40 years ago, Mrs Jennie and the Rev’d Dr Chris Elliot spent time working with ABM at St James Lockhart River on Cape York.

Nowadays, they are parishioners at St Matthews parish, Wauchope, where Jennie is the Parish Mission Secretary and serves on Parish Council. When the Wauchope Parish Council were deliberating which ABM project to support, Jennie suggested supporting the Diocese of North Queensland through ABM. Parish Council decided this personal link with the Diocese was significant and agreed.

The Rev’d Canon Angela Dutton is the Rector of this small rural parish in the hinterland of the Mid North Coast of NSW, west of Port Macquarie. With average attendance of 30-35 people each week, Parish Council decided to raise funds for the Project by running four Mission Trading Tables throughout the year. Funds raised and sent to ABM will support the Diocese of North Queensland to resource the Meriba Maygi Zageth Council for Torres Strait islander Ministry and the North Queensland Aboriginal Anglican Ministry Council.

The first Mission Trading Table took place on Sunday 28th May 2023. Parishioners brought a variety of home produce, baked goods, and crafts to sell. Between donations and sales, over $400 was raised (with further donations in the pipeline!) That same Sunday, Ms Janice Peate, ABM Diocesan Representative in Grafton Diocese, visited the parish and spoke at both morning services, painting a picture of the Diocese of North Queensland and especially Torres Strait Islander and Aboriginal ministries and the huge challenges caused by distance and a lack of transport and communications infrastructure.

The Rev Angela and Parish Council hope that supporting this ABM Church-to-Church Project in 2023 will be the first step taken by the Parish to have a more targeted approach to supporting ABM.

ABM and the Diocese of North Queensland are truly grateful to the Rev’d Angela, Jennie Elliot and the people of Wauchope parish for their passion for God’s mission. If your parish is interested in finding out more about supporting God’s mission through ABM, please contact info@abmission.org.au.