Samaritans Volunteers
Spreading Christmas Cheer
Between becoming Santa Claus, and making sure the community is well fed on Christmas Day, these volunteers are making a real difference.
Super Sam’s Passion for Caring
PROPERTY PERFECTIONIST
Praise Pours in for Bryan Pead
The “Saint” behind many of Newcastle Anglican’s property projects.
Bishop Peter
I can count the number of horror films I have watched on one hand. I don’t like images of ghosts, ghouls, and monsters frightening me out of my wits. I like to have some fingernails left at the end of a movie.
With a horror movie we will often find the themes of death, judgement, and even religion. Good things will happen to some good people. Bad things will happen to many people.
Horror movies are one way that people explore the question: “is there life after death?” People of various religions and cultures seek an answer to that question. It is a fundamental question. Our answer can impact the way we live.
Christians believe there is life after death. It is a central feature of our faith found in our scriptures, our church services, and mindset. A person who believes in life after death can still have many questions. We ask - “What happens to the people who do terrible things?” or “Does everyone go to heaven?”. Our questions include
“Is there a hell?” or “Can I be confident of going to heaven?”
When people wrote the Bible, many people around them had similar questions. They believed that God was judging people and only a few might meet God’s exacting standards. Sin was the name for their wrongdoing. They feared God would punish them for their sins.
It is into that world and those ideas that the story of the first Christmas comes.
The Bible stories tell us that God loved the world so much that he chooses to become part of the world. God chooses to experience human life by being born and growing up. Jesus is born in Bethlehem and grows up in Nazareth. He goes to work, takes a role as a teacher, and becomes a protestor. The authorities don’t like what he is saying and doing. They arrest and torture him. They sentence him to death and kill him.
The story of Jesus’ experiences is a horrible
story. Christians believe that God changes the trajectory of punishment because he experienced this. God takes the worst of being human into his heart. God confronts it with love. Death and despair will not be the last word.
Christians believe God saves us from sin (wrongdoing). God invites us into eternal life (heaven). He does all this through Jesus. For this reason, we call Jesus “Saviour”. Jesus gives us hope and peace in our souls.
You will hear these themes in many Christmas carols.
In ‘Hark, the herald angels sing’, we sing: ‘mild he lays his glory by, born that we no more need die”. In ‘While shepherds watched their flocks’, we sing: ‘to you in David’s town this day is born … a Saviour who is Christ the Lord.’ The beautiful refrain at the end of Silent Night is ‘Christ our Saviour is born.’
I much prefer the beauty of the Christmas scene than the scenes of a horror movie.
I like the way the celebrations of Christmas show us two kind and caring parents with their child in Bethlehem.
The beauty of Christmas is captured by John in his Gospel. He writes about God’s action, saying:
“The Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we have seen his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father, full of grace and truth … For from his fullness, we have all received, grace upon grace.” (John 1: 14 & 16)
“God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him.” (John 3: 16 & 17)
Christmas embraces the reality that heaven and hell exist. It understands that God is judging us on our attitudes and behaviours. But, more importantly, God loves us so much that God is doing what he can so that we might be judged positively and have eternal life.
We receive an invitation from God not to find good and holy ways of living because we fear being punished by God. Rather, God wants to inspire us to adopt kind, generous and respectful ways of living which reflect his loving nature.
In the carol, ‘O little town of Bethlehem’ we sing: ‘O holy child of Bethlehem, descend to us we pray; cast out our sin and enter in, be born in us today.’
In its simplest form, it is a choice to embrace Jesus’ wisdom and character. When we do, we experience God giving us love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. (Galatians 5: 22 & 23).
My choice is for a world shaped by love, not horror stories. My desire is to copy Jesus and live a life of justice, mercy and peace so that I help make the world a better place.
May you have a blessed, holy and joy-filled Christmas.
Dr Peter Stuart is the Anglican Bishop of Newcastle. He rejoices that through Newcastle Anglican agencies, parishes, and schools we are helping people flourish inspired by the way of Jesus.
For All Saints Parish Singleton Warden Michael Turner, Christmas is an opportunity to invite those in need into a space that is close to his heart.
Since 2006, All Saints Parish has been home to the annual Samaritans Christmas Lunch, an event that brings more than 100 disadvantaged members of the local community together to enjoy a delicious meal and receive a gift.
While Michael is in charge of parish operations, he teamed up with Samaritans last year to add the Christmas event to his ever-growing list of community outreach programs.
“We have several community services here at the parish, including a weekly playgroup that has grown to around 100 children, but the Christmas lunch is extra special,” he said.
“You never really know what you’re doing for people when you make them feel included. Sometimes, when you provide outreach services, people question you. They ask why you’re doing this, and the answer is because you never know what spark you might ignite in somebody’s mind.
“In five or 10 years’ time they might come back and say they remember how it helped, how it provided support, or made them feel less alone. One moment can change someone’s life and you never know what that moment is going to be.”
Michael should know.
In 1971, his role in the Australian Defence Force saw him relocated to the Singleton Army Base. It was a move that would ultimately change the course of his life, and forever connect him to the parish that now means so much to him.
“I came to Singleton as a soldier, and this is where I met my wife. Her mother worked on base, and, in 1976, we were married at this very church.”
Michael went on to be an active member of the congregation and is now one of three parish wardens, helping to run the parish council and oversee day-to-day operations of the church.
