School competition benefits homeless

Bundaberg Christian College primary students last week presented local charity
Global Care with approximately 1150 cans of food as part of a inter class challenge set up to
get them thinking about others.
During their school assembly, College Principal Mr Paul Sterling congratulated the students on the initiative and thanked the parents for purchasing the cans.
“I am incredibly proud of the efforts" he said, "in providing this gift to families in need and in doing so, reflecting the school values of serving others.”

Yale Morgan, Chairman of Global Care Bundaberg, (a ministry of Citicoast Church) was delighted to be able to attend the school along with two of Global Care’s volunteers to accept the donation and told the students that their work in providing these cans will go a long way towards Global Care helping families who are doing it tough.

“These cans will provide about a month’s worth of food for families that desperately need help and allows us to put food in
their bellies and at the same time share God’s love with them.”


School Chaplain, Kelli Ussher explained that the can drive is an annual activity to inspire the
students to not only have some friendly competition amongst their classes but to also give
them an opportunity to make a difference in their community.

“From the school’s perspective, this is part of our missions program. We’re teaching the junior school students that they can make a difference to others not so fortunate” she said. “Each of our classes are
challenged to collect the most cans with the promise of a pizza party for the class that collects
the most. That’s part of the fun. But then the children are also learning about serving and
helping each other and their community. We get them thinking about how fortunate we are to
have food to eat, while others may not have that luxury.”

The BCC Can drive has happened third term for the last 7 years. The cans will be put into
food hampers and distributed locally by Global Care.

Kepnock celebrates Scouting

Cub Scouts Kaidyn Belford & Cooper Mylrea with Chief Commissioner Daryl Scott

Kepnock Scouts were excited tonight to welcome Chief Commissioner of Scouts in Queensland, Mr Daryl Scott to Bundaberg.

Mr Scott was among a number of special guests who attended the Annual Report Presentation as Kepnock looked back over the year and shared with parents and friends what they’ve achieved.
Some of the highlights were camps, hikes and participating in the pageant of lights. 

Group Leader, Brad Mylrea, said his personal highlights were the way the local community rallied to help rebuild the scout den after a tree half destroyed it, and, the opportunity to invite Scouts from drought affected parts of the state to Bundaberg for a week of activities that provided a much needed mental health boost.

When asked to say a few words, the Chief Commissioner shared a little about what is happening at a state level of scouting, including that Scouts QLD is undergoing its first program overhaul since 1972. “40 plus years since our last major program overhaul, we are putting an emphasis on streamlining skills and empowering our youth members to achieve more” Mr Scott told the gathering. “One of the elements of the new program is the Outdoor Adventure Skills. This is exciting because it allows our Scouts - no matter their age - to pursue outdoor adventures that they are passionate about and challenge themselves in new and exciting ways.”

Cr Judy Peters investigates some campfire cooking at Kepnock ARP

The main message “The Chief” left was that no matter what programs Scouting delivers or how they do it; the fundamental aim of Scouting remains: to encourage the physical, intellectual, emotional, social and spiritual development of young people so that they take a constructive place in society as responsible citizens and as members of their local, national and international communities.

Jesus the Game Changer

Karl Faase is a well known name in Christian media circles thanks to his daily devotional “The Daily Nudge” aired on radio stations around the country. He was the guest of the Bundaberg Minister’s Association for a combined church service to support SU Chaplains in February and also unpacked some of the findings of the Faith and Belief Survey 2017 in a small session for local Chaplains and ministers.

Karl’s message on Sunday night was centred around the fact that the life and teaching of Jesus is not only relevant today, but in fact changed the entire world.

“Jesus is a game changer in human society” Karl explains. “The life and teaching of Jesus has given Western Democracies the foundational values that they value today. For example, Jesus championed the idea that not only does every person matter and have dignity before God; but Jesus and his followers actually modelled this by caring for people in their community. That care has become a general part of community, but it wasn’t in place before Jesus showed how to do it.”

Karl has been speaking in churches for over 30 years and whenever he comes to a new place (like Bundaberg) he hopes he brings a perspective of the broader Australian Church and the wider international Christian community that he connects with. A wider look at what the church is doing and a wider look at the influence of the teaching of Jesus across the world.

“The life and teaching of Jesus really did change the world” he says. “But it changed the world one person at a time. Abolitionists like William Wilberforce, or a party boy academic like Augustine or of more modern times, Australian Christian Caine who is bringing women out of sexual slavery all around the world. All of those lives were individually shifted by the person and teaching of Jesus.”

