Community
1 November, 2024
Pews packed for final service
NINETY-TWO people filled the pews of Derrinallum’s Uniting Church building in a final send-off to the building held last Sunday.
The special service was one of thanksgiving to the building for housing the town’s worshipping community over its 110 years, as well as looking forward with hope for the future of worship in Derrinallum.
Speakers at the service included Derrinallum Uniting Church chairperson Keith Slee, treasurer Lois Harrison, Father Hayden McKellar, and Presbyterian minister Scott Harrison.
The church service, led by Reverend Suzie Castle, also included scripture readings from Derrinallum residents Leonie McKenzie and Fran McLachlan.
Mr Slee said the church committee was overwhelmed with the response to the final service, which also included members of the Presbytery church community.
“A lot of people that were part of the church there and moved away had returned,” he said.
“There was also a good representation from the wider community, especially Camperdown whom we are affiliated with.
“They came and helped with the singing – that really helped us a great deal.
“We were overwhelmed with that, and really grateful for the people who came.
A highlight of the service included the baptism of Ronald and Filumena Cameron’s baby son James, which was a surprise feature in the service program.
Attendees took the opportunity to look around the church building and neighbouring hall following the service, with historical photos dating back to its opening as the Jubilee Memorial Church in 1914.
Mr Slee said the church had undergone various transformations throughout the years, including the gifting of excess land to build housing commission flats.
“The housing commission could build flats for elderly people in the town, and that’s been taken up really well,” he said.
“We gave them the land and the Peppercorn rental, and that was good for us and good for the community.
“It’s a good position; close to the street for people, and it's relatively a quiet.
An afternoon tea was served at the Mount Elephant Hotel Motel following the service, with attendees taking the opportunity to catch up with friends who had moved away but returned for the service.
Mr Slee said the service was bittersweet for him, but he still felt encouraged for the future.
“It was sad in some ways, in other ways we are still looking forward to moving on, perhaps in a slightly different way as a worshipping community,” he said.
“We hope someone will be able to use the building to some advantage.
“The Catholic Church sold its building, and the lady there’s done a fantastic job remodeling the church.”
Attendees were also given an Albany bottle brush seed prior to the service, symbolising the worshipping community’s new life as it transitions into a community of faith system.