The Midge Point arts community met for morning tea earlier this month to discuss the direction of the annual art prize, now without a prize money sponsor after 6 years.
It was determined there will be in its place, an exhibition where the emphasis becomes not on one winner, rather on local artists having their paintings on exhibit for ‘selling’.
It was thought that the single art prize somehow took away from the image that all the painting were in effect on sale – this had been missed, and with an exhibition it will be ‘front and centre’.
Meanwhile the Whitsundays Laguna Quays Respite coordinated by Well-Being Australia for missions opened in 2011 has proven to be a lovely break away for a wide range of those in Christian service. Here’s the rub:
Additional art was purchased for the respite cottage. These art works were from the Basil Sellers Midge Point Art Prize in July and have now been hung. The Midge Point arts community had a viewing morning last Wednesday. This was most enjoyable.
This two 2 min video is of the respite ministry for missionaries, home missions, church full time personnel is remarkable.
Laguna Quays Respite
It is a joy in the Lord seeing so many wishing to visit. The respite cottage is situated a fifteen minute drive south of Proserpine airport and a stone's throw from Midge Point. The missionaries and their families along with school chaplains, home missions of all shapes and varieties, church ministry personnel enjoy their stay.
Opened in 2011, Well-Being Australia developed this mission respite ministry after my wife Delma and I had ministered respite to Australian Institute of Sport elite athlete "respite" in both Moruya (Basil Sellers Moruya) and Tweed Heads (Basil Sellers Tweed) since 1992.
The Laguna Quays Respite facility was a dream of ours to serve our mission community with a no-cost rest and recuperation experience and the Whitsundays provides many such opportunities for relaxation.
Arrival
Upon arrival they can collect a heavily discounted AVIS rental vehicle under a special arrangement between Well-Being Australia and AVIS for mission people visiting the respite cottage.
There is no charge for the Laguna Quays Respite cottage yet visitors are welcome to leave a gifting to help with its functioning costs. Over these six years mission people have visited the Laguna Quays Respite facility from such missions and denominations as:
SIM, CMS, WEC, OMS, SU, TEAR, BCS, UCA, OMF, YM, Wycliffe, BCA, YWAM, MAF, AFES, CM, ASEF, Japan Missions, International Inter-Serve, NZ Missions, Global Interaction, independent missions, school chaplains and Ministers and pastors from many denominations.
hung in Laguna Quays Respite
Who can visit Laguna Quays Respite?
Missionaries, home mission personnel, school chaplains and professional church personnel needing respite and rest. It is specifically designed and dedicated to such mission personnel.
Over these past five years many family groups have visited in school holiday periods – it is a three bedroom beach house cottage – but they squeeze in somehow. Many missionary families have had family stays before they leave for overseas. Many are simply tired and need rest.
It has also been a wonderful solace for pastors and specialist ministry personnel who need timeout to relax their head space and for those wanting to seriously reflect as their prepare significant messages or writing designations. It is a broad church.
The local community are remarkable in their willingness to help in this missions project.
Enquiries are welcome for bookings - missionaries / home missions / school chaplains / pastors - to contact us for your respite visit to the Whitsundays – timeout@bushorchestra.com 0419 917 713
Laguna Quays Respite web site also host this video. http://www.bushorchestra.com/respite
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 mentors young writers and has written 24 books, and enjoys writing. He is married to Delma, with four adult children and grand-children. Dr Tronson writes a daily article for Christian Today Australia (since 2008) and in November 2016 established Christian Today New Zealand.
Mark Tronson's archive of articles can be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/mark-tronson.html