Latest News
The Hon John Edward Delzoppo, OAM
From Bishop Richard Treloar – Anglican Bishop of Gippsland
It is with much sadness that I write with news of the death of The Hon John Delzoppo, OAM, a beloved member of our diocesan household.
John died peacefully at Andrews House in Trafalgar last night, 23 November, just days before his 93rd birthday, and a few months short of his and Beth’s 70th wedding anniversary.
John – a pharmacist by training – and Beth made a home at Neerim South where they ran the pharmacy for many years.
Together, they have made an extraordinary contribution to the life and mission of the Anglican Diocese of Gippsland, and to the wider community through local and state government.
John was a Councillor for Buln Buln Shire for some 20 years, and was first elected to the Victorian Parliament as the Member for Narracan in 1982.
From 1992 – 1996 he was Speaker of the Legislative Assembly. The citation for John’s OAM in the 2009 Queen’s Birthday Honours read: ‘For service to the Parliament of Victoria, to local government, and to the community of Neerim.’
A committed layman, John was a synod representative for the Parish of Neerim South for some 50 years, and for most of those served as Chair of Committees: a role he fulfilled with great expertise, guiding our Synod through many complex pieces of legislation.
We acknowledged this ministry and farewelled him from that position at the Synod Dinner in 2019, by which point John had worked in governance with fully half of the bishops of Gippsland, having had a role in electing as many in his capacity as a longstanding member of the diocesan Board of Electors.
This governance work was expressed around the tables of Bishop-in-Council (shared for some 30 years with Beth), its Finance Committee, the Trusts Corporation of the Diocese, and as a General Synod representative for Gippsland.
He continued to hold the title of Honorary Lay Canon of the Cathedral until his passing, which will be felt as deeply and widely as his legacy extends.
Along with several others, I had the privilege of praying with John in his final hours, and with Beth as she kept tender vigil.
As dedicated as he was to the church and to public service, John was utterly devoted to his family, and loved nothing more than spending time with his children and grandchildren – not least when fishing at Metung.
Details of John’s funeral will be shared just as soon as they are known.
In the meantime, we hold Beth, Ian, Lindsay, Clare, Anne and their families in our hearts and our prayers.
May this good and faithful servant find rest, and light, and peace in the nearer presence of his Lord.
+Richard
The State Funeral was held at St John’s Neerim South on Tuesday 3rd December
16 Days of Activism Against Gender-Based Violence : Global
A Global Campaign which the Mothers Union is actively supporting
From 24th November to 10th December
Press Release for beginning of Campaign
16-Days-release-08112416 Days of Activism – Full Coverage
Rev’d Giles Motisi nominated as Priest-in-Charge of Moe – Newborough (This Parish)
The nomination was announced at the Sunday Service in the Parish on the 3rd November
Fr Giles is currently the Deputy Principal of what has long been known to us in this Diocese as Newton Theological College in Popondetta, Papua New Guinea, and which has recently become the Modawa Institute. He holds a degree in Theology and another in Agricultural Science.
He is married to Julia. They have four children. The two older adult boys are working. There two youngest, a boy and a girl are still at school.
His induction is expected early in the New Year.
For more information including his brief bio, see our November Newsletter front page.
Parish Annual Meeting
The Annual Parish Meeting was held on Sunday 17th November after the Sunday Morning Service
A report will be in the December Newsletter
Op Shops
The three Op Shops and the Collection Bin at St Aidan’s, Torres St, Newborough will be closed from
13th December 2024 and reopen on 13th January 2025
Parish Newsletter
The December Newsletter is now available. It was published last Sunday. If you would like a hard copy contact the Parish.
You can also view it online
If you know someone who would like to keep up with our parish news, please take a copy for them, but add their name to the list in narthex, thank you, so our records are kept up to date.
Coming Events
Advent
Newborough Combined Churches Ecumenical Advent Service
2nd December, 7pm Uniting Church, Newborough, 92 Chamberlain Rd, Newborough
9th December, 7pm St Aidan’s Anglican Church Newborough, 111 Torres St, Newborough
16th December, 7pm St Mary’s Roman Catholic Church, 50-54 Monash Rd Newborough
Supper will be served after the Services
Prayer and Meditation group
Final meeting for the Year this Wednesday 11th December, 6.00pm at the Madge Vinnell Centre followed by Dinner at Thai Restaurant. Recommencement date in the New Year to be announced.
The beginning of a journey to explore teaching Prayer and Meditation (Mindfulness) as a means of outreach including reflection upon faith. Our initial meetings will reflect on how we might do this.
For more information about the group click here, or contact the facilitator, Rev Bruce Charles (0429 045 132)
News
John Morgan Celebrates Fifty Fifth Anniversary of his Ordination as a Priest
At the Sunday Service on 29th September on the feast day of St Michael and all Angels at St Aidan’s, Reverend Professor John Morgan AM celebrated the 55th anniversary of his ordination as a priest
John was ordained as a priest in Christ Church Cathedral, Oxford by the Bishop of Oxford, Harry Carpenter with Letters Dimissory from the Bishop of Gippsland, Bishop David Garnsey. John had been ordained deacon on St Thomas’ day in 1968 in St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale by Bishop Garnsey
A brief account of John’s life story is in the October newsletter on page 2
Hope 25
An Australian Anglican Church initiative to reach out to people with the Good News of Jesus Christ.
June Bible Reading Program
If you missed working through the program, based on the letters of St Peter, in June, it is still available if you would like to work through it now.
Please submit to Bruce Charles your thoughts and ideas for it as we are in this initial development stage, especially reconnecting with people that have drifted away.
Recorded Sermons
The readings for each Sunday together with the sermon are posted on our website. Our preachers put a lot of prayer, thought and work into their sermons. Modern technology has given us this wonderful opportunity to be able to listen to the sermon again and have a deeper appreciation of what God is saying to us through the preacher. There is so much online but the sermon prepared for us, for this parish, for this congregation, is important for both, us personally and our parish life. John Calvin, one of the most notable theologians of the Reformation described preaching as one of God’s gifts of creation.
The Gippsland Anglican
The Gippsland Anglican is the Diocesan Newspaper, published once a month, with lots of news about the life of the diocese and the various Parishes as well as interesting reflections on faith including one from the Bishop, and excellent Book Reviews
The Melbourne Anglican
The Melbourne Anglican is the Diocese of Melbourne Newspaper published monthly
Missions
As a parish we support 4 Missions, alternating donations each month and these are BCA, CMS, ABM & Sparklit.
If you would like to make a donation to a specific Mission, please put in a clearly marked envelope and it will be added to our parish donation
on of $5 appreciated, which will go towards the MU/St Barnabas Family Retreat Fund.
Op Shop Volunteers
Do you know anyone who is available to volunteer for a few hours each week to help out our dedicated Op-Shop volunteers and sorters.
With winter coming some volunteers head for warmer weather and numbers drop due to colds etc.
If you know someone who would be interested, please send them to talk to Gwyneth