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Legislative Council - Fifty-Second Parliament, First Session (52-1)
2010-06-30 Daily Xml
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SOUTHERN GATEWAY COMMUNITY CHURCH

The Hon. R.L. BROKENSHIRE (15:40): It gives me pleasure to put on the public record through the Hansard my appreciation of the opportunity last Saturday afternoon to be one of the guests at the Southern Gateway Community Church at Victor Harbor for the dedication of their new church building and other facilities.

I want to commend Pastor Rob Moores, his wife, Maureen, and all the dedicated members of the congregation on the effort they have put in not only to the church but also to the wider community. For many years, the history of the Southern Gateway Community Church was that they rented school facilities on Sundays to conduct their services. Unlike some sectors of the church—although all are struggling to have enough money to do what they need to do—Southern Gateway Community Church started with very little financial support. They have now managed to purchase a property that allows for a lot of expansion in the future.

It was a pretty derelict property, with what appeared to be about three classrooms bolted together and some very ordinary sheds at the back. With the great work of the congregation and others supporting the church, they managed virtually to strip it completely and turn it into something that is a very modern, practical building facility that will be fantastic not only for members of the Southern Gateway Community Church but also for other organisations, particularly those involving young people looking for a place to meet in the Victor Harbor area.

The Southern Gateway Community Church is a very vibrant church, and I was pleased to meet many of the congregation on Saturday afternoon. They focus particularly on young people, with Pastor Rob Moores' wife, Maureen, being a longstanding chaplain at the Victor Harbor Primary School. Having friends who teach there, I know how much they value her dedicated work. In fact, her chaplaincy in Victor Harbor is very much valued by the teachers throughout all the schools, public and private.

I had occasion to speak at a fundraiser at the Lutheran Church several years ago. It was absolutely packed and included a number of teachers who were prepared to support the fundraising for the chaplaincy program. It was great to see two of the principals whom I have worked with over the years attending the service on Saturday to recognise the great work done by the Southern Gateway Community Church, particularly by Pastor Rob Moores and his wife, Maureen.

Another thing I found exceptional was that the church was able to buy and build this facility with a minimum amount of debt and turn it into a significant financial asset that will give strength to the church going forward. The Southern Gateway Community Church, like many of the churches in the Victor Harbor area, does a lot of work with young people. They are very generous with the way they go about direct support and in-kind support for the community right along the seafront towns of Port Elliot, Middleton, Victor Harbor and the rural surrounding districts. They are also committed to assisting the community more broadly in South Australia and have a focus on some national projects. I was also pleased that Pastor Rob indicated that he wanted to see his church grow in its outreach work to some less fortunate nations overseas, far from our fortunate nation of Australia.

With those few remarks, I congratulate Pastor Rob and Maureen Moores, his fantastic wife, and all the community in that congregation who have been so diligent and committed to this project. It is a success story and one that will pay enormous beneficial dividends to a large number of people in the Victor Harbor area and surrounds.

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