Karl Faase has produced numerous devotional series and his latest “Jesus: The Game Changer” is a 10 part series that looks at the influence of Jesus across the world. To find out more check out https://ssl.olivetreemedia.com.au/jesus-the-game-changer/

Stories of faith in the Australian Outback

Colin Buchanan is a former ABC TV Play School host, Christian Children's songwriter and entertainer, Country music performer and award winning songwriter.

In fact in Colin's own words "I've had more hits and sales as a backroom writer than I ever had as an artist!"

His latest Country Music release is an album titled "Calvary Road" where he shares stories of people, places and the intersection of faith from across the broad expanses of Australia.

He recently visited Maryborough QLD, performing songs from his new album and sharing his heart, his story and his humour with the audience.

Colin begins the conversation by explaining more about the new album "Calvary Road" and its origins.

                                                   

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Rough Cut Men

In the movie industry, a rough cut is the raw, first edition of a movie. It provides an idea of what the finished product will look like.

(L-R) David and Joni Dusek with Samantha and Pastor Wayne George

As part of a ministry of reaching out to Christian men, American speaker and author David Dusek travels the world encouraging men to face head on the issues they deal with and know and trust in a God who believes in failure but also believes in second chances.

David is the Executive Director and founder of Rough Cut Men's ministries from Sarasota Florida.

He spoke at a Rough Cut Men's conference in Bundaberg, Queensland in September 2017 and he shared what was behind the name Rough Cut and what exactly these Men's events he runs are all about.

Chaplains Spin Out at fundraiser

Sweat, exercise bikes, loud music and cheering. These things don’t sound like your typical Chaplaincy activity….or do they?

In late May, Chaplains across Bundaberg celebrated Chaplaincy Week. A week to recognise the work of chaplains in the local State Schools and for Chaplains to thank their school and community for continuing to support them supporting our young people.

But it was Saturday afternoon of May 20^th where a highly physical culmination of all things Chaplaincy came to a head at the Quinn St YMCA. “Spin Off” saw teams of staff and students face off on stationary exercise bikes for 30 minutes to be the winner of time and distance.

Teams consist of 5 to 10 competitors who will ‘push the pedals to the max’ over a 30 minute period. The overall aim is to be the team who pedals the most kilometres. This event also raises the profile of school chaplaincy and provides an effective fundraising vehicle for local state schools and their communities to support their chaplain.

Bargara State School Chaplain Tanya McKee was one of the organisers and loves the way the students really throw themselves into this event. “They turn up in droves to lunchtime training each week in the couple of weeks prior to the Spin Off and they have lots of fun” she said. But the biggest thing for the competitors isn’t just the bike riding or the training. 

“The kids are here to have a good time, but they’re really here to support the Chaplains. They’re not getting anything out of doing it, other than they know they’ve helped out Chaplaincy in their school” Chappy Tanya explained.

The overall winners of this fundraiser were Chaplains of course, but the schools also got to take home bragging rights. 

In the Primary School competition, Bargara Bandits won the day by riding 17.4 Kilometres in the 30 minute time frame. They beat Woongarra, East, Burnett Heads, Branyan Rd, Norville, Central, South and Kalkie. In the open section; both high school students and staff competed against each other and it was a staff team from East that was triumphant riding 19.3km narrowly defeating South staff who rode 19.1, Bundy High students & staff, Norville and Kalkie staff.

Bundaberg East State School staff team are presented with the winners trophy by Chaplain Tanya McKee

Flipper's Adventures with Samuel

Wow what a busy few days I have had with Samuel and his family! We spent a lot of time playing and had some interesting adventures.

Samuel's Daddy was getting some photos ready for a competition at the Bundaberg Show and we got to help! We saw what has to happen at the shop they print photos at and then got to come back the next day to collect them and take them to another shop to prepare them for the Show.


We also got to see part of the town being turned purple!! The water in the fountain in the middle of the town didn't look like the water I was used to, it was purple! Samuel's Daddy told us it was all about something called Relay for Life which raises money to help people who are sick with cancer.


Another adventure we got to have was learning about recycling. We took plastic bags to a special bin at the supermarket where they will be taken away to be turned into other things. I liked this as it means they don't end up in the ocean where they can hurt my friends!


I'm learning lots on my adventures. I even learnt where the postie takes parcels to be collected. They call it a mail delivery centre. I got to sit at the window and watched as Samuel's Daddy talked to the postman about his parcel. It was very big inside and fascinating to see all the busy Australia Post workers doing their jobs.

I've had some fun days with Samuel and his family, but I must admit my favourite part was all the cuddles I got from Samuel and his little sister Anastasia.

