MURCHISON PRESBYTERIAN UNITING CHURCH

From 1859 the Rev. A. McNicol was the first Presbyterian minister at Rushworth, travelling to Murchison and to Whroo to conduct services there. A building made of slab walls and a shingle roof was built in Murchison as the church, close to where the present-day Uniting Church stands now. The Presbyterian congregation used the building for social gatherings and a day school as well.

After Rev. McNicol moved to Wallan in 1861, Murchison was without a long-term Minister and by 1870 the Presbyterian community worshipped with the United Methodist Free Church, swelling the numbers there considerably.

The Methodist minister was Rev. T.B. Swift at that time. ln 1873 Rev. Swift fell out of favour with the Methodist Elders and a move was afoot to transfer him to another area. However, the Presbyterian Church reformed and approached Rev. Swift to minister to the Presbyterians and he accepted the position, much to the disapproval of the Methodists!

By October 1876, the building of the brick church commenced, designed by notable architect Charles Webb. William Brown, the town’s saddler and active community member laid the foundation stone in November 1877. In April 1878 the church building was completed and officially opened by Rev. James Nish, clerk of the General Assembly.

Rev. Swift proved a popular minister and when he moved on in 1882, he was presented with a farewell gift of 200 sovereigns, a very large amount of money at the time. During the years he cared for the Presbyterian flock in Murchison, he also established churches at Tatura and at Mooroopna. He was replaced by Rev. William Matthew and then after two years, Murchison became attached to Tatura where Rev. Chambers was the minister. By 1901 Murchison and Goulburn Weir joined together to become a distinct charge.

The Presbyterian Manse was built at No. 3 Stevenson Street in 1902 and the weatherboard hall constructed next to the church in 1926.

In June 1977 the Presbyterian Church at Murchison became part of the Uniting Church. Rev. W. Higgins was inducted as the first Uniting Church minister and moved into the new manse which had been built in Meteorite Street.

The current minister, Rev. Brian Spencer, lives on his own property out of Colbinabbin.

The Parish, known as Waranga Uniting Churches, now consists of preaching places in Colbinabbin, Rushworth, Tatura, and Murchison.

Sadly, the Stanhope, Goulburn Weir and Toolamba buildings have closed, and congregation members now join with Rushworth, Murchison, and Tatura.

Today, to keep up with modern technology, the church services are presented via Zoom to each congregation from the host church which rotates around the parish weekly. These services are also viewed online by folk who live outside the Parish.

- Kay Ball

Recipes

CWA RECIPE BANANA & CHICKEN CURRY

500g chicken fillets cut into bite size pieces

1 tablespoon butter

2 tablespoons plain flour

2 onions cut into wedges

2 cups chicken stock

Ground pepper to taste 1 cup sultanas

2 apples, grated

1 tablespoon lemon juice

2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 or 2 tablespoons curry powder

2 bay leaves ½ teaspoon turmeric

5 bananas sliced ½ cup thickened cream

Melt butter and cook chicken 2 to 3 minutes. Remove from pan.

Add extra butter and onions, cook 1 minute.

Add flour to pan and mix well.

Gradually pour in chicken stock, stirring continually.

Add the remaining ingredients except bananas and cream, cover and simmer for 10 mins.

Simmer uncovered for a further 5 mins. Stir in bananas and cream and heat for 3 minutes.

Serve with rice.

Tatura Presbyterian Church

Minister: Kalpan Vasa Worship Services

Tatura 10:30 am

Rushworth 9:00 am.

Weekly Bible study and Fellowship Groups

Contact 0477 241 042

All Saints Tatura

Anglican Church

Minister: Rev. Simba Musvamhiri

Family Worship Service

Including Little Saints Children’s Program

Sundays at 9.30am

Contact 0497 597 127 www.allsaintstatura.org.au

Tatura Uniting Church

“Olive & Vine”

115 Hogan Street, Tatura

Minister: Brian Spencer 0400 274 482 Service 9.30am every Sunday.

May 7 Rev B Spencer zoom from Colbinabbin

Communion/McTaggart plaque.

May 14 Rev B Spencer zoom from Murchison.

May 21 Gereldine Leonard zoom from Rushworth.

May 28 Rev B Spencer Tatura Communion/Pentecost

June 4 Rev B Spencer zoom from Colbinabbin.

See Waranga Uniting Churches Web site for Zoom links

Sacred Heart Church Tatura

Minister: Rev Fr John Paul Pasala

Worship Services: Weekends

Saturday 6pm (1st & 3rd of the month)

Sunday 10.30am

Weekdays

Wednesday 9.15am & Friday 9.15am

Reconciliation:

1st Saturday of the month at 11.30am

Contact: Ph. 5824 1049

Email: Tatura@cdos.org.au www.sacredheartparishtatura.com.au

Generations Church Tatura

Senior Pastor: Ps Jeremy Burr 10am Service

03 58243240

295 Dhurringile Rd www.generations.org.au

Tatura Lions Club

The Lions Club of Tatura would like to thank our community for their generous donations to the Good Friday appeal.

A total of $9,927.00 was collected.

A big thank you to all those who collected for us:

Tatura CFA

Tatura SES

Tracy

Lyn Brontë

Also, to those who used the QR code to donate. Thanks also to all the businesses in Tatura who had had collection tins in their shops over the past year. Well done!

To Hill Top Golf club for running their golf day on Friday and raising $1,101 and for the use of the club for all our counting of monies!

Thankyou IGA for allowing us to run a successful Easter Raffle.

Winners were:

1st Prize Easter Eggs - Grant W

2nd Prize Drone - Jenny S

3rd Prize Voucher - Kryn C

Thanks also to the businesses who donated prizes for the raffle.

Hopefully next year we will be able to resume the street collections as in past years. Anyone willing to help please contact a Lions member. We look forward to next year’s Good Friday appeal. Any suggestions on how we can get more funds next year would be appreciated.

Furphy Literary Awards

Write your Furphy Literary Awards entry these school holidays.

Greater Shepparton City Council, in partnership with the Furphy Foundation, La Trobe University and the GV Library Group, would like to remind young people that now is the perfect time to write and submit a story for the 2023 Furphy Literary Awards.

Entries are open for the four youth categories, which are made up of Junior Short Story, Junior Poetry for writers 12 and under, Youth Short Story and Youth Poetry for writers aged 13 to 17 years.

Greater Shepparton City Council Mayor, Councillor Shane Sali, encouraged writers to use the school holidays to develop and refine their stories.

“The school holidays are a great time to work on your entry for the Furphy Literary Awards. There are options to submit a short story or poetry piece in both the Junior and Youth categories,” he said. “As the saying goes, everyone can write at least one good story. The Awards are a great way for our local young people to express their creativity, individuality, and voices.”

Each category has a first-place prize of $300, followed by second of $100 and third of $50. Entries close on Wednesday, May 31 at 11.59pm. For more information on the awards and who is eligible to enter, please visit http://www.furphyliteraryaward.com. au/junioryouth

Quote Of The Month

The quote this month is from Ralph Waldo Emerson, an American philosopher and poet who lived in the mid-19th century.

“What is success?

To laugh often and much; to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; to earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; to appreciate the beauty; to find the best in others; to leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded!”