Building Links in Australia

11 January 2017

John Fairbrother (former Director of Vaughan Park) building links in Australia

In mid February2011 I spent eight days in Sydney and northern Queensland introducing and promoting the ministry of Vaughan Park.
 
The Rev Martin Davies who is the Vaughan Park link for Australia very kindly hosted me and facilitated a number of appointments. I was privileged to meet with:
  • Archdeacon Kaio Karipa of Te Wairua Tapu, The Sydney Maori Anglican Fellowship;
  • The Rev's Dr Stephen and Judith Burns, Stephen is an Anglican Priest and lecturer at Uniting Theological College/Charles Sturt University;
  • Dr Gerard Goldman, the Principal of the Broken Bay Institute (www.bbi.catholic.edu.au);
  • Fr Andrew Sempell the Rector of St James Sydney and Robert Head the Director of the St James Institute;
  • Dr Julianne Stewart, Programs Director for the Anglican Board of Mission Australia;
  • A representative of the newly established Seventh Day Adventist Wellness Centre.
 
Leaving Sydney, I visited Maryborough in the Diocese of Brisbane. The Rev Dr James McPherson, the Distinguished Academic Visitor to Vaughan Park in 2008, is Rector there. I was generously hosted by Jim and Marcia who, like Martin in Sydney, took a great deal of time to ensure I met as many people and saw as much as possible.
While in Maryborough I preached at the three Sunday Eucharists and also presided and preached at a midweek Eucharist prior to leaving.
 
The primary objectives of the overall visit were to:
  • Spend quality time with Martin in his role as the Vaughan Park Link Person for Australia
  • Promote Vaughan Park as an accessible destination for those seeking retreat and conference facilities
  • Promote the Scholarship program
  • Learn as much as possible about ways in which Vaughan Park may serve as resource to academic institutions and Church.
I am pleased to say the objectives were met.
 
While in Australia, the Vaughan Park Administrator, Marion Nickerson promoted the Vaughan Park Residential Scholarship with the Diocese of Bendigo by placing an advertisement in their diocesan monthly magazine The Spirit (www.bendigoanglican.org.au).
 
John Fairbrother
Director