Dear Friends,

Greetings to you all.

I must first apologise for my laxity in providing something for Meryl to include in the newsletter.  It has been a steep learning curve since my start with numerous and significant change happening both within and without the ACS.

As usual the dollar has a high priority as we continue to do our best to stretch it further than it wants to go and a few changes in our method of budgeting has gone some way toward resolving this perennial problem.  Of course as usual the demand outstrips the supply and we still find ourselves faced with meeting the increasing demand for service with limited resources.  Nonetheless our most generous Heavenly Father continues to be gracious toward us and to provide for our immediate needs as we seek to serve him in this unique ministry and we look to Him for all future provision.  It is after all His Anglican Counselling Service and it is always to him we must first turn as we seek to move forward.

There are plans afoot to further develop our role within the Diocese in regard to our relationships with individual parishes as well as the Diocese as a whole.  These plans are still in the developmental stage and we will keep you informed as they become more established.

The work on 34 Denne St has started although there has been the inevitable delay caused by the local councils requirements around some of the conditions they have applied prior to issuing a Certificate of Construction.  The contractor is Daltrak Building Services and is very keen to commence building work.  You may have seen articles in The Link, Northern Daily Leader and the Tamworth City News with accompanying photos.  The Link and Leader photos are the latest and is where the construction is currently at.

I most sincerely want to thank you all for your faithful, prayerful and generous support of the valuable service ACS provides to the community at large as well as the local churches and the Anglican Diocese.  Without you we would struggle to fulfil the task that has been given us to serve others in this way.

Please if you are near 88 Bridge St and have time call in and share a cuppa with us we would appreciate the opportunity to share with you and answer any questions we can.  Plus you can view the progress of the Denne St office.

Larry Apthorpe

Executive Director

Staff Changes

Since the last newsletter:

•     As we still haven’t been able to appoint a Manager of Clinical Services, we took a look at the job description and have created two new positions to cover the work

  •     Jenny Regan has been appointed Counselling Co-ordinator; and

  •     Ruth Blakely has been appointed External Liaison Facilitator

•     Cheryl Lalor has now begun counselling at Coledale for half a day a week, to help ease Jenny’s workload

•     Shane Reid has been appointed as the Aboriginal Liaison Worker at Coledale

•     Mattie Ho has resigned as Reception/Admin in Armidale

•     Lauren Brown has been appointed as a counsellor in Armidale

•     We are now able to employ our Financial Counsellor (Faith Boehm) over 5 days a week as ACS was recently given additional funding for Financial Counselling

Responsible Gambling

As reported in the last Friends’ ACS recently underwent an accreditation review for our Gambling project.  The reviewers were very complimentary of our overall operation, however they deferred accreditation for the time being, to enable us to have more time to fully comply with all the standards required.

Not all of us had fully realised that we only have one full-time employee—Larry (Executive Director).  Everyone else is part-time, casual or volunteering.

Family Relationship Centre

The Family Relationship Centre – operated by a consortium made up of Centacare, Tamworth Family Support Service and ACS commenced operations on 1st July in the building currently housing Centacare.

The former ‘workies club’ in Tamworth is undergoing major renovations to accommodate the Centre with no date yet given for moving into the new building, or an official opening.

Drought Funding Application

We have recently submitted an application for more funding to enable us to continue our work among those in the region who have been so adversely affected by the prolonged drought.

Late Breaking News: Friday afternoon (29 August) we were told that we had been successful in our application.  Larry and Terry now have to re-do the budget (again!!).

Staff Retreat

A very successful staff retreat was held at Copeton Dam in April with newly appointed ACS Board member Rev Paul Davey as guest speaker.  Paul’s challenging talks were centred around the theme of ‘unity’.

Anglican Counselling Service Board

The last two appointments to the board have been announced.

Gus Batley from Tamworth, and the staff representative (ex-officio) Wendy Long from Moree.

Coledale Project

Shane hit the ground running when he started working at Coledale.  He already has 10 parents lined up for a Parenting skills course to be held in September, with a diabetes workshop and budgeting workshop in the planning stages.  TAFE will be holding a session later in the year with information on the courses being offered next year.

Indoor carpet bowls has started as a regular activity for the seniors, with a yarn up afternoon for the guys being organised.

There have been a lot of walk-in clients, with counselling available on Tuesdays and Wednesday afternoons.

Life Skills Courses 2008

•     September

  •     Anger Management in Tamworth

  •     Skills for the Road Ahead in Tamworth

  •     Rural workshop: drought issues in Bellata   

•     October

  •     Anger Management in Tamworth

•     November

  •     Know Yourself in Narrabri

  •     Anger Management in Armidale

  •     Skills for the Road Ahead in Tamworth

Prayer

•     Larry and Terry (finance officer) as they continually tweak the budget

•     Family Relationship Centre (FRC) and associated programmes

•     Construction work at Denne St

•     Travel

•     LRCCS finances and accreditation

•     Staff health, and the health of their families

As a Friend of the ACS we appreciate your prayer support, and your financial support.  At any time you may make a tax-deductible donation by sending a cheque (with return address for your receipt) or by ringing the receptionist at the Tamworth Counselling Centre on (02) 6765 2527 with your credit card details.

Anglican Counselling Service, Executive Director: Larry Apthorpe

Lois Reid College of Counselling Studies, Principal: Jenny Regan

Financial Counsellor: Faith Boehm

Relationship Counsellors: Ruth, Lauren, Libby, Cheryl L, Caroly, Wendy, Ros, Jenny M, Ran, Bettina, Jenny R, Fran

Other Staff: Cheryl C, Lois,  Meryl, Elaine, James, Joy, Bruce, Kathryn, Ann, Robyn, Lynne, Terry, Jane, Sharon, Shane

Volunteers: Colleen, Eleanor, Nancy, Anna

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Last modified: 13 May, 2008