As Chairman of Well-Being Australia I received a message from Basil Sellers to list what was required at Laguna Quays Respite to bring it to the next level for the comfort of those missionaries and pastors who visit.
One of the features of the facility which is located 200 metres off Repulse Bay, is its sense of a 'beach house' atmosphere without the fanfare of the penthouse! In some sense it is Spartan although every mod-com favours the cottage such as a good kitchen, fans, air conditioning, television, DVD player …...
It is a three bedroom cottage with a remarkably wide large veranda which enjoys views of Repulse Bay through the palm trees and a huge covered back patio where a modern outdoors laundry is located, adjacent to the clothes line.
The first two items on the list was stage 2 of the concrete drive way, an 11 x 5.5 metres section from the existing concrete at the large cyclone gate through to the end of the back patio concrete slab. The initial concrete drive way completed done 18 months ago. The Whitsundays wet season is such that stage 2 became a priority.
Another outdoor improvement was a car port in the back yard which my wife of 36 years Delma Tronson considered paramount and both of these items were approved by Basil Sellers.
As to the cottage itself, I thought it provident to bring in Mr John Lyons from the local real estate office at Midge Point shops. John was very pleased to assist this mission project by listing items that he considered areas of improvement and submitted a report to Basil Sellers.
There were cosmetic items such as covers for three fluro lights, a back patio external power point, along with courtesy hand rails, two new hinges on the veranda gate, a bathroom 'old Queenslander' high ceiling repaint, an extended landing from the kitchen to the pack patio, a cover for the external hot water system and fresh tiles on the bathroom floor as a cosmetic refresh. .
John Lyons noted the strength and remarkable condition of the building sitting on metal peers and moreover without any termite or pest infestation issues. The property is completely surrounded by a 2.5met cyclone fence and similar wire around the complete base of the building. The original owners had little children and they undertook this huge task from neighbourhood pets.
Mr Basil Sellers himself added to the list providing the respite cottage with wi-fi access for missionaries to access. A password is provided to each visiting missionary and pastor.
He also added to the list at least one new lounge chair as one of the existing chairs had blue tape over the cracks in the material. His message was "no band-aid chairs". My response was that it was a very comfortable chair and it would be relocated to the back patio as a "book reader chair" but it will soon be known as "the dozing off chair!"
Two years on
Opened in June 2011 after several months of refurbishing the cottage, missionaries from a wide rang of mission organisations and churches have enjoyed taking 'timeout'. Respite has a rich history from Jesus himself and to more modern Christian leaders such as the great London Victorian preacher of the later half of the 1800' C H Spurgeon.
The 'Basil Sellers' Laguna Quays Respite project was based on our established Basil Sellers Moruya (1992) and Basil Sellers Tweed (2006) respite facilities for Australian Institute of Sport elite athletes and their coaches and families.
When I fell ill through stress in 1999 I realized there was a need to provide a respite facility for missionaries, a service to the Lord for all the various mission societies whether they be denominational, long established missions or independent missionaries. It took a further 12 years before it came to fruition.
Set up for missionaries
Knowing intimately about missionary finance, I was determined there would be no fee, but if anyone wished to make a gifting they could. For those who fly into Proserpine, the respite facility's dual cab vehicle is there for them for their use. Local respite coordinators Sean and Sue Spencer connect with the missionary visitors over a cuppa and meet any out-of-the ordinary needs, and Sean offers fishing and Sue craft classes.
Recent bookings
It has been overwhelming in the Lord to see the Laguna Quays Respite for missionaries being so well received as a touch from the Lord with bookings through to the end of August along with a two week December booking
Mission people wishing a visit please contact Well-Being Australia's Mark Tronson timeout@bushorchestra.com or 0487 245 207
Dr Mark Tronson is a Baptist minister (retired) who served as the Australian cricket team chaplain for 17 years (2000 ret) and established Life After Cricket in 2001. He was recognised by the Olympic Ministry Medal in 2009 presented by Carl Lewis Olympian of the Century. He has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html