“The church is not about a building over there
that you go and see every now and then,” he said.
“It’s about living in the community, looking after your neighbours, and engaging with the people you run into within the community.”
And, come Christmas Eve, engaging with his community will look a little different for Michael as he dons the red suit and becomes none other than Santa himself.
“The smiles and excitement on children’s and, I might add, grown-up faces is what I enjoy most about playing Santa, but overall being involved in the church makes me try to be a better person,” he said.
“It allows me to look at people in a different light, and to try to provide hope for those who need it.”
For the past 17 years, Lynne Pearce has been a friendly face at Samaritans Christmas lunches in Newcastle.
One of the event’s longest-serving volunteers, Lynne says she takes great delight in being able to give back.
“I decided to become a volunteer when my husband passed away. We always had 20 to 30 people over for lunch on Christmas Day and I thought: ‘I’m going to do something for myself,’” she says.
“It was funny – after the first time I did it, Samaritans thanked us all for volunteering and I said: ‘no, thank you for letting me do it.’ I found it so fulfilling, and that’s why I keep coming back.”
Now in its 24th year, Christmas Lunch in the Park is the region’s largest and longestrunning Christmas Day event.
It aims to offer much-needed compassion to individuals and families experiencing homelessness, disadvantage, or loneliness.
Lynne adds she enjoys mingling with the local
community and seeing the joy it brings to so many people.
“It’s great seeing the appreciation you get from most of the people there,” she says.
“Over the years, I see so many regulars coming back, and they often bring their kids along. It’s nice to see.
“When [Samaritans] asks you to write down two things you want to do, I usually say hostess and cutting up the pudding – I love doing that. If I see something is not being done, I jump in and do it as well.
“I just like to go around talking to everyone. If I wasn’t enjoying it, I wouldn’t be doing it.”
Samaritans Christmas Lunch in the Park will take place at Newcastle Foreshore Railway Carriage Shed on Wednesday 25 December from 10am to 2pm.
Click here to watch the 2023 Christmas Lunch in the Park video.
Hilton Jones’ desire to make a positive difference saw him become a volunteer with Samaritans.
That was more than five years ago.
During that time, Hilton’s diverse skills and willingness to help in any way has had a huge impact at Samaritans Christmas Lunch in the Park in Newcastle.
“I don’t have any kids and often thought: ‘surely there’s a little bit more to Christmas than going off and having lunch with friends,’” he says.
“I am one of those fortunate people. I’m retired and can do whatever I like, so I enjoy giving back.
“Volunteering at Samaritans Christmas lunch gives me a lot of pleasure in being able to help people and bring a bit of light into their lives.”
Hilton’s experience in working with WorldSkills International – a charity that champions excellence and development in vocational, technological and service-oriented careers –has been valuable for event organisers. He also taught engineering at TAFE.
On Christmas Day, Hilton assists with operations by ensuring the food remains chilled, and uses his industrial background to
help with safety requirements.
He says Samaritans Christmas Lunch in the Park is a wonderful event for the local community.
“What I’ve noticed the last couple of years is the helpers, who are fantastic people, often bring their children along. I think that’s great,” he says.
“It lets the kids know that it’s not all about them.”
This year, as we prepare to share Christmas with our loved ones, we are reminded that many in our community are facing difficult times.
At Samaritans, we share Christmas generosity, kindness, and goodwill with as many families as possible.
We know that people’s emotional and financial struggles become more intense during the Christmas season. Often, it is harder to get support. Samaritans is committed to making a positive difference.
Samaritans Christmas Appeal is raising money to provide local families with crisis care programs, a safe place to stay, emergency food supplies, Christmas lunch, and gifts to place under their Christmas tree.
It will also allow Samaritans to extend support to those who need additional emergency relief, financial support and assistance throughout 2025.
Samaritans has been making a difference in people’s lives for the last 40 years. One of the most moving things is that it’s the people of our community who have helped us provide this support for all those years. Many of our programs are supported by donations raised through Samaritans Christmas Appeal.
For those of us who are able, this is our chance to give a gift to others at Christmas, by being part of the Samaritans Christmas Appeal.
samaritans.org.au/donate
Can provide a meal or a toy for under the Christmas tree
Can provide meals for an entire family
Can provide a night’s crisis accommodation, financial aid, and other emergency services
Can provide a week of crisis accommodation and other essential services
December 25 | 10am-2pm | Railway Carriage Shed, Newcastle Foreshore Park
Samaritans Christmas
Lunch in the Park is in its 24th year.
It is the only lunch of its kind in the region, helping to ensure fewer people spend Christmas Day alone.
Thanks to the support of sponsors, donors and volunteers, Samaritans provides a festive Christmas lunch experience to those in need and gives a gift to every adult and child.
Hear from some of our valued sponsors
Samaritans has been helping people through tough times for 40 years.
Click here for the many ways you can help
For the past 17 years, Samaritans Christmas Eve Lunch at Singleton has been providing a safe and welcoming space for members of the local community to share the Christmas spirit and enjoy a delicious meal together.
In 2024, this iconic event will once again be held at the place where it first began – All Saints Anglican Church Parish Hall.
First held in 2006, the Samaritans Christmas Eve Lunch was the inspirational idea of parish treasurer Wendy Love, who continues to serve in the role and also helps at the lunch most years.
