This newsletter provides updates from various seafarers' centers around Australia. Key updates include: 1) The Gladstone center was nominated for a community award that would help upgrade its computer and internet facilities due to increasing demands. 2) Ongoing investigations into the deaths of three crew members on the MV Sage Sagittarius have involved chaplains providing assistance to traumatized crew members. 3) A fiber optic cable was accidentally severed by a ship's anchor off the coast of Egypt, disrupting internet access for around 75 million people in East Africa for two weeks.

1. GLAD TIDINGS No. 11 PART C
In this edition:
• A community award
for MTS Gladstone
• The MV Sage
Sagittarius saga
• Whoops…not so
funny!
• Hospitality course
under development
…thank you AMWS
A community award for MTS Gladstone • Albany scores a goal
Honorio Hincapie MTS internet facilities. Gladstone port
• News from around
Gladstone’s manager was is undergoing rapid expansion the centres
thrilled recently to hear that the and Honorio’s volunteer team of
centre had been nominated to good souls is struggling to keep
become Gladstone’s ‘Botanic up with the increasing demands
to Bridge’ fun run beneficiary- on the centre. All contributions
an annual local event that help as will more volunteers.
raised money to help the centre
upgrade its computer and
The MV Sage Sagittarius saga
The tragic and unresolved revealing the results of
deaths of three crewmen on this investigations that might address
coal carrying vessel has the present mystery and
involved our MTS chaplains at ongoing very serious concerns
Port Kembla, Newcastle and surrounding the ship and the
Townsville coming to the well being of its crew.
assistance of a number of crew
members obviously traumatised
by the onboard events.
Investigations into the deaths of
the three seafarers - over the
space of a few weeks - are
ongoing and we can only pray
that this is the end of the
tragedies and that peace and
justice will be restored. We look
forward to the authorities G
L
GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 11 Part B
A
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2. Whoops…not so funny!
Never underestimate the seabed. The damaged cable
power of a single vessel, or that was helping supply all of
single ship’s anchor for that East Africa’s nations with high
matter. A recent BBC report speed internet meant that
revealed that a merchant around 75 million people
ship trying to moor of the were left with limited access
coast of Egypt in bad to the internet for some 14
weather dropped anchor days until full service was
severing a rather important restored. Please be careful
fibre optic cable on the when you go fishing next.
.
Hospitality course under development
…thank you AMWS
As reported in the last ‘Glad approved an application for
Tidings’ newsletter we have a funding that will enable us to
group working on the draft of move with greater speed and
a new training course for our purpose in developing the eight
volunteers centred around sessions that will comprise the
the importance of our course. It will also mean that
properly welcoming and the council should be in a
caring for the world’s position to incorporate a
seafarers that visit and rely number of these sessions into
upon us for friendship, the 2013 national conference
information and practical programme so that participants
and spiritual support. get maximum benefit. Thank
Recently the Australian you very much AMWS on
Mariners Welfare Society- our behalf of the MTS family and
long and faithful benefactors the world’s seafarers.
Albany scores a goal
Jane Stevens has sent a photo of husband
Norm’s new football team- a Ukrainian crew
from the EIT Palmina- a heavy lift ship- which
was stranded in Albany for 3 months
undergoing repairs. Norm looked after the
crew throughout this period. A highlight of
their stay was a football game Norm
arranged against a local Albany team
(Albany West Bromwich?). The mission
bought the crew eleven very smart yellow
football jerseys to proudly wear and Norm
took over management of the Ukrainian
eleven. However, a glance at the team
photo invites a query - who was the goal
keeper? We assume that Norm (or preferably
Jane) refereed the spectacle.
Page 2 GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 11 Part C

3. NEWS FROM AROUND THE CENTRES
Bunbury Port Giles
Congratulations to Bunbury for Chaplain Geoff and June
announcing the appointment of Harrison, with Fr Thomas Karama
a new manager to the centre. recently returned from a trip to
We wish John Smyth a happy India and the Philippines where
and long stay at the Bunbury they stayed in the homes of
centre and know that he will seafarers they had befriended
receive all the support he needs and looked after earlier this year
from Joe and the Bunbury in Port Giles. This makes a nice
volunteers. change- seafarers
accommodating and looking
Eden MTS after us!
Port Giles has been closed for
Best wishes also to Madaha and some time undergoing major
Andrew Lund who will take up port facility upgrades which has
the running of the Eden centre given Geoff and June ‘a
early in January. We are breather’ before the ships start
fortunate to have such a skilled to roll in again.
and committed young couple fly
our flag on the shores of Twofold
Bay. The crews stranded on the
other side of the Bay about 40
klms from town will welcome you
with open arms when they see
the old but faithful dark green
Tarago, with the tattered logo
heading for the terminal. Watch
out for kangaroos (and log
trucks).
Geraldton
Dampier
Ian McGilvary reports that life has Bill Ross tells us that Sea Sunday
been busy in the Pilbara. As well this year was celebrated at St
as making many ship visits he has Francis Xavier Catholic Cathedral
made a considerable number of in Geraldton. Bill preached the
hospital visits to sick and injured sermon from Acts 27:13-44 ‘on
seafarers, including the need to the four strong anchors of faith’.
intervene in two suicide attempts. He was pleased that the service
Ian recently organised a ‘working was well covered by local media,
bee’ to prepare for the coming and the centre picked up a new
cyclone season and has set up a volunteer as well (it must have
Western Union facility for been Bill’s sermon that did the
seafarers which is being well trick).
patronised.
Page 3 GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 11 Part B

4. Port Hedland Brisbane continued
Port Hedland port is undergoing effect nature has on the psyche
colossal expansion placing very of the seafarer- a virtual prisoner
heavy demands on the centre’s on a noisy metal container on a
had working committee, staff vast ocean of salt water devoid
and volunteers. The latest news is of the many natural sounds,
that the centre will be forced to smells and sensations that we
move due to the Port Authority enjoy on terra firma & take for
requiring the property for granted.
redevelopment which presents
huge challenges for the ministry
To give you an idea of how busy
they are in Hedland, our centre
saw over 3,000 seafarers through
the door for the month of
September!
Port Kembla
The editor was please to see the
modernisation of the interior of
the centre going ahead on his Thevenard
visit there last week. John Kewa is The search for premises in
As this will be the remodelling part of the Ceduna that will serve as a
last newsletter downstairs to make the centre centre for seafarers to the port of
this year, on more seafarer friendly and Thevenard continues. The editor
behalf of the pleasant for staff and volunteers. and Fr Thomas from Port Giles will
Australian The new retail area of the centre be visiting there in January to
with well stocked souvenirs, gifts
Council I take this meet with our local supporters.
and goodies is already proving a The map (below) flags all those
opportunity to
winner. ports at which we have a
wish you all a
happy and holy presence- the yellow dots
Christmas. See Brisbane indicating the presence of
Brisbane’s popular manager seafarers’ centres and the red
you in the new
Adrian Willes has been bending dots where we have contact
year. people able to provide
his back recently. Our Brisbane
centre was fortunate to have assistance. It is hoped that
Moreton Bay Rotary Club provide Thevenard is not far from
funding for the construction of changing from red to yellow.
Col Brown
new garden beds around the
Editor centre’s boundary. It can be
November 2012. seen from the photo that the
centre is within the precincts of
the port and amidst industrial
activity; so every plant, shrub,
tree, bird, butterfly and bee is
welcome to the centre’s
grounds, reasons gardener
Adrian. We should not
underestimate the therapeutic.
Page 4 GLAD TIDINGS 2012 No. 11 Part C