Now its time to come back to Scallywags and find out where I will be going next and who will have adventures with me. I wonder if they will come with extra cuddles too???

 Flipper 

More than Dream

For decades David MacGregor has expressed his faith and theology through music and songwriting alongside living out his call to serve God as a minister in the Uniting Church in Australia.

He has produced many albums to accompany his music scores and songbooks but never before has this meant a professional recording.

So why wait so long and what does it look like to pull together the right mix of song choices and the right musicians for a project like this?

David was happy to discuss his passion and answered these questions and more following the launch of his album (by QLD Moderator Rev Dave Baker) on Saturday February 18 at the Wellers Hill Tarragindi Uniting Church in southern Brisbane.

Anglican Primate outlines 2017 priorities

The Anglican Primate of Australia outlined his 4 key priorities on a recent visit to regional Queensland.

Archbishop Philip Freier stopped by his former parish of Bundaberg during his summer vacation; preaching and presiding at two morning Eucharists and conducting a baptism.

He addressed parishioners and visitors over morning tea.

Among his priorities he identified the contraction of rural Australia, being present in large urban areas, growth of multiculturalism and renewal of Christian leadership as areas he wants to focus on this year.

Matt's Meanderings 2015/16

Welcome to 2017. I hope your Christmas was spent reflecting on life, family and that Jesus is the reason for the Season. We celebrated at our new home in Bundaberg hosting my family on Christmas Day and Sonya’s on Boxing Day.

Due to some busy moments 12 months ago, we just never managed to get our annual letter written and sent out. So before I recap 2016, let me pick out the major happenings of 2015. It started with a couple of family outings – firstly to the Ipswich Rail Museum and then a Sunshine Coast holiday visiting Sonya’s parents, while also taking the kids to Aussie World and Maleny Dairies.

Fist day of school 2015

Zachary had his 5^th birthday on his very first day at school in Prep, and Alexandra was in grade 1, both at Sunnybank State School. Throughout the year we watched the 2 older kids enjoy school life, Zachary especially being excited to finally be at school, often being up, dressed and ready hours before everyone else! He loved prep and got great marks that reflected his love of learning and having to know everything, picking up reading quickly and easily.  He is a naturally good reader and speller, but struggles with his writing being neat because of fine motor movements.

Alexandra (turned 7 in July) continued with Girls Brigade in 2015, enjoying the weekly social and spiritual aspects. Throughout the year,

Tuesday night was something she looked forward to, as well as the occasional church parade. She makes friends easily (especially at school) and attended several grade 1 birthday parties throughout the year. One point that frustrates her parents though is her constant “go slow”. She’s slow to get dressed, to get packed for school or anything for that matter, and is usually the last person out the door. 

Samuel (turned 2 in Jan) and Anastasia (<1) were both at home with Sonya at the start of the year while she was still on maternity leave, but later in the year when she returned to work Anastasia joined Samuel in attending and enjoying family daycare twice a week with our daycare mum Maria. Sonya joined a gym which also allowed the younger ones to attend a crèche at the gym for an hour a couple of days a week. Samuel especially loved this and would always refer to it as “my crèche” whenever driving past the big red building. He also had a habit of dropping syllables off the start of words and talking in the third person. He has a lively personality, and talks constantly.

12/3/15

29/3/15

 We watched Anastasia grow into a confidant toddler throughout 2015, often trying her hardest to get around after her older siblings. By October, she was up and walking and very much mobile! She has a fairly quiet manner about her and also loves the social aspects of family daycare and crèche.

30/9/15

25/7/15

17/8/15

29/8/15

 

7/11/15

Sonya returned to part time work in July 2015, continuing to work for S&N Pathology in their lab at Greenslopes Hospital. She enjoyed her 9 days a fortnight and relished the opportunity to change scenery and be more than just mum for a while. In December, Sonya had 2 surgeries within 10 days of each other. Both left her with significant recovery time, so thanks again to the grandparents, our kids had a Summer Holiday while Mummy recovered and Daddy played nurse to her and Soxy the cat (who had a tooth infection and his own operation at the same time).
It was a busy time, so the annual letter did not get written…

Christmas Family Photo 2015

As for me in 2015, I continued my journey as a Student Minister in the Uniting Church. I entered field placement at Wellington Point UCA mid-year, but due to complicated reasons by the end of the year the college had made a recommendation to terminate my candidature.  My regional council offered an alternative short-term placement in the 2016 new year that came with regular professional supervision sessions to assist me in addressing some of the inadequacies that had been identified by my field supervisor and the college.

