News and Events

NEWS & EVENTS

BENDIGO YOUTH CHOIR DEDICATIONS AT BEARS LAGOON

Sunday March 14 was a warm and sunny day, when the Bendigo Youth Choir came
to sing for us in the Anglican Church of St Andrews.

A thirty strong choir together with their manager, PR person, pianist, and conductor,
Mrs Valerie Broad, arrived with excitement and anticipation. Orientation to the
performance space, acoustics and rehearsal of a grand entrance preceded a picnic
lunch in and around the church hall. It was a delight to see families spread a picnic
rug under the trees on the church property. Did I mention that loads of family and
friends accompanied the choir on this outing?
An entire busload plus several cars all pulled in by the lake.

Members of the Boort congregation had worked hard to have the church and hall ready
to receive our guests. The amazing country afternoon tea was a hit with our visitors.

Before we moved into that space, we all gathered in the church and witnessed the choir entrance as they sang a glorious "Hallelujah".

Choir members moved in and out of the choir proper as different pieces were presented - all members sang the pieces they had rehearsed. We were honoured with three soloists - violin, snare drum and flute, together with the most amazing breadth of repertoire. Songs sung in Norwegian and Samoan stretched our imagination, while old favourites
such as Danny Boy and Song of Australia touched our hearts.

Local comes home.........Mrs Valerie Broad was known to some in our community as Valerie McCracken. Even in her youth, Valerie was taking concert performers to small country towns.

Valerie is the founder of the Bendigo Youth Choir, which has in recent years celebrated their 25th Anniversary with a
trip to Europe, and an extended concert program in places such as Prague and Salzburg. Young people, male and
female, who join the choir are encouraged in a love of music and an interest in community.

Concert goers who were young people from the secondary college have spoken with Mrs Broad and it is planned for
them to go to Bendigo for an audition. This is an exciting and unexpected outcome. Our town may well have a continuing interest in the Bendigo Youth Choir.

At the end of the performance, Kerry and Chloe Baker presented Mrs Broad with a basket of local produce. Valerie was particularly enchanted with the Durham Ox walnuts because her late husband's family were from that district.

We are grateful to the Bendigo Youth Choir for their generosity of spirit, their warmth and their talent. Thanks also
go to the Bendigo Buslines for the generous rate on that day.

Heather Vander Reest...........Rector Pyramid Hill/Boort

DEDICATIONS AT BEARS LAGOON

At a parish service in St John's, Bears Lagoon, recently, Bishop Andrew Curnow, was the celebrant and preacher.
This was a special service of dedication in many respects. Representatives of the congregations of Boort, Pyramid Hill, Calivil, as well as St John's link congregation of St Cuthbert's, Grovedale, together with family, friends, and past parishioners now living outside the parish, gathered for special celebrations.

The large congregation, including many children, came to bear witness to the Confirmation of Michele Chappel (sponsored by Carmel White), and Nakeya Mountjoy (sponsored by Paula Maxted).

Bishop Andrew, in his address, drew upon the image of a stone in the opening prayer. Jesus Christ was the stone rejected by the builders; at the same time we are encouraged to become living stones – building up the kingdom of God. Bishop illustrated the point with a heavy piece of quartz - minus any gold, as a symbol of confirmation being a rite of passage in our lives.

Next, the candidates were invited to come forward to be confirmed in their faith. Both were serious and firm in their dedication, and were very moved by the ceremony. Each received a Confirmation Certificate and a confirmation
stole to commemorate the occasion. They were congratulated especially by Maureen and Angus Mill, from
St Cuthbert's, with small gifts from that parish.

A second, and un-announced dedication, was for Keith and Bev Richards who only recently retired from the land, to live in Bendigo, and who wished to be blessed and acknowledged by friends and parishioners of their former congregation. Their wish was eagerly granted as many in the church stood at the altar with the couple to join with Bishop Andrew and Rev’d Heather in a heartfelt demonstration of friendship and goodwill.

The third dedication of the day was due to the sad closure of St Mark's, Calivil. A simple and beautiful stained glass window, dedicated to the settlers and people of Calivil had been rescued and brought to St John's to symbolise the unity of the two parishes. A plaque was attached to mark the occasion...

This window, originally behind the altar at St Mark's Calivil was moved to St John's Bears Lagoon after the closure
of St Mark's.

At the conclusion of the service, congregational members gathered for a generous outdoor lunch and animated conversation.

submitted by David Murray