“Back in 2006 I saw that Samaritans held an
annual Christmas Lunch event in Newcastle, and I thought it would be something we could also do in Singleton,” Wendy said.
“At the time Samaritans didn’t have the resources to provide a second lunch event, but the organisation very kindly offered to provide support to the parish if we wanted to do so.
“The parish volunteers and I ran it together under the Samaritans banner and it’s been going ever since.”
The inaugural lunch, held on Christmas Eve at the parish hall, was an incredible success, providing support to members of the community who were
experiencing either financial hardship, social isolation—or both.
“Every year, we have people within the Singleton community and surrounds who experience homelessness and do it tough,” Wendy said.
“There are also those who may not be doing it so tough financially, but are alone, and if you’re alone that can be just as difficult, especially at Christmas.
“For some people the lunch is all they have, and they are able to come along and enjoy a lovely atmosphere where everyone gets together to sit and chat. It’s lovely.”
Over the years, the lunch has undergone a number of changes, including being held at both the Senior Citizens Centre and at the showground.
There was also a pivot during the COVID-19 pandemic, which saw the event provide takeaway hampers to those in need.
“We still held the event during Covid but that was quite different,” Wendy said.
“Instead of the sit-down lunch it was an express pick up where people would come and pick up their meals and then go.
“It was a change from the usual format, but also quite successful. The social aspect was different, but, for those who are on their own and perhaps not comfortable with group settings, it was still a suitable way to enjoy Christmas lunch.”
This year, while Wendy continues to support the event, parish warden Michael Turner has taken the reins and will work with Samaritans to deliver the much-loved lunch.
“Michael is amazing and, when we were discussing it and I told him I wouldn’t be able to come along this year due to work commitments, he immediately put his hand up,” she said.
“He was involved last year as well and does a fantastic job.”
Guests will be provided with a delicious Christmas lunch of ham, chicken, bread rolls, salad and Christmas pudding, served in a festive setting with games, gifts for all, and a special appearance by Santa.
The event is free, and everyone is welcome.
John Barriga loves reaching new heights.
When he isn’t fulfilling his role as Diocesan Chief Executive for Newcastle Anglican, you’ll often find him up in the skies over Canberra.
“I took up flying lessons about a year ago,” he says.
“It’s something that I’ve found to be extremely rewarding from a psychosocial and wellbeing perspective.
“It requires spatial awareness, which is something that really challenges body and mind. You have to multi-task at an extreme level because you’re performing a number of simultaneous actions, monitoring so many dials, talking, and listening.
“Nothing can go wrong or else you fall out of the sky. It teaches you that you can’t get overconfident.
“On one occasion, I was just coming down to land, ticked every box, and my flight instructor was saying: ‘John, this is going to be a perfect flight.’
“Then, minutes before we were about to land, we hit a sudden pocket [of air], the plane just dropped, and we had to go around again.
“It wasn’t like I was in any danger, but it was just a reminder that you can’t take anything for granted until you’re on the ground.”
For more than three years, John has helped Newcastle Anglican to soar.
In his role, he oversees the organisation’s entire operations and delivery of strategy while also looking after shared services and offering support for parishes.
He works closely with Bishop Peter, the assistant
bishops, the Newcastle Anglican Corporation (NAC) board, diocesan council and the executive team to ensure everyone is aligned on plans for the future.
John believes the sky’s the limit for Newcastle Anglican.
“We’ve been focusing on psychosocial safety, which is extremely important, and bringing all agencies closer from a cultural perspective,” he says.
“We have an exciting three to five-year journey in being more competitive and considering where we can grow – whether that’s schools, residential facilities, or Samaritans services – and having closer relationships with
boxes, not only from helping the community but I’m a big advocate on inclusivity.
“I align well with the values, I greatly respect the vision that Bishop Peter has for the diocese, and it’s great to lead and support that vision.”
When he’s not working, commuting to and from Canberra – where he lives – or taking flying lessons, John enjoys watching his favourite soccer team, Chelsea FC, as well as spending time with his family and travelling.
“I’ve been a football fan my whole life and a Chelsea FC fan for about 30 years,” he adds.
“My three boys, who are 20, 18 and 16, are big soccer fans, too.
“I see a lot of similarities between businesses and sports. You learn a lot about teams, cultures, successes, competition, and failures. Things in a sport, you can find in an organisation.
“When I started, people identified with Samaritans or Anglican Care. Now, everywhere I walk we identify as Newcastle Anglican.
“It has been a fantastic journey.”
government, industry, and regulators.
“The NAC board, Bishop Peter and our executive team have a really good view of where we want to transform, where we want to change, and where we need to go.
“We are large, we are complex, but we can be a very successful force in our region.
“Everyone is aligned to that, so we can make it work.”
John’s career spans almost 30 years.
Prior to Newcastle Anglican, he led large teams in commercial and government environments in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
His decision to join Newcastle Anglican was born from a desire to experience the “other side” and represent people in the community.
“Two of my greatest passions are helping others and the environment,” he says.
“Newcastle Anglican came and ticked all the
“I also love travelling and learning and connecting with different cultures, meeting people that bring a different perspective and experiences.
“Going behind the scenes and seeing the true cultures is what I love.”
AQYou were a workshop presenter at the Faith, Hope, Love Conference in Melbourne, and you do a lot of other work to raise awareness of Domestic and Family Abuse (DFA). Can you highlight some of the work you are doing and how the church community is coming together to address this?
