Skip to content
The Catholic Leader
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute
No Result
View All Result
The Catholic Leader
No Result
View All Result
Home News

These Bracken Ridge parishioners helped drought-stricken Blackall through thick and thin

byPeter Bugden
10 January 2020
Reading Time: 4 mins read
AA

Travelling friends: Among members of the Parish of St Joseph and St Anthony, Bracken Ridge, who are reaching out to sister parish Blackall/Tambo are (from left) Michael and Debbie De Gee, John Rogers, Sharyn McLagan, Sharyn Rogers, Greg McLagan, Glenda Murdoch, Mac and Susan Angus-MacInnes, and Maurie Murdoch.

Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Travelling friends: Among members of the Parish of St Joseph and St Anthony, Bracken Ridge, who are reaching out to sister parish Blackall/Tambo are (from left) Michael and Debbie De Gee, John Rogers, Sharyn McLagan, Sharyn Rogers, Greg McLagan, Glenda Murdoch, Mac and Susan Angus-MacInnes, and Maurie Murdoch.

“YOU’RE almost family” – the words could not have been sweeter for Brisbane couple John and Sharyn Rogers when they were among a parish crowd in outback Queensland.

Convenor of the St Patrick’s Christmas Fete at Blackall Tony Hauff made the comment as he was thanking John and Sharyn and their small team at the fete late last year.

John and Sharyn and three other couples from the Parish of St Joseph and St Anthony, Bracken Ridge, had driven 1000km from Brisbane to lend a hand at the fete.

Mr and Mrs Rogers, Maurie and Glenda Murdoch, and Sharyn and Greg McLagan have been making the trip annually for four years.

The McLagans were unable to make the latest trip but the group was joined this time by another two couples – Debbie and Michael De Gee, and Mac and Susan Angus-MacInnes.

The group of parishioners heads out to Blackall with boxes and boxes of donated goods, and run a stall and raffles at the fete to support the outback parish where the drought has hit hard.

The visits began when the Blackall/Tambo parish entered into a sister parish arrangement with Bracken Ridge a few years ago.

John and Sharyn, moved by the plight of drought-stricken farmers across Queensland, approached parish priest Fr Gerry Hefferan about doing something practical to support an outback community that may be doing it tough.

Rockhampton Bishop Michael McCarthy recommended Blackall/Tambo parish to them, and since then the relationship with Bracken Ridge has gone from strength to strength.

In reporting back at Bracken Ridge Masses after the Blackall visit late last year, Sharyn Rogers told parishioners what the fete convenor said when thanking the community in Blackall.

Related Stories

Noah takes to the stage in Brisbane with an outback Queensland twist

Brisbane man helps parish grapple with what Uluru Statement from the Heart means for them

Northside parish open for prayer 24/7

“He said he felt the Bracken Ridge team was ‘almost family’,” she said.

“Anyone who has had experience with people in country towns knows that one is not considered to be ‘a local’ unless you’ve lived in the town for more than 20 years.”

Like much of outback Queensland, Blackall and Tambo have been hit hard by drought and the communities have suffered and continue to suffer.

The drive out to Blackall left no doubt how dire the situation had become.

“This is the worst I’ve ever seen Blackall,” Mrs Rogers said.

“Right from Brisbane all the way out to Blackall it was just so dry – just grey and brown all the way, and dead animals beside the road.

“It’s very depressing.”

Mr Rogers said “a lot of people have destocked a lot or reduced their herd because of the drought”.

They said some people in the community were battling to afford essentials for themselves, and the Bracken Ridge team was trying to help where it could.

They work closely with Blackall/Tambo parishioner Moira Kent and others in the town to decide how best to channel assistance.

“We work with the (supermarkets), we work with the chemist and the community development officer,” Mr Rogers said.

“We get emails in … like (from) the chemist, … We work with the chemist with people who are having trouble paying their medical expenses and medicines and things like that.

