News & Events

New appointments!

27th June 2025

Last Thursday our church counucil were thrilled to confirm the appointments of our new cafe manager and interim Minister. 

Windy Ramirez has been appointed 0.5FTE  as manager of BillaBean Cafe from July this year. Windy will work with the volunteers to re-open the cafe in early term 3. 

Revd. Stephen Larkin will commence as our Supply (interim) Minister from August 0.4FTE until December, while the search process for our new Pastor/Minister continues. 

Church Council elections & Commissioning

13th June 2025

At our recent AGM, we thanked Susan Schon and David Fenwick for their time as members of the church council and elected Rodney Olsen as a new member. At the first church council meeting after the AGM, the council elected Rodney as the chairperson, Andrew Hunter as interim Treasurer and progressed the appointment of a finance committee to assist with the work of our financial stewardship. 

Our church council for the year ahead will be commissioned and prayed for during the 10am service on Sunday 15th June - we hope you'll join us!

Cafe Manager wanted

9th June 2025

We were recently awarded a grant of up to $40,000 to help us run BillaBean Cafe for 12 months from re-opening, allowing us time to get the cafe to the point where it is covering all costs (praise God!) This means we are now on the search for a part time (approx 20 hours per week) manager - someone with good people and organisational skills. For more info and to express your interest, head to thebillabong.org.au/cafe

Please spread the word to any friends who may be suitable and interested!

Update on Minister's Placement

4th May 2025

On Sunday 4th May, Luke shared d a summary of the process The Billabong has been in for the last 12 months to consider whether he continues on as Minister at The Billabong, and the decision that he and the church council have now come to. 

You can watch the recording here or read the letter here. 

Call for reports from groups and ministries

1st April 2025

Each year we compile and annual report, as well as a "Doing Life Together" booklet with a compilation of testimonies and reports from our various groups and ministry. If you lead or co-ordinate one of these groups or ministries, please send your report including what's been happening over the past 12 months or so to luke@thebillabong.org.au by Sunday the 27th April. You can find examples from last year's reports here. Thank you!

Can you assist with finance or property matters?

30th March 2025

Our church council are looking for members of The Billabong who have skills, interest or experience in both financial matters and property care and maintenance. Our property team are a committee authorised by the church council to work with the facilities manager to look after our facility, and a new finance team is being established to assist the incoming treasurer with financial matters. If you can spare even a few hours a month to assist in either of those areas, please get in touch - luke@thebillabong.org.au

Want to help with our easter events? 

1st April 2025

If you're keen to help us plan our "bunny trails" on Good Friday and Easter Saturday, making them an engaging and meaningful time for those who attend and visit, there'll be a chance to provide input and sign up to help this Sunday 6th April after our Celebrations. We're looking for people with creative ideas for the venue where people will start and finish their "trail", which will be set up with ways to engage with the true easter story, as well as volunteers for stations on the trail on the day(s). 

Demolition of Rammed Earth Wall commenced

31st March 2025

After some delays, the demolition of portions of our rammed earth wall have commenced. Initial observations have proved that this wall was indeed structurally unsound and any attempts to repair would have been in vain. Considering how fragile the wall was, we are thankful to God that there was no injuries or damage to property up until this point. Please pray for the demolition to progress smoothly in the coming days. 

The full report on this demolition and remediation work that was previously circulated can be found here.