I’ve had the opportunity to be involved in a number of areas addressing Domestic and Family Abuse.
It was a privilege to be a part of the small organising group for the Faith, Hope, Love Conference and to contribute to seeing the vision come to life.
LUKE 6:31
‘Do to others as you would have them do to you’.
In July, I was invited to visit Hobart, alongside three others from around Australia, to write a Bystander course.
One of the assignments I studied was a proposal to reduce the trauma of Domestic and Family Abuse in our context, which, for me, was faith.
Bystander training was the proposal and strategy I put forward in the assignment to reduce retraumatisation of victim survivors and equip congregations to respond and prevent domestic, family and sexual violence.
The working title for the Bystander program is ‘The Good Neighbouring Program’, and
the paper is called ‘A new evidence-driven bystander program developed for our church context’
Other great papers can be found on the Ten Commitments website.
I also attend the Lake Macquarie Domestic Violence Committee meetings, which consist of the local DFA sector agencies.
These meetings are valuable for insight into the struggles and awareness of the level of DFA in our community, as well as resourcing the church and DFA sector with the latest guest speakers, education, and on the ground training.
I’ve contributed to the Lake Mac Says ‘No’ campaign for the 16 Days of Activism and help promote the events in our local Deanery and the Toronto Parish.
In the parish, we started a Men’s Group to promote men’s wellbeing and for discipling men in the way of Jesus to be role models for healthy relationships as they prepare to engage in events and projects to grow the church.
AQWhy is your work and advocacy so important to you?
No person should experience oppression. We are created to flourish.
Jesus released people from oppression throughout his earthly ministry. I am passionate about reducing DFA and sexual violence as it is a gospel imperative.
Not many of us remain untouched by Domestic and Family Abuse. These issues resonate deeply with me. I supported a friend through coercive control where she lived with us whilst escaping DFA. I advocated for her and attended appointments, local court, and Family Law Court. My friend only left my side a couple of times over three months. I learnt all about coercive control whilst she was stalked and all the abuse tactics, especially during the post separation escalation.
“We are created to flourish.”
AQWhat are some of the improvements within Newcastle Anglican in this space over the past 12 months and how can our diocese do better as a whole?
Over the past year, we have trained our clergy through the Lifeline DV Aware program, where we saw clergy confidence in responding increase, and we provided resources for responding and referral.
We also introduced the clergy to primary prevention, how it works, the drivers of violence against women, attitudes, beliefs, and rigid gender roles.
There is still so much more work to do in this space. As the church, we need to engage and listen to First Nations peoples experience of family abuse.
We need to understand other factors in the social ecological model of violence, such as the impact of intergenerational trauma and, therefore, the need for early interventions with children and interventions and treatment for trauma for adults.
We need to examine how power is used throughout the church, and how our hierarchical structure can contribute to the problem. We can do better as a whole by listening, believing, and advocating for victim survivors, but, above all, valuing their expertise of lived experience.
We need men to be advocates for change, and to embrace healthy ways of being, to be role models, and we need all to intervene when there is sexism, racism, and spiritual abuse.
That’s what Sam Sibley encounters most days.
After joining Anglican Care seven years ago as a Registered Nurse (RN), Sam transitioned into a Clinical Care Coordinator before eventually becoming Residential Care Manager (RCM) at Kilpatrick Court.
In her role, she oversees the entire nursing, hospitality and cleaning team at the Torontobased facility.
“I do a lot of clinical assurance and care oversight, assist with resident care needs, consult with residents and their families, maintain facility budget and rosters, and provide education and support to ensure the team is equipped to do their job,” she says.
“I’m supported by our Clinical Care Coordinators, team leaders, care assistants, as well as our admin and hospitality staff, all working together to improve the lives of the people we support.
“We organise theme days as a little incentive to help staff have fun at work.
“It brightens the resident’s day to see staff in different outfits and having a good time.
“We also have these themed days and events to help build rapport between staff and residents. I am passionate about creating a positive workplace and culture.”
Sam’s passion for continuous improvement, as well as the dedication of her team and other leaders within Newcastle Anglican, has led to deserved recognition.
A recent site audit by the Australian Government’s Aged Care Quality and Safety Commission produced a glowing report, with 42 out of 42 quality standards met.
The result was a huge team effort from staff on site, as well as People and Culture, Quality and Risk, Clinical Support Officers, Director of Assurance – Quality and Risk Jodie Gardiner, and Director of Residential Aged Care (RAC) Karina Peace.
“There’s been a huge change to the way Anglican Care operates and that’s had a positive impact on the services,” Sam says.
“For us to receive 42 ‘mets’ [in the report] is a fantastic achievement. We’ve worked hard as a team to get where we needed to be, and I am incredibly proud.
“A lot of plans for continuous improvement were put in place and staff embedded what we needed to do clinically to make sure our care was a high standard.
“There were so many people involved in it and we’re grateful that they’ve been able to assist.”
When she’s not leading from the front at Kilpatrick Court, Sam enjoys spending time with her sons – Mason, George, Oliver and Jude – and her husband, as well as going to the gym, beach, boating, and camping.
Kilpatrick
Court is one of nine Anglican Care residential aged care facilities.
Click here to learn more about residential aged care, as well as our retirement living and home care services.
“High level communication is one of the most valuable tools you can have.”
Roof replacements, refurbishments and lighting upgrades are just some of the maintenance requests that come across Bryan Pead’s desk.