Outside of my ministry, I continued to work for Vision Radio, although I resigned as a full-time staff member at the end of August to do field. They offered me the occasional shift to “keep my hand in” which also allowed me to still earn some sort of income. I undertook extra study doing a Cert IV in Pastoral Care and I finally completed my bachelor of theology and in May got to wear the gown and mortarboard and walk across the stage to formally “graduate”.

On that note, we leave behind the year 2015 and launch into what 2016 looked like for the Gees family.

Firstly, lets jump to the biggest news and the reason why this letter is coming to you from Bundaberg. If you don’t have facebook and haven’t heard through the grapevine... in October, the Gees family pulled up stumps from their Drewvale home of 3 years and trekked back to Bundaberg! Sonya and I have bought our first house in the suburb of Kepnock and the kids are settling in to their new life.

This all came about when Sonya was told that there was a full-time position opening in the Bundaberg S&N Lab which would allow a work transfer for her. And although her original plans were not to go back to full time work until the kids were all in school, she felt strongly that this was an opportunity not to be passed over. So in late August she had an interview in Bundy, looked at some houses while she was there, and within 36hrs had had the interview, had a successful job offer, and signed a contract on a house, and we had moved in by 30 days later.

Throughout the year we have enjoyed a number of great family adventures. In January while Sonya recovered from her surgeries, I spent 2 ½ weeks in Bundaberg with all 4 kids. They loved hanging out at the beach, visiting the zoo, patting baby animals and playing with their cousins. 

We visited Caloundra in January for Nana (Sonya’s Mum)’s 60^th Birthday (which was the first time the kids had seen their mother in person in about 5 weeks), took in the sights of helicopters and planes at the Brisbane RACQ Careflight open day in February, went camping at Jondaryan woolshed over Easter, saw the Watoto Children’s Choir perform at Ipswich in April, cheered on Zachary at 2 soapbox derbies and visited the Mt Gravatt show (just to name a few).

Anzac Day 2016, Wynnum

Alexandra (8) completed grade 2 in 2016. Throughout the year we’ve had challenges keeping her focused on school, but it is something she loves. She gets good marks, is very social and loved her teacher and class at Sunnybank. Despite the change of schools and geography, she continues to thrive in schoolwork at Bundaberg East and was awarded a Principal’s award for outstanding work. Alexandra also had her 3^rd year in Girls Brigade. She has enjoyed the spiritual input GB offers but also the opportunity to build friendships with girls her own age.
Her company doesn’t do many extra-curricular activities but throughout the year she has enjoyed the normal routine of company nights and loved pyjama party movie nights, water play, Mother's and Father's nights and the occasional church parade. She participated in a combined Boys and Girls brigade Teddy Bears Picnic and marched at the Wynnum Anzac Day Parade. Tuesday night was always a highlight for her, just often a struggle to get her moving! There were tears as she left behind her GB friends at the end of third term due to the move.

First day of school 2016

Zachary celebrated his 6^th birthday on the first day of school for grade 1 (so he is nearly 7 now).  He joined Boys Brigade at the beginning of the school year. He had been itching to enjoy the same comradery and activity that he has seen his sister enjoy and found it with the 45^th Brisbane company. His personality of loving life, laughter and anything that involves a hands on activity lent well to Boys Brigade. He couldn’t wait every week to take part in the activities and learn more about what BB is all about. The company activities outside of regular Friday nights included church parades, battalion swimming carnival, a battalion and State soapbox derby (he was awarded first in his age group at the battalion derby and 3^rd overall at the state comp), teddy bear's picnic and Anzac Day parade at Wynnum. He was also quite sad at having to leave it all behind when we moved to Bundaberg, where there are no brigades at all.

At school, Zachary has also found his thirst for learning met. He loves everything about school and
has shown excellence especially in reading and maths but still does well in all his subjects. He wants to know everything, loves to help and is a very hands on learner.

Samuel just turned 4 on the 14^th and what a personality this kid has. He never stops talking (often loudly), he has a smile that disarms, a natural curiosity and loads of energy. Samuel has spent the majority of the year attending family day care 2 days a week (up until our move) and loves being with Maria and her extended family. He is also a natural story teller, even to the point of making up a pretend friend (“my friend Yoga”) which we think is to compete with the stories his older siblings have of school and brigade friends. Often Yoga pops up at the most unusual moments, complete with a backstory all sorted out in his active imagination. Its quite funny. He is however missing Brisbane and that social aspect, often asking when we can go back to our old house and to Maria. He will start Kindy this year and hopefully this will assist him in feeling more “at home” in Bundaberg.

