After arriving in Alice Springs for the ordination of Malcolm Willcocks on 10 December 2023, LCANZ Bishop Paul Smith and SA–NT Bishop Andrew Brook took a trip out to Hermannsburg to meet people and have a look around.

New FRM Board chair Marcia Hoffmann shares her thoughts on her role so far.

Living Waters Lutheran School and the Old Timer’s Home in Alice Springs have made a connection, with Foundation classes visiting the residents at Flynn Lodge on a fortnightly basis.

The ordination and installation of Malcolm Willcocks as a Specific Ministry Pastor took place on 10 December 2023.

Before I came to Central Australia, Pastor Paul Albrecht gave me three pieces of advice. The first was to be kangkintja – a Western Arrarnta word for a kind and loving man. The second was to be a pastor and trust that people would soon get to know who I was and why I was there.

On 15 October 2023, 12 Areyonga (Utju) students were confirmed by Pastor Malcolm Willcocks and Pastor Paul Calnan at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Areyonga.

A Finke River Mission teaching course was held in late September 2023 at Alice Well, 30 kilometres south of Titjikala and 150 kilometres south of Alice Springs.

Yirara College has appointed a new principal, Mr Wesley Meurant. With the utmost heartfelt thanks, we say farewell to Mr Chris England and send well wishes for his next journey in life.

In July 2023, a Finke River Mission teaching course was held at the community of Kintore/Walungurru, 500 kilometres west of Alice Springs. It was on ‘safe place’ issues and taught by Dave Biar from the Lutheran Church’s Professional Standards Department.

Ronnie was born around the early to mid-1940s at Manyira (Bowson’s Hole), southwest of Areyonga (north of Tempe Downs Station). His father, Billy McNamara, was a whitefella of Afghan descent who hailed from Oodnadatta.