As Newcastle Anglican’s Manager of Minor and Major Works, Bryan oversees every project across all property assets within the diocese, Samaritans, Anglican Care, and Newcastle Anglican Schools.
He says there is a key ingredient in handling such a large portfolio.
“High level communication is one of the most valuable tools you can have,” he says.
“I try and form a relationship with all key personnel within Newcastle Anglican where they know they can call me anytime, even weekends, if they have an issue.”
Bryan has worked on several high-profile projects in the diocese since joining Newcastle Anglican two years ago.
A roof replacement at St Peter’s Anglican Church in East Maitland proved to be a highlight.
“St Peter’s was a high-risk project, with working at heights one of the risks,” he says.
“It was complex, and we needed to provide detailed documentation to accompany the development application.
“Safe Work Australia completed a random visit during the construction phase and found the contractor was completing the works in a safe manner and gave it the tick of approval.
“The chosen contractor was professional and worked long days and weekends to ensure the works were complete as there was a wedding scheduled that could not be changed.”
With another successful year winding down, Bryan has set his sights on a couple of key projects in 2025.
There are plans for building alterations, additions and upgrades at All Saints Anglican Church in New Lambton, while work has been scheduled to fix storm damage at the iconic Christ Church Cathedral.
Bryan’s reputation in the parish space has been recognised by many, including Bishop Charlie and Bishop Sonia.
They paid tribute to his work across both coastal and inland parishes.
“Bryan has a fine-tuned ear for what parishes are hoping to achieve,” Bishop Charlie says.
“He is not daunted by delays and complications but remains focused on solutions.
“Many parish officers have expressed appreciation for Bryan’s no-nonsense way
of seeing a build, a repair, an approval or a remedy through to a satisfying outcome.”
Bishop Sonia added some parishes even referred to him as ‘Saint Bryan’.
“From early on, his business experience and eye for detail has enabled parishes to make good decisions and saved a few projects quite a bit of money by sorting out the weeds from the wheat,” she says.
“He is engaged, gets on well with people, and they really trust him.”
Can
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It’s a time when many people put their hand up to care for children or young people who deserve a safe, secure and supportive home.
Foster carers offer support for children in need for various reasons, including families being unable to keep them safe for short or long periods of time.
Samaritans provides foster care in Newcastle, the Central Coast and Mudgee through its Permanency Support Program (PSP).
Case Manager Carer Team Lesley Cochrane says Samaritans goes “above and beyond”.
“I am a foster carer myself and I’ve seen many, many children and young people come through Out of Home Care and PSP,” she says.
“I’ve met young adults who are no longer in PSP, and 99% of them have turned out to be happy, well-educated people who are living their best life.
“Carers often choose to come to Samaritans through word of mouth and our positive reputation in the community.
“We offer a lot of support for carers, and host picnics, morning teas and other events to introduce them to our teams and each other.
“We also generally do a little carer package each Christmas to thank them.”
Carers come from all walks of life. They can be single, in a relationship, working, studying, or retired.
Samaritans offers all carers financial assistance, ongoing training and 24/7 support through its team and an on-call service.
Lesley says there is a desperate need for more foster carers in the community.
“My husband and I always thought about caring. We found the house was empty and wanted to give back,” she says.
“A lot of children come with a lot of trauma. They really need someone who is compassionate, caring, and educated in trauma itself. We offer lots of training, of course.
“Being a foster carer is such a rewarding thing to do.”
Foster care is providing a secure and safe environment for children who can’t live at home. You can be a foster carer for just a few nights, weeks or for many years. Whatever you choose to do, your commitment will be valued.
We are looking for people and families with a variety of backgrounds and experiences.
From individuals, traditional families, single parents, same sex couples, or retired people. This allows us to meet the individual needs of children.
You will be supported with a range of training options that will ensure you have the skills to care and nurture a foster child. This is at no cost to you.
In addition to the training, you will receive support from our team including regular contact, via phone, home visits and emergency support.
Foster carers receive a fortnightly allowance based on the age of the child. This assists with the cost to feed, clothe, educate and meet the needs of the child.
We have emergency, crisis, respite, short to medium term and long-term opportunities available. Contact us now for more information. samaritans.org.au/foster-care | psp@samaritans.org.au
As we approach the end of another year, we extend our heartfelt wishes to all members of the Lakes Grammar - An Anglican School community for a joyous, safe, and restful holiday season.
While Christmas is a time filled with cherished traditions for many, it’s also a wonderful opportunity to reflect on the diverse ways we celebrate this season within an inclusive community.
Lakes Grammar, rooted in the Anglican tradition, proudly welcomes and respects the beliefs and customs of all its families.
In this spirit, the school is delighted to share two unique perspectives on Christmas: one
from a student, Ibrahim, and the other from staff member, Cynthia.
These stories offer a glimpse into how the festive season is a time of family connection and meaningful traditions, even when celebrated in different ways.
Lakes Grammar hopes the reflections inspire a sense of togetherness and gratitude as we embrace this holiday period.
As a Palestinian Lebanese Muslim living on the Central Coast and attending an Anglican school, I experience the festive season in a way that’s quite different from those around me.
For many of my friends, Christmas is a time to gather with family and celebrate. For me, while Christmas holds a different significance, it remains an important time spent with loved ones.
