Historically there’s a long-standing rivalry between cultured Melbourne, Victoria and fun-loving, beautiful Sydney, New South Wales. Can you tell I grew up in Sydney? But both sides of my family have roots in Melbourne and rural Victoria, so my ministry and travel in Victoria straight after my month in Sydney was in a sense a familial homecoming.
Within a week of my arrival in Melbourne to be a temporary spiritual leader for a month, the sale of the church building was finalised. I had attended services in the building a number of times when visiting family and friends in Melbourne since my early teen years.
For now, the congregation is meeting in two rooms in a community centre, while carefully looking around for a new permanent home. A full-time minister will be starting early in 2020, after a hiatus of a few years since the congregation had a minister.
During the month I was there, the programme included weekly Bible study, two Saturday seminars, Sunday worship, some pastoral visiting, helping put out the monthly newsletter, and a presentation for the Melbourne Swedenborg Association. We also had a BBQ at a park, and dinner at a Thai restaurant. For all of these events, I worked closely with Neville Jarvis, who has very ably lead the congregation since their pastor passed on.
Neville was able to show me some of the congregation’s record books, which included entries from my mother’s side of the family. My maternal grandmother’s baptism is recorded on the top line.
The New Church in Victoria also includes a group in Ballarat, a Gold Rush era town, about 1.5 hours drive from Melbourne. After participating in a Sunday afternoon service lead by Judy Robinson, another capable leader, I joined in the potluck evening meal. I had visited this group before, so it was great to see everyone again, and meet some new people.
During all of this ministry work, which kept me plenty busy, I was also going through the last throes of preparing for my July ordination in the USA. I submitted two written assignments, started writing my mini-sermon for the Ordination ceremony, and was involved in multiple planning emails about the service, travel and other details. My month in Melbourne was definitely my busiest ministry month, and it was good to feel like a “real” pastor. It was a fitting conclusion to my ministry path in Australia, and one for which I am very appreciative.
Just have to include some photos of classic Aussie activities! Two Aussie barbecues in Melbourne – but no shrimp on these barbies! Backyard family cricket at my cousin’s home (he’s the bowler, with his grandkids at bat.) Making tea from loose leaves in a teapot with a knitted tea cosy to keep it warm.
Below you can see some of my meanderings in Victoria. There was one road trip that started with lunch with Rev. John and Mary Teed and Pam Teed north of Melbourne, whom I’ve known since age 6 and whose family goes back three generations with mine. From there to Ballarat for the church group , then to Trentham overnight at my friend Suzanne’s place. From there it was up to Majorca to visit Barrie and Edith, including a jaunt over narrow country roads in his Mini Minor that he has been nurturing along since 1967. The other road trip was to Terang to visit Susan Heldon and her son Justin, who took me down to see the popular 12 Apostles. I drove back to Melbourne from there along the Great Ocean Road, renowned for spectacular views of the coastline and tortuous hairpin curves with sheer drop-offs down to rocky beaches. Very fun but challenging driving, especially for someone who is more accustomed to driving on the right.
On the road in Victoria 
Snow in Trentham, VIC at my friend Suzie’s 
More driving through the bush in VIC 
2 llamas near Majorca, where visited Rabones 
Running 1967 Mini Minor 
My Dad’s birthplace 
Terang farmland, typical of Dad’s birthplace 
Visited with Susan and her son Justin 
I could only count 8 of the 12 Apostles 
View from the Great Ocean Rd, south VIC 
Twisty, turny but fun and scenic Great Ocean Rd 
Reminder for people like me!
This gallery shows some touristy meanderings around Melbourne. L-R, top-bottom: Melbourne lit up, with the famous “South Bank” on the left, pseudo Eiffel Tower to add to the Seine south bank feel, Melbourne Symphony Orchestra concert, the Queen sat in this chair in 1950s when opening Victoria State Parliament, inside a State Parliament chamber, Melbourne CBD from the Shrine of Remembrance, Shrine of Remembrance in which I saw records of my grandfather and great uncle’s service in WWI, two displays at a native plants nursery in the Dandenong ranges, four sculptures which Helmut and Toni took me to see in the William Ricketts Sanctuary which protects his famed indigenous rock sculptures, and finally 3 views of the South Bank of the Yarra by day with my friend Martin.
Victoria has some stunning bushland and wildlife which I enjoyed in my meanderings. In the Dandenong ranges where I stayed my last week, the gum trees are exceptionally tall and straight. I love the stringy bark gums especially. At least daily I could hear kookaburras laughing, but only managed to photograph cockatoos and a king parrot that visited my deck railing.