Anastasia turned 2 on September 11^th and her personality is now shining through. She is charming, assertive, funny, a bit of a risk taker and boy does she has a temper! She loves to climb, enjoys playing with dolls and bears, likes singing and dancing to certain things and knows what triggers to pull on and how to get your attention when she feels like she is being ignored. She is relatively quiet (understanding a lot more than she possibly lets on) but very  expressive and knows how to get her message across, usually getting what she wants (the youngest child, lol).   She calls her siblings by name (Alla, Zackee, yamyool) and wants to be involved in nearly everything they do. She also spent the majority of the year with 2 days a week family day care and loved Maria and the children she played with each day. She too is enrolled to start daycare along with Samuel at kindy.

As mentioned earlier, Sonya spent the majority of December/January recovering from surgery. Outside of this, she continued to work for S&N Pathology in the Greenslopes Hospital Lab, working every Monday and Friday and every second weekend on a permanent late shift. She also continued in her role as “management” at home – coordinating everyone, keeping the house running and looking after two little people while their siblings were at school. She decided she needed a hobby mid year, and so she started up a fish tank, which very quickly grew to the point that we had 4 fish tank setups and a turtle tank as well.  These of course all had to be moved with us only a few months after starting up, but she decided that we would only be re-setting up 3 fish tanks in Bundaberg, along with the turtle tank, and Soxy her 12 year old cat, as we had also gained a small fish pond that came with the house.

Sonya took an opportunity in August to do some professional development attending a work conference in Sydney. She stayed in a fancy hotel for 2 nights, attended a conference and did absolutely no sightseeing! (typical introvert). Funnily enough though she did strike up a conversation with a fellow passenger on the plane ride home and discovered he had some friends in common with her. 

Her pet project since moving to Bundaberg has been getting her house set up (yes as she tells you…its HER house, lol). Coordinating Builders, electricians, getting quotes for this and that, making sure boxes are unpacked and things set up the way she wants, just to make the house into a home. She had some invaluable help not long after we moved up, with some great friends giving up their day (and birthday to boot) to help get the initial stages of the house set up, and unpacking done. So while I was driving a truck up and down the highway a couple of times…she had everything under control to set up ready for the kids to come to their new home. Once again the grandparents had helped as we split the kids, 2 each for a week, to allow us to finish packing, move and unpack. She loves being back at work in the Bundy lab (after 8 years in Brisbane), but admits the change of hours can be a bit challenging, as she has gone from part time to full time shifts, plus some on call.

I suppose that brings us to me. 2016 was a topsy turvy year for me in so many ways. I spent 4 great months at Broadwater Rd UCA but at the end of the time, the church decided that as much they affirmed my worship leading and preaching, they did not believe I was suitable for ministry and terminated my candidature. After over a decade of working towards this goal, my journey was over. So then what? As mentioned above, despite resigning as a full time staff member at Vision Radio in August last year, I remained as a casual. They picked up a big new contract and offered me a few shifts here and there until eventually I was on the roster 5 days a week between school hours. I loved my job, loved the friends and colleagues I had gained over the 8 years there; and was sad when it came time to say goodbye. But I haven’t cut ties completely and thanks to the wonders of modern technology, am able to still do some work remotely from my home office (in between my new role of being the house husband and primary carer for the kids). 

On a sadder note, my Grandma Gees passed away a week before Christmas (we celebrated her 90th birthday in July). Although it’s sad that she won’t be in my life any more, I know she was proud of all I had achieved and it was a privilege to be there with my mother and my uncle at the very end. A further privilege was given to me when I was asked to choose and read scripture at her funeral.

Outside of this I have managed to do a few other things this year. I attended the UCA QLD Synod, entered some photos into the Mt Gravatt Show (achieving a couple of placings), helped out again at the annual Relay for Life in Bundy and participated in Moggill UCA Day Camp as camp photographer. Alexandra and Zachary also spent the week at day camp for the first time ever and would love to do it all again.

So to wrap it all up, its been a rollercoaster ride the last 2 years and this is merely a glimpse behind the scenes. I try to share with friends and family throughout the year what we’ve been up to via social media so please look me up on facebook or Instagram and join in our journey.
Of course as we always say, if you’re ever passing through our neck of the woods, we would love to see you and catch up.

Whatever 2017 holds for any of us, I encourage you to always put your trust first in God and until the next time our paths cross in this journey called life… The Lord bless you, and keep you; The Lord make His face shine on you, And be gracious to you; The Lord lift up His countenance on you, And give you peace.’ (Numbers 6:24-26) 

Christmas family photo 2016