boothey for extending water line to church grounds.
MOTION: “That the correspondence inwards be accepted and outwards adopted”.
Moved: John Stammers. Seconded: Carol Lugg. Carried.
7. Rectors Report:
Written Report tabled and discussed.
My sincere thanks to all who are working so hard within the parish for fundraising, for pastoral care, in keeping buildings and grounds clean, green and safe and in maintaining worship which is both respectful and joyous.
As the weather has improved, everything has ‘come alive’ in the local communities and days are busier for many.
In our parish, since last meeting, we have had the Children’s Service at Holy Trinity (which was quite successful and worth repeating) and the High Tea at St George’s, coinciding with the Food Bowl Festival. This too was very successful and was wonderfully enhanced by the musical segment featuring Fiona Pattison and Rob Elliott.
Preparations for St George’s fete and Holy Trinity’s Strawberry Festival occurred and the fete has now been and gone. The weather was kind, the atmosphere was positive and the financial result of the fete was most pleasing. Sincere thanks to everyone, from all over the parish, who helped at this, and other events. The catering groups in the parish, especially, have been working flat out – being in great demand is the price of being such wonderful cooks I guess!!
I have conducted three funerals and a graveside memorial this month and I have participated in the Service of Remembrance at Nathalia Hospital and the RSL Remembrance Day service at Numurkah.
The regular Home Communions and services at Pioneer’s Lodge, Banawah, Barwo Homestead and Karinya have occurred this month. Our combined service in Nathalia with the Uniting Church was well attended and a good fellowship opportunity.
The Diocesan events I attended this month were the Induction of Rev’d Peter Tinney to Rutherglen and the deanery meeting, which our parish hosted (on Numurkah Show Day).
We have had an Interchurch Council meeting in Numurkah. In Nathalia, I have represented the Anglicans in the ‘Community Carols by Candlelight’ meetings. I would publically like to acknowledge the work of Margaret Cobbledick (UCA) who seems to organise this almost single-handedly! We are a group of three people – my contribution will be giving a short talk on the night and printing the carol booklets. This event will clash with the Community Carols in Numurkah, and if this happens annually, I will attend each one ‘year about’.
In the parish, we had a retiring collection in response to the Bishop’s Bushfire Appeal and envelopes have been available for those wishing to donate to the Syria relief appeal. People are always generous and compassionate.
It would be good, I think, to schedule some specific ‘fundraising for mission’ events in 2014, spread across the year. Perhaps a ‘mission dinner’ at each centre? Or a raffle? This would help to focus our prayers for those in need throughout the year.
Advent is nearly here and Christmas very close. The ‘break-ups’ have started and I enjoyed the Mother’s Union break up held at Holy Trinity this week.
Choir practice for the Nine Lessons and Carols at St George’s is in full swing – thank you Rob, Fiona and all choir members!
As we prepare for the coming Christmas season and the beginning of a new year of the church, there is, indeed, a lot to be done. Life is very busy. But it is a wonderful chance too, to give thanks, to celebrate, to appreciate the family and community traditions and to experience the love of God which is always there, but which is highlighted everywhere at this time of the year. Our groups close for the year with a party – looking back and looking forward. The harvest is visible and abundant. Family members are gathering. We are thinking of holidays, food, gifts, celebrations, summer weather and a temporary break in the ‘meetings cycle’. We are thinking, with thanks, of our blessings and we are thinking of others. There is excitement, (as well as exhaustion) in the bustle and anticipation – and there is, for us, the undercurrent of the Holiness. The story. The obedience of Mary. The faith of Joseph. The babe who came. God’s love. Wonder, awe, reverence, joy…. a heady combination which is Christmas for us!
Busy – but very good!
On a personal note, I have joined Nathalia Mother’s Union and Baulkamaugh CWA. Denis is in the Numurkah CFA and the Goulburn Valley Vintage Tractor and Farm Machinery Club, based at Wunghnu. We are finding our way around the area and feel settled after 10 months. Most of our children and grandchildren (except Will who is in Shanghai) will have Christmas with us in Numurkah on December 28th and we are looking forward to this family gathering.