During this season, my family focuses on supporting others. We make it a point to give my dad’s employees a well-deserved break by running the shop ourselves on Christmas Eve and Boxing Day. It’s our way of ensuring they can enjoy a restful threeday holiday.
On Christmas Day, when most places are closed, we often find ourselves with some rare free time.
We usually spend it enjoying a barbecue with my grandparents or visiting family friends who, like us, are also Muslim. It’s a time to connect, relax, and enjoy each other’s company.
For me, Christmas is less about the traditional celebrations and more about the opportunity for everyone to come together and appreciate the gift of family and community.
Christmas, for me, is a time of family, tradition, and reflection. Growing up on a dairy farm in upstate New York, my Christmas memories are filled with snowy landscapes, the warmth of roast turkey, stuffing, and pumpkin pie, along with freezing weather that always added to the charm.
Every year, I would play carols on my flute at our school church—a tradition that deepened my connection to the spirit of the season.
Now, living in Australia, Christmas has taken on a new dimension. The festive atmosphere is filled with street parties on Christmas Eve, the heat of a summer holiday, and the unique challenge of preparing a traditional meal in a sweltering kitchen.
With just my husband and children here, my focus is on creating a warm and joyful atmosphere for my small family.
Despite the change in surroundings, the essence of Christmas remains the same: being together, cherishing the moment, and appreciating the love of those close to us, whether they’re near or far.
Cynthia’s
Bishop Tyrrell Anglican College (BTAC) hosted one of the most unforgettable events on its calendar: the 2024 Creative and Performing Arts Showcase.
From the very start of the evening, it was clear that this would be a night like no other.
Students from across the college united to elevate the standard of creativity and performance excellence, presenting a remarkable display of talent, dedication, and artistic vision.
The Visual Arts exhibition opened the evening with a stunning array of works by Year 12 students, leaving guests in awe of the technical skill and depth of thought that was evident in each piece.
Paintings, sculptures, photography and mixed media works adorned the hall, each serving as a testament to the immense effort and talent of the Visual Arts cohort.
The exhibition was not merely a collection of artworks – it was an invitation to explore the perspectives, emotions, and creative spirits of the students. It set the tone for an evening filled with artistic discovery.
The evening was a series of performances that truly raised the standard of artistic excellence.
From the precision and energy of the Junior Drumline to the moving musical pieces performed by Senior Elective Music students, every moment was infused with passion and creativity.
These were not simply performances. They represented the culmination of months of practice, collaboration, and a deep commitment to refining their craft. The audience was taken on a whirlwind journey of musical and theatrical experiences, each one more impressive than the last.
One of the most remarkable aspects of the evening was how the performances showcased the unique talents of the students,
whilst also emphasising the importance of collaboration and community. The sheer variety of performances — from musical solos and ensemble pieces to vocal showcases — demonstrated the breadth of talent at the college and the dedication of the staff who nurture these young artists.
The event was made even more special by the overwhelming support of the BTAC community.
More than 300 family members, staff, and students filled the college’s Batty Hall, creating an atmosphere of warmth, joy, and celebration.
As the night drew to a close, it was clear that this was more than just a showcase; it was a celebration of the creative heartbeat that runs through BTAC.
The evening encapsulated the joy, passion, and dedication of students and staff, making it an event that will be remembered for years to come – and setting the expected standard for the future of the creative and performing arts at the college.
Operation Christmas Child – an initiative of Samaritan’s Purse – is a wonderful opportunity for the Scone Grammar School community to live its Christian values and join with the parishioners of St Luke’s Anglican Church to demonstrate its faith in action.
The school’s Grammar Voice student action team gathers donations and sorts and packs gifts, which are then ready to be distributed wherever needed.
It also hosts fundraising events, such as a ‘Silly Christmas shirts and colours of celebration’ out of uniform day, to raise the necessary funds to send these gifts on their way.
ACT 20:35
In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work, we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
Sharing the stories of where the boxes have been sent, and the people who receive them, helps students grow in gratitude and empathy towards those less fortunate.
Mrs Margaret Wicks introduced this initiative with the school community more than a decade ago.
Scone Grammar School is so thankful that the appeal has connected it further with the parishioners of St Luke’s Anglican Church.
Scone Grammar School’s Year 8 student Elsie Kennedy has been growing her hair all her life.
As a child, she wanted to be just like Rapunzel and, up until recently, she had never experienced a haircut (besides the odd trim here and there).
Last month, Elsie finally cut her ‘Rapunzel’ hair to help raise much-needed funds for sick kids across Australia.
She is also donating her lovely locks to ‘Wigs4Kids’
The donations raised will allow the Kids with Cancer Foundation to continue supporting families who have a child suffering from cancer.
Elsie’s goal is to raise $14,000 ($1,000 per year she has been growing her hair) to fund the cost of several wigs for children in need so they can feel more confident while going through a traumatic experience.
If you would like to donate and help make a difference, visit Elsie’s fundraising page.
Manning Valley Anglican College (MVAC) Principal Darren Parks is departing at the end of 2024. He provided this recap of another successful year and shared his plans for the festive season.
As I prepare to leave MVAC to return to Brisbane to be closer to our respective families, I look back with pride in what has been achieved over the past three and a half years.
This year has been a stellar one for MVAC. We’ve had many highlights, with our students achieving amazing outcomes across all spheres of schooling.
Our Year 12 academic results are the strongest
ever, with our largest number of students receiving early entry offers for university.
