Friday 28 September was Ian’s last day at Anglicare. He began very part time five and a half years ago with the ACT Anglicare Fostering Team, then with parish partnerships and later as General Manager for Mission and Community Engagement. The Mission and Community Engagement team responsibilities included Emergency Relief, Disaster Recovery, No Interest Loans (NILS), Volunteers, Parish and Diocesan engagement.
Ian was convinced that addressing the needs of people in parish communities is a significant component of the church’s mission, and that Anglicare and Anglican churches working more closely together could be mutually beneficial.
An important part of the team’s role has been to strengthen Anglicare ties with churches across the Canberra & Goulburn Diocese, Bathurst Diocese and the Diocese of the Riverina. It was a focus of Ian’s role to help Anglicare and churches work together we could make a greater impact in the lives of vulnerable families in our community. This work included existing joint projects like the Ashmont Community Centre in Wagga, Georgie’s Pantry and the Revd Natalie Quince’s ministry in Parkes and the work of St John’s Care in Canberra..
New partnerships included the Revd Michael Palmer working as a part-time Rural Chaplain in Eden, Gordon Community Centre with Lanyon Valley Anglican Church, Kooringal with St Alban’s, Wagga, and the Anglicare office with Holy Trinity, Orange.
Some other events during this time were the Carwoola, Duneedoo and Tathra fires. Here the response of Anglicare Disaster Volunteers and generous donations from churches and individuals have greatly assisted the communities affected.
Ian also carried responsibility for training Anglicare staff on Anglicare values.
Ian is embarking on his next chapter of ministry this month as the 10th Bishop of Bunbury, WA. We wish Ian and his wife Anne, all the best in the future endeavours.
Our newly appointed Deputy CEO, Brad Braithwaite, will be picking up some of Ian’s duties.
Anglicare hope to recruit another person in Ian’s place, once the new Bishop of Canberra & Goulburn has been elected.
