This newsletter provides updates from various Mission to Seafarers centers around Australia. It begins with sad news of the death of Secretary General Revd Tom Heffer at age 43. It then discusses the opening of the new Port Giles center in South Australia and the 50th anniversary celebrations of the Portland, Victoria center. Next, it provides some facts about the global shipping industry and risks faced by seafarers. Finally, it congratulates Honorio Hincapie on his commissioning as chaplain of the Gladstone, Australia center.

1. GLAD TIDINGS No. 10 PART A
In this edition:
• Port Giles centre
officially opened
• Portland Flying Angel –
50 years young
• Why we do what we
do – some hard facts
Ship visiting in Fremantle • Three cheers for
Honorio – Gladstone
celebrates
Editorial RIP Reverend Tom Heffer
This edition of the newsletter Tom’s last three days spent on “He had a gift for
brings profoundly sad tidings. As Australian soil were in Darwin, friendship and
most readers will already know with the editor, visiting East Arm was the sort of
our very popular and much port and meeting with a number
loved London-based Secretary of people and groups in the priest whom
General Revd Tom Heffer died process of setting up a people
recently at the age of 43 years. seafarers’ centre at the Top End. instinctively
We were in Darwin on
Melbourne Cup day when Tom loved.”
Dennis Claughton, Fremantle
Flying Angel Club’s chaplain with great panache insisted on
represented us at Tom’s funeral having a punt on Australia’s Bishop Graham
held at Norwich Cathedral on 9 most famous horse race. With a
May. refreshing ale in hand, he
rippled with laughter when his
Tom made three trips to carefully considered bet, a
Australia- the most recent to noble horse called “Drunken
Beauty Point (TAS) for last year’s Sailor” faded from sight at the
national conference. During back of the field as the
these trips he was able to visit champion Dunaden romped
our centres in Sydney, across the winning line!
Newcastle, Brisbane, Townsville,
Melbourne, Geelong, Portland, Tom had a very keen
Fremantle, Bunbury, Port knowledge and admiration for
Kembla, Wallaroo, and our the work our 500 MTS personnel
newest centre Port Giles South carried out for the world’s
Australia, in November last year. seafarers on this continent.
GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 10 Part A

2. Editorial RIP Reverend Tom Heffer
Tom was also well aware of often told us, with much
the tremendous respect and warmth and happiness,
gratitude that the Aussies stories about his home and
had for his prophetic family (including the pesky
leadership, and courage in dog). Tom’s kindness, easy
taking on what must be one going manner, intelligence,
of the world’s most laser sharp wit and delightful
demanding jobs- overseeing sense of fun will not be
with a Christian compassion forgotten.
and love the operation of
over two hundred and fifty The seafarers of the world
mission centres located have lost one of their truly
across five continents. great champions and the
Of course, when Tom visited Australian ministry a truly
Tom at the National Conference dinner
our shores it took him away great friend and brother.
at Hobart, 2011 from his beloved wife and
daughter and our prayers Col Brown
and hearts go out to them;
for we are greatly indebted
to Roz and Abi for being so
generous in sharing Tom’s
precious time with us. He
Port Giles Centre officially opened
The new kid on the block (dock), our latest
and 27th centre was officially opened last
month by the Ven Michael Hillier. A large
crowd, way beyond expectations turned
up for the grand ceremony at St Mary’s hall
in tiny Edithburgh. Earlier that morning Fr
Thomas (chaplain to Port Giles) was
interviewed on ‘Macca around Australia’
to announce over national radio that the
opening was taking place. It seemed that
half of Australia made it to Edithburgh (and
Official opening – Port Giles
the other half telephoned Thomas)!
Geoff and June Harrison were thrilled at the
response, and taken by absolute surprise
when two seafarers they had cared for at
Port Giles magically appeared on a big
screen at the ceremony via SKYPE to wish
them well- one seafarer beaming in from
Manila and the other from a city in India.
Perhaps these two had somehow heard it
on “Macca “as well! June keeps a vibrant
and action packed facebook- check it out
at “facebook.com/portgiles mts”.
Page 2 GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 10 Part A

3. Portland Flying Angel – 50 years young
Last month, great celebrations the constant and solid support
took place at our Portland, offered, including the use of
Victoria mission. The celebrations ideally located premises within
marked fifty years of the good the Port precincts. Bring on the
people of Portland caring for next fifty Portland!
seafarers visiting their port.
Congratulations to the Portland
organising team and especially
Neville Manson and Capt Peter
Gracias for hosting the historic
event. The gathering was
delighted that Garry Weatherill
their new bishop and chair of the
MTS Australian Council, was able
to visit Portland and lead the
volunteers, supporters and well
wishers in the celebrations.
The Portland mission is also very
grateful to the Port of Portland for
Why we do what we do – some hard facts
Many people are not aware of Bureau. Of the 266 attacks, 60%
the following facts- were carried out by Somalia
based pirates.
• Over 90% of world trade is • Seafarers are among the most
carried by sea, providing exploited and abused groups
work to more than one of workers in the world, yet
million seafarers. their plight is barely
• Thirty million people make a recognised by the
living by fishing mainstream media and
• The rate of suicide for public opinion, says the ITF
international seafarers is report, “Out of Sight Out of
triple that of shore workers, Mind”.
and they are 26 times more
likely to be killed at work. Indeed, our work worldwide is often
• Shipping is a truly described, rather dauntingly, as “an
international industry- in invisible ministry to invisible people”.
today’s global market you But without doubt, our daily efforts
might have a Greek owned on five continents to care for the
vessel, registered in Malta well being of crews, to advocate for
with officers from India and them and promote the worth of
a mixed crew from Thailand, their services helps make seafarers
Indonesia, Vanuatu and the more visible, more valued and
Philippines. better protected. This is our core
• Piracy hit an all time high in business, our response to the ever
the first six months of 2011, challenging two thousand year old
with 266 attacks worldwide, words found in Matthew 25:35-37.
up from 196 a year earlier May we always stay focussed and
according to statistics from faithful to the task of ‘welcoming
the International Maritime the stranger’.
Page 3 GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 10 Part A

4. Three cheers for Honorio – Gladstone celebrates
Honorio Hincapie was recently
commissioned by Bishop Godfrey Honorio who formerly
Fryar as chaplain to the volunteered for us at the Port
Gladstone MTS. Honorio reports Kembla mission centre invited
that he is thoroughly enjoying the their pastoral manager John
new challenge and the strong Kewa to run a ship visitors training
support he has received from his course at Gladstone the day
dedicated team of volunteers. prior to and the day of his
Gladstone is a rapidly expanding commissioning. The course was
port placing great demands on well attended and thoroughly
Honorio and his volunteers and enjoyed by the participating
they are flat out trying to keep volunteers who are soon to
pace. As well as additional receive their certificates from
volunteers and financial support London.
they need more time to relax,
plan and sleep such is the scope
of the challenge there.
Father Paul, Honorio and Bishop Godfrey – MTS Gladstone Chapel
Page 4 GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 10 Part A