Today UnitingWorld bids farewell to Associate Director for Relief and Development and the longest serving member of the team, Rev. Laurie Fitzgerald.

Laurie working with communities in South India

Laurie retires after more than 17 years working to build and foster international partnerships between the Uniting Church in Australia and overseas Church Partners. He has a long and varied history working with the Church. He originally trained as a Congregational Minister in New South Wales serving in both Sutherland and Punchbowl.

On 1 February 1993 Laurie joined the staff of the National Assembly of the Uniting Church in Australia, as Development Officer for World Mission. In this position he initiated a range of new ideas that have allowed the overseas work of the Uniting Church to grow and move from strength to strength.

World Mission later became Uniting International Mission and Uniting Church Overseas Aid (UCOA), and then UnitingWorld, where he currently serves as Associate Director for Relief and Development.

While there have been several highlights throughout Laurie’s time at UnitingWorld, one of his greatest achievements was leading the Relief and Development Unit into full accreditation with the Australian Government international development program, AusAID, in 2006.

AusAID accreditation has significantly increased the capacity of UnitingWorld to stand in solidarity with overseas partners and work towards sustainable poverty alleviation for some of the world’s most marginalised people.

Laurie has always been warmly welcomed and genuinely appreciated by our Church Partners overseas, and has been an asset to the team. We thank him for his dedication and service, and wish him an enjoyable and peaceful retirement. Mr Rob Floyd will continue to lead the Relief and Development Unit as Associate Director for Relief and Development.

IN THIS EDITION: Mother’s Day Gifts | Farewell Rev. Laurie Fitzgerald | Peacemaking in PNG | YAP Ambon Rajah Workshop | John Barr in West Papua | UnitingWorld Leads Group to Solomon Islands | Experience Volunteer in Focus | Experience Placements

Looking for a Uniting gift for Mum this Mother’s Day?

Did you know that every May, Australians spend a staggering $6.5 billion on Mother’s Day gifts? This breaks down to approximately $170 million on flowers, $94.5 million on perfume and pampering packs, and $35.3 million on chocolates – equating to just under $60 per mum.

A Gift of Love from the Everything In Common gift catalogue shows love and appreciation, but also makes a huge difference to the lives of people living in poverty.

A $60 gift could provide a family in West Papua with two pigs for income generation, school books and pencils for three students attending a community school in Zambia, or provide vital vaccinations for three entire villages in West Timor.

Mother’s Day is just around the corner on Sunday 9th May. To receive a gift card before this date, please order before Tuesday 4th May.

Gifts can be browsed and bought online at www.everythingincommon.com.au

Farewell to Rev. Laurie Fitzgerald

This month we bid farewell to Associate Director for Relief and Development and the longest standing member of the UnitingWorld team, Rev. Laurie Fitzgerald, who will retire on 30 April.

Laurie has a long history working with the Uniting Church. He originally trained as a Congregational Minister in New South Wales, serving in both Sutherland and Punchbowl.

In 1993 Laurie joined the staff of World Mission as the first Communication and Fundraising Officer, a position where he initiated a range of new ideas that allowed the overseas work of the Uniting Church to move from strength to strength.

World Mission later became Uniting International Mission and Uniting Church Overseas Aid (UCOA), and then UnitingWorld, where he currently serves as Associate Director for Relief and Development.

While his achievements in this time are numerous, one of his greatest moments was was leading the Relief and Development Unit into full accreditation with the Australian Government international development program, AusAID in 2006. This has significantly increased the capacity the Uniting Church to stand in solidarity with overseas partners and work towards sustainable poverty alleviation for some of the most marginalised people in the world.

Laurie has always been warmly welcomed and genuinely appreciated by our Church Partners overseas, and has been a real asset to UnitingWorld. We thank Laurie for his service, and wish him the best for his retirement.

Image: Laurie working with communities in South India

Peacemaking Staves Off Conflict in PNG Central Highlands

In March Associate Director for Peacemaking, Ms. Joy Balazo conducted two Peacemaking workshops in Papua New Guinea in Tari (Central Highlands) and Bougainville as part of an ongoing conflict resolution strategy for the region.

Communities in the Central Highlands region of Papua New Guinea are currently experiencing unrest resulting from a deal between the Government of Papua New Guinea and the multinational petroleum corporation Exxon Mobil.

In 2008 a historic Peace Treaty was signed between warring tribes and communities in Tari. This will help these communities to remain at peace by engaging in open dialogue through this difficult and uncertain time.

Click here to read more about Peacemaking in Tari.

Image: YAP workshop in Tari, Papua New Guinea, March 2010

YAP Builds Peace Between Muslim Communities in Ambon

This month Joy Balazo will travel to Ambon, Indonesia to facilitate an inter-tribal peace building workshop over eight days in the city of Poka. Approximately 60 Muslim tribal leaders from around Ambon are expected to attend. The leaders will engage in open dialogue, discuss the dangers of ongoing conflict, and begin working towards a peaceful future in Ambon.

