Glad Tidings

20/12/2010 - Online Supplement – Part One

The AMSA Forum on Seafarers’ Welfare was held in Melbourne in September and was well attended by MTS personnel from around Australia. Bishop Garry Weatherill- chair of the MTS Australian Council was one of the keynote speakers. Other MTS family members- The

AUSTRALIAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY AUSTRALIAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY AUSTRALIAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY AUSTRALIAN MARITIME SAFETY AUTHORITY

FORUMFORUMFORUMFORUM ---- ON SEAFARERS’ WELFAREON SEAFARERS’ WELFAREON SEAFARERS’ WELFAREON SEAFARERS’ WELFARE

Revd Canon Ken Peters joined us from the UK, and the Revd Douglas Stevenson from New York to give presentations at the Forum. Ken presented on the Maritime Labour Convention and Doug on Piracy. Garry, Ken and Douglas’ presentations can be

found at the AMSA website-

http://www.amsa.gov.au/Seafarers_Welfare We wish to thank AMSA’s Paul MacGilvray for his passion and drive to ensure this Forum became a reality & benefit to the many participants.

Erol Kahveci author of the widely studied 2007 “Port Based Welfare Services for Seafarers” has just released results of new research into the world of welfare ship visitors- “Port Based Welfare Workers for Seafarers” 2010. Erol completed the first

A NEW WELFARE REPORT FROM THE UKA NEW WELFARE REPORT FROM THE UKA NEW WELFARE REPORT FROM THE UKA NEW WELFARE REPORT FROM THE UK ---- A VALUABLE A VALUABLE A VALUABLE A VALUABLE RESOURCERESOURCERESOURCERESOURCE

study at Cardiff University and the latest at London Metropolitan University.

The contents of the study are of immense interest to all those interested in the well being of seafarers and can be found at

http://www.namma.org/welfareSurvey.htn

It is hoped that Erol might accept our invitation to visit Australia in 2011 to promote his research work and findings.

GLADSTONGLADSTONGLADSTONGLADSTONE FLYING ANGEL HELP CREW OF THE SHEN E FLYING ANGEL HELP CREW OF THE SHEN E FLYING ANGEL HELP CREW OF THE SHEN E FLYING ANGEL HELP CREW OF THE SHEN NENG 1 NENG 1 NENG 1 NENG 1

Most Australians would be well aware of the Chinese coal vessel running aground on the Great Barrier Reef near Gladstone earlier this year. Both the captain of the ship and chief engineer wore the brunt of the public’s scorn and media’s attention for some time later- with both having to attend court hearings in Gladstone and facing possible heavy fines and jail sentences of 3 years. However, what few Australians know is that chaplain Trevor Phillips and his

Gladstone MtS team cared for the much maligned crew -shielding them from a predatory media, ensuring they received legal assistance, proper interpreter services and helping them get in touch with family at home. And finally helping them return safely to China. Well done to Gladstone MTS- all in a day’s work they tell us!

However, this dreadful incident highlights the plight the international seafarer

has to endure at times involving stress, fatigue and sleep deprivation.

Bring on the ratification of the Maritime Labour Convention with all its improved rights and working conditions for seafarers.

It is expected that our new ministry, operating out of St John’s Eden will commence at the end of January 2011. We are indebted to Wellington’s Revd Jim Pether- well known to us as a seafaring chaplain with consummate skills and great love for seafarers- who will cross the “ditch” to lead the ministry. Eden is

EDEN CENTRE ALMOST READEDEN CENTRE ALMOST READEDEN CENTRE ALMOST READEDEN CENTRE ALMOST READY AS A KIWI COMES TO THE Y AS A KIWI COMES TO THE Y AS A KIWI COMES TO THE Y AS A KIWI COMES TO THE RESCUERESCUERESCUERESCUE

Australia’s biggest export woodchip and logging port with visiting crews stranded about 35 kilometres from the town of Eden at present. We have gathered together some willing locals to support Jim as volunteers

Josephine Clark who is Eden’s harbourmaster (in image with Col

Brown) has been a terrific source of encouragement and support. We wish Jim the very best and thank Sheila his wife for being so understanding. Both the AMWS and Sydney Bethel Union have been generous in assisting with funding that has helped the ministry become a reality.

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The Revd Garry Dodd reports that the mission in Newcastle has undergone an overdue facelift with the addition of new computers and other seafarer friendly resources and equipment. Garry is

working hard at recruiting new volunteers and promoting the ministry throughout the community.

Despite the quick turnaround with coal ships, many seafarers are visiting the

mission to experience the hospitality and expressing their gratitude for the service from Newcastle’s volunteers.

NEWCASTLE’S FACELIFTNEWCASTLE’S FACELIFTNEWCASTLE’S FACELIFTNEWCASTLE’S FACELIFT

MELBOURNE’S JOHN KEWA MOVING TO MTS PORT MELBOURNE’S JOHN KEWA MOVING TO MTS PORT MELBOURNE’S JOHN KEWA MOVING TO MTS PORT MELBOURNE’S JOHN KEWA MOVING TO MTS PORT KEMBLAKEMBLAKEMBLAKEMBLA

Graham Miller was delighted that he recently had a packed house at Townsville’s mission for the globally televised world title fight between Philippino world champion Manny Pacquiao and Mexico’s Antonio Margarito.

RINGSIDE AT TOWNSVILLE’S BIG NIGHT OUTRINGSIDE AT TOWNSVILLE’S BIG NIGHT OUTRINGSIDE AT TOWNSVILLE’S BIG NIGHT OUTRINGSIDE AT TOWNSVILLE’S BIG NIGHT OUT

Graham set up a special night of ‘viewing entertainment’ for the forty odd Philippino seafarers who filled the small mission centre to overflowing (with some having to sit under the TV) roaring for their champion throughout

the fight. Needless to say, the champion of the Philippines retained his title which meant all our visitors left for their ships sporting bigger smiles than usual. But knowing Graham- his smile was probably the broadest of them all.

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KEN PETERS VISITS VICTORIAN CENTRESKEN PETERS VISITS VICTORIAN CENTRESKEN PETERS VISITS VICTORIAN CENTRESKEN PETERS VISITS VICTORIAN CENTRES

Following the departure of Ken Cahill from the Flying Angel Melbourne, John Kewa (formerly lay chaplain and principal ship visitor with Stella Maris Melbourne), was commissioned in the Melbourne Flying Angel

chapel as lay chaplain to the Mission to Seafarers Victoria and the port of Melbourne.

John is moving to our MtS centre at Port Kembla in 2011 to take up a position there.

When Ken Peters visited here in September for the AMSA Seafarers Welfare Forum he was able to spend a day with the staff and volunteers at the Melbourne mission. Ken kindly gave up a day from his

hectic schedule to carry out a Review of the operations at Flying Angel Melbourne. He also squeezed in a short visit to meet the friendly Geelong team before heading to Asia for more work, then back to London.

The Port Kembla staff is thrilled that John is heading in their direction and say that he will far from bored as the port is quickly expanding. Our prayers and best wishes go out to John for a happy and fulfilling ministry at Port Kembla.