Newsletter for the Rotary Club of Greater Geraldton - Issue No.: 780 Issue Date: 15 Apr, 2024

Guest Speaker: Wayne Sutton was born in Sydney in 1944 and is married to Gladys. They have ten children... In 1980 he went to the Pilbara and in 1994 to Geraldton in the Anglican Diocese of NW Australia. He was associated with the late great Bill Warburton. In 2013 he retired and since then has been the voluntary Chaplain at Geraldton's Mission for Seafarers. 

Thanks us for the opportunity to speak and also for our gift of furniture. He shows us plans of their new building. 

He talks about seafarers and that they generally spend 9 months at sea per year working an 8hrs on 8hrs off roster. It is a hard life especially for cadets who often spend their first twelve months at sea. Isolation, boredom and lack of a family life are some of their main challenges as well as the perils of the ocean which include the weather. Seven ships have sunk in the last twelve months. Pirates in some parts of the world are a reality as well. 

Wayne takes Christian material to all the ships, usually this is around thirty separate items. On shore most seafarers have a 48hr visitors visa. In the mission at the west end of Marine Tce they are able to relax with television, a shop, 'cabin' food, and Australiana gifts. There is also free wi-fi. Last year the mission in Geraldton had 5,335 visitors. He says the seafarers are respectful and honest and there is an average crew of 21 per ship. 

Last year the Geraldton MfS distributed 300 bags of Christmas gifts to seafarers.

Questions:

N Jupp (the inteloper) :) Are there females on ships?

R Haynes: Do you speak other languages? Ray follows this up with a Vote of Thanks and a millionaire's speech.