Culturally, the production of ‘Grease’ was an amazing success, with our students shining like beacons in their brilliant performances. Our teams have consistently dominated HRIS and local competitions. Their impressive performances have exceeded all expectations.
Our cattle team won its first riband at Wingham Beef Week. Our dance groups, artists, and musicians continue to shine with their performances.
Many strategic projects have been started to modernise the school. These efforts have transformed it from a small institution into an inspiring medium-sized regional school.
Christmas means family, food, and fun.
The Parks family is currently going through a transition as we have three young adult children, one of whom will be working on Christmas Day as an Emergency Department (ED) nurse.
No more toys and no grandchildren yet, so it’s a very different vibe to when our kids were young, and we would do the drive from Townsville to Brisbane with the car laden with hidden presents. We usually do some presents before we go to church. We then do the rest of the presents before lunch. Christmas gives us a chance to slow down and reflect upon the amazing gift that God gave us through his son Jesus Christ.
Christmas also means a time to stop work and truly find time to shut down the computer and do family events. Most importantly, Christmas means the chance to be with your loved ones.
I hope that our students will gain an understanding of the greater meaning of Christmas via our chapel services, Christian education lessons, and through our community service to the Blue Cross Shop. If they can learn that Christmas means doing something for others rather than just yourself then we have helped them learn something important about the giving theme of Christmas.
MVAC is once again partnering with Saint John’s Anglican Church in Taree in support of their Blue Cross Emergency Relief program.
Each of MVAC’s three houses will be competing to see which house brings in the most tinned goods, toiletries, and other non-perishable items. We happily donate these items to Blue Cross Emergency Relief, named after the iconic blue cross on top of Saint John’s belltower. Each week, these donations are distributed to families in the Manning Valley and Great Lakes areas.
MVAC is proud to support the caring ministries of Saint John’s Anglican Church throughout the year.
However, we particularly focus our efforts during the Advent and Christmas season for Blue Cross Emergency Relief. This year continues our cherished tradition, and we are excited to make a positive impact together.
Our students really enjoy the Christmas-themed out-of-uniform day. By turning it into a food drive, we help them understand the importance of celebrating Christmas with empathy, generosity, and kindness.
MVAC is an inclusive educational environment for every student regardless of race, colour, religion or sexual and gender orientation. We encourage everyone to enter Christmas with an open heart for those who may be alone or have different experiences.
MVAC is a welcoming and enjoyable setting. I will always look back on my time at MVAC with fond memories.
From our MVAC community to yours, we wish you peace, happiness and hope this Christmas.
Have you noticed that all around us we are faced with uncertainties?
Rising costs of living, the housing crisis, wars and rumours of wars, family violence, mental health epidemics, instability and fear.
The Anglican Church of Australia believes that Jesus is our hope in an uncertain world and it wants to share that hope with others.
Imagine every Anglican Church in Australia, in every town and suburb, city and community, all working in the same season to proclaim hope in an uncertain world.
This season is called Hope25
Hope25 aims to unite parishes across Australia in a focused season of sharing hope in Jesus between Easter and Pentecost in 2025.
The project encourages intentional community outreach, offering resources, training and events to support parishes in engaging their communities with messages of faith, hope, and resilience.
Across Newcastle Anglican churches, plans are already underway for this intentional season of sharing hope in Jesus.
Parishes have been encouraged to use the build up to Hope25 as a time to organise teams, where
ideas can be brainstormed and shared.
It has been encouraging to see the ideas parishes have for promoting Hope25 and sharing hope in Jesus.
There have been ideas around invitational ministry, community outreach events such as markets and community picnic days, using op shops as opportunities to share hope in Jesus, and sermon series reflections.
Clergy at Newcastle Anglican have also been preparing for the season, with a local Hope25 team presenting workshops at Synod and the Clergy Conference.
During Lent 2025, Anglican churches across Australia, including those in Newcastle, are encouraged to engage with the Hope25 Lent study.
This contains 47 reflections on hope in Jesus from Australian bishops, with accompanying reflections.
An amalgamation between four parishes is the first of its kind within Newcastle Anglican.
And, eight months after its launch, the Upper Hunter Minster – a partnership between Muswellbrook, Denman, Murrurundi and Merriwa parishes – is flourishing.
“We are the first minster in the Newcastle diocese and, from what we know, in Australia,” Rector of Muswellbrook and Incumbent of the Upper Hunter Minster Parishes, Reverend Angela Peverell, said.
“There are minsters in the United States [Episcopal Church] and United Kingdom [Church of England], but we are unique as far as we can ascertain.”
The Upper Hunter Minster was launched at St Alban’s, Muswellbrook, earlier this year.
It currently has two stipendiary priests based in Muswellbrook and Denman, two non-stipendiary priests in Murrurundi and Merriwa, and a growing team of licenced lay ministers.
The minster is overseen by a council, which consists of the incumbent, clergy, three wardens from each parish, various appointed roles such as a safe ministry officer, and the regional bishop.
It has reduced the burden on non-stipendiary priests, lay leaders and other church volunteers through the centralisation of worship resources, parish and minister communications, safe ministry, property and financial management, and funding for major projects.
Despite sharing resources and working as a combined minster council, each parish continues to hold full status and maintains its own voice at Synod.
Reverend Angela said the collaboration could help grow ministries and missions in the Upper Hunter.
