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Anglican Parish of Cobargo/Bermagui

As a Diocesan initiative in 2007, Bishop George Browning invited suburban parishes to establish relationships with rural parishes.  After initial discussions between St Simon’s and the Parish of Cobargo, both Parish Councils agreed that there was benefit in forming such a relationship.

On Sunday 26 August 2007, the Rev Mal Dunnett, the then Rector of Cobargo, preached at St Simon’s on the experience and challenges related to ministering God’s word in the Cobargo Parish.  Cobargo was struggling to cope with high unemployment, a downturn in the fishing industry and the rural sector and a high percentage of single mothers with limited prospects for the future.

On the Anzac Day long weekend (25-27 April 2008), a small number of St Simon’s parishioners visited Cobargo and were billeted with parishioners from Christ Church Cobargo, All Saints Bermagui and St Saviours Quaama.  They had a wonderful time and enjoyed learning more about life in this part of the diocese.

Parishioners from Cobargo were invited to come and join us to visit Floriade in Canberra over the weekend of 12-14 September 2008.  They were billeted with our parishioners, visited Floriade on Saturday followed by a pot luck dinner and trivia night.  They joined us for fellowship and worship on Sunday at our services and then a barbecue lunch before returning home.

This was a wonderful opportunity for us to get to know others in our diocesan family and to learn about the challenges and opportunities for the Church in small rural towns.

A combined activity for both parishes involved a visit to St Saviour's Cathedral in Goulburn on Saturday 18 April 2009.  Parishioners were greeted by the Dean, Phillip Saunders, who then conducted a very interesting and informative tour of the cathedral.  This was followed by lunch in the hall.  The Rev Canon Harvey Sloane (Rector of Cobargo) then conducted a service in the cathedral before everyone returned to their respective parishes.

We had a lovely picnic at Nelligen on the Clyde River on Saturday 21 November with our friends from the Parish of Cobago. We met at noon at Nelligen.  Some of the Cobargo parishioners arrived on a river cruise boat which left Batemans Bay at 11.30 am and arrived at Nelligen about 1.00pm.  After lunch we played cricket and bolles on the riverbank.

We plan to continue joint activities with the Cobargo Parish.

Click here to visit the website of the Anglican Parish of Cobargo/Bermagui.