Bottle Tree Bulletin Bottle Tree Bulletin - December 2019

the bottle tree
BULLETIN
MARANOA REGION COMMUNITY NEWSLETTER
December 2019 | Issue 111
In this month’s edition…
Fun and Fashion at Mitchell
Races
Marking Remembrance Day
in the Maranoa
New Anglican Reverend for
Roma Parish
The Reverend Heather Dearden was welcomed as the new Priest-in-Charge of the
Roma Anglican Parish at the beginning of September. For Heather and her husband,
George Dearden, this was somewhat of a home-coming, as they both originally came
from Roma and their respective families are still on properties in the surrounding
district. Heather said she was born in the Roma Hospital and grew up on the family
property, “North Kooringa”. She was baptised and confirmed at St Paul’s and boarded
at the Roma Methodist Hostel to complete her schooling. Heather’s career has
spanned a variety of roles. Initially she went nursing before she and George opened a
motorcycle business in Warwick.
This was followed by over 24 years working in the Library at The Scots PGC College,
Warwick, combining a love of books with a love of young people. George and Heather
have three sons and three grandsons. Ordination came late in
Heather’s life and involved three years of weekly travel from Warwick
to Brisbane to complete a Theology degree and Ministry Formation.
Prior to coming to Roma, Heather had been Curate and then
Assistant Priest at St Mark’s Anglican Church Warwick for nearly three
years.
Heather said, “Our early years form us. From my childhood, I have
inherited a deep love of the bush, the country way of life and our
Australian landscape. George and I have travelled extensively
through the outback. Although I left Roma many years ago, I still have
an appreciation for both the hardships and the joys of life on the land
and in a rural community. When I entered ministry, it was with a
passion for the needs of our rural communities and I am deeply
grateful to be given this opportunity to serve our Lord in the Roma
Anglican Parish
1
Last Drinks at Muckadilla Pub