West Coast Patrol/Circular Head Ministry

Smithton and Queenstown, Tasmania

The patrol ministry will provide flexibility to share responsibility for local ministry in Smithton, Queenstown and Tullah. The primary base for ministry will move from Queenstown to Smithton.

The Patrol has traditionally been focused around the mining, hydro-electricity, fishing and tourism industries associated with the West Coast. The northern border of the Patrol is along the road from Waratah-Savage River-Corinna. The Cradle Mountain/Lake St Clair and Franklin-Gordon Wild Rivers National Parks are the eastern/southern patrol borders. The West Coast communities are constantly changing as the industries come and go, as new technology changes their shape and as new tourism ventures emerge.

Visiting the small communities is a high priority in this ministry. As the Patrol Minister visits and makes time to listen to people they are often caught up in general, family and at times marital counselling. They also seek to support young families who are often away from family support networks. There is also flexibility in theology and worship as many people down the West Coast are not members of the Uniting Church but they are nonetheless ministered to by our Patrol Minister.

Seeking to minister to those involved in mining/hydro/timber and tourism industries is a constant challenge.

Supply ministry is currently in place, while new arrangements for the West Coast have been negotiated with the Presbytery of Tasmania.

The Reverend Gay Loftus was inducted into this patrol in February 2007.