Rev Alistair Melville with his trusty steed. "It's about spirituality. I listen to find out who or what God may be for them. I try to find out where their hope lies."

Gascoyne Patrol

Exmouth, Western Australia

The Patrol Minister is Reverend Alistair Melville who lives in the seaside town of Exmouth based on the Exmouth Gulf in the Pilbara area of Western Australia .

The patrol covers more than 200,000 square kilometres from Onslow south to Useless Loop and from the Indian Ocean east to Gascoyne Junction.

The region is comprised mainly of pastoral stations some of which are owned by Aboriginal communities. There is also a large fishing industry found at Exmouth Gulf , Onslow, Denham and Carnarvon. A salt mining complex (using evaporative pondage systems) is based upon Lake Macleod northwest of Carnarvon. Oil and mineral exploration is also found in the area. The larger communities are Onslow, Exmouth and Denham. Smaller communities include Useless Loop, Monkey Mia (tourism associated with dolphins), the Gascoyne Junction, Coral Bay , and the Pannawonica Mine township.

Formerly known as the Gregory Patrol, AIM Padres visited the area from as early as 1914. The patrol padres were based in Port Hedland (1927) and at Meekatharra (1932), as well as in the Hamersley Ranges area. For a number of years the Gregory Patrol was without a minister, but in 1988 it was re-established. Rev. Alistair Melville was appointed in 2000 with the base moved from Carnarvon to Exmouth and the name of the patrol changed to the Gascoyne Patrol.

The patrol minister is not responsible for the leadership of worship as there is no town ministry, however Alistair exercises a liturgical and sacramental ministry as appropriate to the pastoral circumstances. A major part of his ministry at the moment is "listening" and out of that comes pastoral support, counselling and encouragement for those struggling on their pastoral stations.

Tourism is starting to increase with the result of more people coming into the area placing a greater need for care and support. From time to time Alistair is invited to conduct services/celebrations associated with special festivals, such as "The Blessing of the Fleet" (the fishing fleet) in Exmouth Gulf .