“The minster is a work in progress, but we have come a long way,” she said.
“This is due to building strong team relationships and the support of our bishops, especially Bishop Sonia – our regional bishop.”
A memorial plaque that shares the importance of God’s love has been unveiled at the Parish of Gresford Paterson.
In 2019, the then parish secretary of Gresford/ Paterson discovered that the church did not acknowledge certain members of the community when they passed away.
It was brought to Parish Council, which agreed some sort of acknowledgement needed to be made to highlight these people existed, were precious to God, and the church had failed in their care of the families impacted.
The parish decided to host a service and place a plaque at Gresford.
Bishop Sonia recently joined parishioners to bless the plaque before it was placed in St Anne’s Cemetery.
The plaque reads:
In remembrance of those whom the church did not embrace nor recognise as precious to God. We acknowledge those buried outside consecrated ground in the Gresford/Paterson parish, as children of God, important and valued.
May light perpetually shine on them and may they rest in God’s loving presence forever.’
“I will never turn away anyone who comes to me” JOHN 6.37.
Priest in Local Mission at the Parish of Gresford Paterson, Reverend Mary Horn, said the plaque acknowledged the wrongs of the past.
“We know the attitude of society at the time was that you forget about what has happened and you move on,” she said.
“It has been recognised that the ways of the past were wrong. Every life is valuable, precious to God and impacts on the lives of others – no matter how short.
“This has, at last, been recognised.”
Wonderful community spirit was on display for the 152nd anniversary of St Mark’s Anglican Church, Mitchells Island.
The historic church was at capacity as visitors came from near and far to enjoy the celebrations.
Bishop Charlie led the service, which was followed by a picnic lunch and entertainment.
St Mark’s Anglican Church, located near Taree,
was commissioned in 1872 and was originally known as the Scotts Creek Church.
It was the first and only church on Mitchells Island.
The cemetery has a memorial to the men of Mitchells Island who lost their lives during World War I and II.
Congratulations to the parish and local community on this milestone.
The Anglican Church of Australia’s campaign went across the 16 Days of Activism against Gender-Based Violence, from 24 November (ahead of International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women) to 10 December (Human Rights Day).
The campaign’s repeated tagline, “You may have heard it said…”, echoes Jesus’ words, and contrasts harmful attitudes with healthier ones.
It included the following example:
“You may have heard it said that a man has the right to control his partner. However, Jesus repeatedly challenged the unjust treatment of others and taught that both men and women are created equally in God’s image. An image bearer of God is to be respected.”
The initiative reflects the church’s commitment to preventing and addressing domestic and family violence, both for its members and the broader community.
Newcastle Anglican has a scripture brochure on Domestic and Family Abuse (DFA) and what the Bible really says about it.
Beryl Pasfield has spent the past 18 years as a treasured resident at Anglican Care’s Storm Village.
In November, Beryl celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends, and staff.
Beryl was born and raised in Cessnock alongside her brother and two sisters.
After school, she studied dance for six years in Newcastle. This took place during the Second World War, and Beryl had to travel by train on her own late at night.
This frightened her, so she eventually told her mother she would not continue and started dressmaking instead.
Beryl’s new role kept her so busy that she only had free time on weekends, where she would go swimming at the local pool.
She later married James Pasfield; the couple had two daughters (Fay, now deceased, and June) during their 19 years of wedlock. James was sadly
killed in a mining accident.
Following his death, Beryl met and married Ronald Pasfield.
With this marriage, she gained three stepsons. Ronald had served in the infantry during the Second World War until he became a POW, luckily surviving the notorious Changi War Camp.
Beryl and Ronald moved from Cessnock to Wangi Wangi, where they lived for many years.
She was a very keen vegetable gardener and took great pride in the quality of her homegrown produce.
They then moved to Wingham in 1997 to be closer to her daughter, June.
Between them, they had nine grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.
Following Ronald’s death, Beryl moved into Storm Village in 2006 and has remained there ever since.
CA Brown celebrated two residents reaching their 102nd birthdays in the same week.
The beautiful Dorothy (pictured top left) was treated to a special cake, flowers and gifts from family.
Dorothy said she was overwhelmed with all the attention.
“I’m very lucky to live here with all the lovely staff around me and the good friends I have made,” she said.
Two days later, the lovely Joyce (pictured bottom left) joined her in reaching the milestone.
Joyce spends her days being very active. She enjoys walking around the facility and joining in with the exercise groups.
She also loves playing Bingo and whiteboard games.
There was plenty of horsing around on Melbourne Cup day as residents and staff dressed up and enjoyed a few laughs.
Take a look at some of the action from a few of our sites, including Kilpatrick Court, CA Brown, Jesmond Grove, and McIntosh Court.
There were spooky scenes at a number of Anglican Care facilities for Halloween.
Residents and staff got into the spirit by dressing up as witches, pumpkins, and other scary characters.
Kilpatrick Court had a fun afternoon with plenty of laughs and trick or treats, while Warnervale Gardens enjoyed a delicious Halloween lunch.
DECEMBER 24
CHRISTMAS EVE
Family Service
Nine Lessons and Carols Christmas Concertos ‘Midnight Mass’
DECEMBER 25
CHRISTMAS DAY
5:00PM 7:30PM 10:00PM 10:30PM 7:00AM 9:00AM
Holy Communion
Festal Mass for Christmas