‘Looking forward to the challenges the coming year may bring’
In October 2023, I was privileged to be appointed as chair of the Finke River Mission (FRM) Board. I started the role in early December, with detailed briefings from many Adelaide-based LCA staff and board members.
A visit to Alice Springs followed, where I had the opportunity to attend the ordination of Pastor Malcolm Willcocks. The service was inspirational and a unique demonstration of the partnership between the church and the local community in the FRM area.
Our church has had a proud and long presence in Central Australia and enjoys high community recognition and support for all its endeavours in the region. I took the opportunity to visit Hermannsburg to meet key staff and see the mission operations firsthand. I also met with the principal and college chaplain of Yirara College, toured the college precinct, visited the Living Waters Lutheran School, met with senior staff from Lutheran services in Alice Springs and enjoyed a final evening meal with the church council for the Alice Springs Lutheran Church before returning to my home base in Brisbane.
However, like all not-for-profit, charitable and faith-based organisations, the operating environment for our Lutheran church bodies and institutions continues to become ever more complex and expensive to deliver the support and services of the quality that we want to maintain.
In smaller and more remote environments such as Central Australia, it is more important than ever that we all work in partnership and faith to ensure the most efficient and sustainable future for the church and the communities we serve. From my discussions so far, I can see that those of us focused on the Central Australian area are all committed to this outcome.
My long employment history with the Northern Territory Government, dating back to 1977 and, more recently, the Queensland Government, has equipped me with local knowledge, contacts, personal capabilities and community awareness to help make a difference. I am looking forward to the challenges the coming year may bring.
Finally, I would like to acknowledge and thank Chris Guntner for his outstanding contribution to the work of FRM as acting chair throughout 2023. Chris has worked tirelessly in this capacity, pending the settlement of the chair appointee. Following a well-earned holiday, Chris returns in early 2024 to resume his previous role as board director.
Marcia Hoffmann is the chairperson of the Finke River Mission Board.