“We don’t give money to people (in the town); we give money to the businesses.”

“That way it helps the shop keep going, and it helps the people because someone cares about them and they’re being relieved (of some) debt,” Mrs Rogers said.

The Blackall fete raised more than $14,000 and $3400 of that was the Bracken Ridge contribution.

The Bracken Ridge parish also donates money from a fortnightly bucket collection.

St Joseph’s Parents’ and Friends’ in Bracken Ridge donated $2500 to St Joseph’s, Blackall

“Everybody’s so appreciative (out there),” Mrs Rogers said.

“They don’t ask for anything …

“Just them knowing that people care about them is such a boost.”

Meanwhile, the Australian Catholic Bishops Conference announced before Christmas that it was extending its national prayer campaign for those affected by the drought.

 The campaign was held in November but the bishops said they were extending it indefinitely, until tdrought conditions eased.

When they launched the campaign in October, they said it was to pray for the gift of rain and to invite people to provide assistance to those most in need.

ShareTweet
Previous Post

Whether in Ireland or Brisbane, Fr Joe Flannery was all for God

Next Post

Rosies boss Deacon Andrew O’Brien taking on a new role with Brisbane archbishop

Peter Bugden

Related Posts

Outback twist: Performers rehearse for Noah, a play with an outback Queensland twist. Photos: JAFA Performance Group
QLD

Noah takes to the stage in Brisbane with an outback Queensland twist

22 September 2021
Listening: Members of the Bracken Ridge parish and visitors who attended the talk.
QLD

Brisbane man helps parish grapple with what Uluru Statement from the Heart means for them

11 June 2021
News

Northside parish open for prayer 24/7

6 November 2020
Next Post

Rosies boss Deacon Andrew O'Brien taking on a new role with Brisbane archbishop

Missionary sisters expect miracles in Papua New Guinea, the 'land of the unexpected'

Rochedale parish extends Jesus Christ’s love to their neighbouring religious communities

Popular News

  • Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Br Alan Moss remembered for a life of faith and learning

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
  • Nuncio take in the sights of Queensland’s far north

    0 shares
    Share 0 Tweet 0
Search our job finder
No Result
View All Result

Latest News

Vatican

All Catholics invited to pray rosary for peace with Pope Francis next Tuesday

by Staff writers
27 May 2022
0

By Catholic News Agency THE Vatican is inviting Catholics to join Pope Francis in praying the rosary...

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

Gunmen kidnap two Catholic priests in Nigeria

27 May 2022
Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

Ethiopian cardinal brings sense of gratitude to Australia

26 May 2022
Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

Blessed Sacrament desecrated in robbery of sacred vessels at Canberra church

26 May 2022
Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

Pope Francis – ‘My heart is broken’ over Texas elementary school shooting

26 May 2022

Never miss a story. Sign up to the Weekly Round-Up
eNewsletter now to receive headlines directly in your email.

Sign up to eNews
  • About
  • Advertise
  • Contact
  • Contribute
  • Jobs
  • Subscribe

The Catholic Leader is an Australian award-winning Catholic newspaper that has been published by the Archdiocese of Brisbane since 1929. Our journalism seeks to provide a full, accurate and balanced Catholic perspective of local, national and international news while upholding the dignity of the human person.

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader
Accessibility Information | Privacy Policy | Archdiocese of Brisbane

The Catholic Leader acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people as the First Peoples of this country and especially acknowledge the traditional owners on whose lands we live and work throughout the Catholic Archdiocese of Brisbane.

No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • QLD
    • Australia
    • Regional
    • Education
    • World
    • Vatican
  • Features
  • Opinion
  • Life
    • Family
    • Relationships
    • Faith
  • Culture
  • People
  • Subscribe
  • Jobs
  • Contribute

Copyright © All Rights Reserved The Catholic Leader

0
    0
    Your Cart
    Your cart is emptyChoose another Subscription
    Continue Shopping