Story By: Carrie Lock

Up to 50 people, travelling from as far away as Rockhampton and Brisbane, attended the seventieth-anniversary celebration at St Patrick’s Church Augathella, on 5 May.

The morning began with a Thanksgiving Mass with Fr Peter Doohan, followed by brunch on the lawns. Fr Peter explained the establishment of the church and its ongoing presence in the community in the context of the readings, which were focused on love for one another.

It was a beautiful autumn day, and people engaged in various outdoor activities, including a short talk presented at the old cemetery on the history of the early church in Augathella and a walk through the presbytery.

Also of particular note was a tour of the neighbouring block, which has been revegetated with native trees over the past ten years by Bernie Schalk, a community member who was actually at the opening of the church in 1954. In the church foyer, people could view old news articles, photos, vestments and a display of old coins and other metal items discovered recently on the old church block, with some items going back to the 1880s. An opportunity was provided for people to light a candle in prayerful memory of a loved one. But probably the best activity of all was sitting under the old olive tree on the church lawn with friends, old and new, sharing memories and being together as a community.

The morning concluded with the planting of a bottle brush tree for Mrs Beryl Barnsley. Beryl passed away on 14 April at age 96 years. She was a devoted and much-loved member of the parish all her life and was tireless in her service of the liturgy, church building and community.

We had a lovely morning, and we look forward to a future of continued service, devotion and community.