ROSEWOOD Uniting Church entered its 150th year buoyed by the support and appreciation of its parishioners and the community.
Parishioner and Church Council Secretary Joyce Rieck and her many helpers planned the day of celebration over many months.
The anniversary celebration took place in the church grounds and more than 180 people joined in.
A special guest was Margaret Hall, the wife of the late Reverand Graham Hall who was church minister from 1958 to 1965.
“Both of them are much loved, she is now 90 and lives at Hervey Bay,” Joyce said.
“Her daughter lives in Toowoomba, she picked her mother up and brought her to our celebration.
“People were thrilled to see her and talk to her because they were both a big part of the church and the community.
“Graham married my husband and I; he married a lot of people in those days.”
Of all the memories crammed into 150 years perhaps those that involve love are ones that remain the longest.
In the mid to late 1900s, youth groups were a regular part of everyday life.
It was the days before the internet and mobile phones, and dating apps were still many decades away.
“Rosewood had a very active Congregational youth fellowship,” Joyce explained.
“And of course, romances developed and Graham married a lot of people.
“Each year on their anniversary, he’d phone and congratulate them.
“He’s long since passed away but the first year after he passed away, I said to my husband ‘there’s one thing for sure, we won’t be getting a phone call from Graham Hall today’.
“Then the phone rang and it was his wife, Margaret, who was following on with the tradition.”
It is history like this that drew so many to take part in the Uniting Churches’ special anniversary day.
Festivities included a service and a morning tea spread of cake and grazing platters.
Mayor Teresa Harding presented a certificate to Joyce that congratulated the church on its milestone.
Also at the event were Reverand Glen Schweitzer (Presbyterian Minister), Federal Member for Blair Shayne Neumann, Cr Harding, and councillors Jim Madden and David Martin.
There was a handout of history and stories, and displays of memorabilia, photographs and books.
A continuous slide show played of past photographs and there was a display of instruments because the church is renowned for its musical talents.
The congregation’s oldest member, Betty Perrin, was asked to cut the anniversary cake.
“The food was tremendous, the cake was spectacular and the service was uplifting,” Joyce said.
“The church was so full of people some sat outside under shelters and nearby the sound systems.
“It was a wonderful day and enjoyed by all who took part.”