While the major conflict in this area is between Christian and Muslim communities, Joy has been invited to Ambon to build peace between Muslim communities. The Peacemaking workshops bring together community leaders to train them in methods of sustainable conflict resolution. 

Click here to read more about YAP Ambon.

Rev. John Barr Engages with Church Partner in West Papua

In March Associate Director for Church Solidarity (Asia) Rev John Barr travelled to West Papua, Indonesia to meet with church leaders from the Evangelical Christian Church in the Land of Papua.

John engaged in dialogue with several senior church and government figures, including Rev Jemima Mirino-Krey (Moderator) and Drs. M. R. Kambu (Mayor) on several issues currently facing the people West Papua including education, and health care, which the church in West Papua plays a large role in providing.

The Uniting Church in Australia has been in active partnership with the church in West Papua for more than 20 years. A medical clinic has been supported through UnitingWorld and the Synod of South Australia, and UnitingWorld has facilitated numerous volunteers to undertake placements with the Church.

Click here to read John’s reflection on his trip, A Future for West Papua.

Click here to read more about our overseas Church Partners.

UnitingWorld Leads Group to Solomon Islands

This month Associate Director for Church Solidarity (Pacific) Mr Bruce Mullan will lead a group of talented individuals to work on several health initiatives that operate in partnership with UnitingWorld and the United Church in Solomon Islands.

The team includes Moderator of the Queensland Synod Rev Bruce Johnson, lead minister of Newlife Robina Uniting Church Rev Stuart Cameron, and Brisbane based audiologist and community health worker Annette Kaspar.

The group will be visiting Munda and some of the Assembly institutions in that area, before travelling to Seghe to visit the United Church’s Theological College.

Pacific Programs Coordinator from the Relief and Development Unit, Mr Bryan Cussan will also accompany the group to assess the Health Care and Capacity Building project and look towards developing the program further in the coming months.

Click here to read more about the United Church in Solomon Islands.

Click here to read more about the Health Care and Capacity Building project in the Solomon Islands.

Experience Volunteer in Focus – Ruth Sellick

Experience Volunteer Ruth Sellick is currently in Milne Bay in Papua New Guinea with Associate Director for Experience Programs Kathy Pereira.

Ruth is travelling to organise and operate a micro finance project which is facilitated and supported by UnitingWorld, the Synod of South Australia, and the United Church in Papua New Guinea.

The project involves providing small, low interest loans to women in rural PNG to enable them to establish income generating projects, such as small businesses selling food or handicrafts or raising livestock for sale at a local market.

By targeting women, this project addresses the huge gender inequalities prevalent in traditional communities. Since the project began in 2007, 217 women across 208 villages and islands have also received basic training in business management.

Ruth has retired from her background in education, finance management and consultancy and now works tirelessly with the Uniting Church to bring about sustainable transformation for the people of Milne Bay.

She is strong, motivated, dedicated and committed to make a real and lasting difference, making her an excellent candidate for this role.

Image: Ruth Sellick (right) in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea

Experience Placements

We are delighted that we are continuing to receive numerous expressions of interest in our Experience volunteer placements  to work with our overseas Church Partners.

A full list of available placements is available on the UnitingWorld website. The next round of placements will be re-listed in June.

Experience volunteer placements offer life changing opportunities to use your gifts in the service of communities who need them, and to learn from new cultures and traditions. If you think you may have the skills and passion to explore these possibilities, please contact:

Kathy Pereira
P: 02 8267 4250
E:  kathyp@unitingworld.org.au

Click here to see a full list of current placements.

UnitingWorld has heard from the Pacific Conference of Churches, Fiji, as the country braces for what is predicted to be the worst cyclone to have hit the South Pacific nation in recent history.

A nation wide curfew was in place yesterday, but has now been lifted temporarily in order to allow residents time to prepare their homes and families and gather provisions. Thousands of residents are presently taking shelter in evacuation centres.

Emergency procedures are in place, and residents of smaller outlying islands have been evacuated and moved to Fiji’s main island. Wind speeds are likely to peak at 200 km/h, resulting in widespread flooding in low lying areas.

Reports from a representative of the United Nations in Fiji indicate that Cyclone Tomas intensified overnight from a category three to a category four storm.

A gale warning is also in place for Tuvalu and Wallis and Futana.

General Secretary of the Pacific Conference of Churches Fe’iloakitau Keho Tevi is in the capital city of Suva, and has asked us to be in prayer for those at risk.

“The people of the outer islands are directly in the path of Cyclone Tomas. We pray that they may find safety and that lives are saved.

“We are especially mindful of our Moderator Bishop Qiliho and the people of Labasa, in the north of Fiji that…has wind gusts of up to 230 km per hour.

“We are all ready for the cyclone to hit within the next few hours.”

The offices of the Pacific Conference of Churches and the Methodist Church of Fiji and Rotuma have closed until the danger passes.

Please pray for those who are at risk as Cyclone Tomas continues to approach our Church Partners in Fiji.