Rev Sally suggested that a ‘Planning Parish Council Meeting’ be held next year to organise fund raising activities specifically for Mission and that the funds be kept for disaster relief as the need arises.
MOTION: hat the Rector’s report be accepted.
Moved: Rev Sally Boothey Seconded: Mary Muntz Carried
8. Financial Report:
Cheque Account $ 3851.15
Investment. Account $ 19443.71
St George’s ladies Guild $ 578.14
Holy Trinity Ladies Guild $ 3331.25
Holy Trinity Mother’s Union $ 334.05
Holy Trinity Strawberry Festival $ 1498.45
Holy Trinity Diocese Wang. $ 181.87
Betty Daniel Scholarship Term Deposit $ 8651.38
Sheep Drive: 50 lambs have been donated to the parish. Parishioners encouraged to give $45 towards the cost of a lamb. They have been shorn – the fleece selling for $441.20.
A letter of thanks to be sent to David Hansen for donating his time fir the shearing of the sheep
MOTION: “That the financial report be received and accounts passed for payment”
Moved: Wendy Watson. Seconded: Judy James. Carried.
9. GST Business:
9.1. Catering: Funerals: A Sutcliffe 25th Oct, D Connell 7thNov, V Loe 11th Nov
9.2. Hall Hire: Funerals: 25th Oct, 7th Nov, 11th Nov, Orana Day Care.
9.3. Funerals: A Sutcliffe 25th Oct, D Connell 7th Nov
9.4 Fundraising: St George’s High Tea 20th Oct, St George’s Fete 9th Nov, St Paul’s & All Saints Garden Party 13th Oct.
MOTION: “That the activities listed above be Input Taxed”.
Moved: Bev Patrick. Seconded: Merle Cobbledick. Carried.
10. Warden’s Reports:
St. George’s: 10.1. Luke Watson to be contacted concerning the relocation of garden tap.
Holy Trinity: 10.2. Fire extinguishers inspected and passed by CFA. Dry powder extinguisher to be installed in the porch.
10.3. Strawberry festival: 19 businesses to show in the hall, extra tables to
come from Hamon Parish Centre, set up hall from 9.30am, White
Elephant leftovers from St George’s to be sold at the Festival. Win Knight & Kaye Jensen to assist.
11. Other Reports:
11.1 Holy Trinity Ladies Guild
Bank balance $ 1966.85
Catering for funerals set at a minimum of $200
Raffle for 2014 Morning Coffee being organised
Cake pricing has been revised
Small urn bought for Holy Trinity Hall
December meeting to be followed by afternoon tea at Brereton’s Bakery
11.2 Mothers’ Union
Diocesan AGM held at Wangaratta; morning coffee, guest speaker (Dr Penny Vine spoke on refugees), communion and lunch.
Judy James has agreed to be minute Secretary for the first meeting of the Diocesan MU
in 2014.
11.3. St George’s Ladies Guild.
Christmas break-up at Café 3641 in Strathmerton on 5th December.
MOTION: “That the Reports be received”
Moved: Robyn Pendlebury. Seconded: Judy James. Carried.
12. General Business:
12.1. Brian Devenish (parishioner at St George’s) has requested to talk to the Parish
Council about his work as ‘Friendship on the Move’ particularly with Aboriginal
people. Agreed that he be invited to the March Council Meeting at St George’s.
12.2. Congregational Meetings to be held on 9th & 16th February 2014.
Parish AGM to be held at St George’s 23rd February.
12.3. Annual reports for the Congregational Meetings and the AGM to be finalised by 20th January.
Next Meetings: Thursday 12th December 2013 – Dinner Meeting at Telegraph Hotel, Numurkah.
Thursday 30th January 2014 – Holy Trinity, Nathalia.
Meeting closed with the grace at 9.25 pm.
Minutes confirmed……………………………………………. Date………………………………….
Anglican Parish of Numurkah-Nathalia 