Darling Downs Zone Rally 2025

57th Darling Downs Zone Rally
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church Nobby
2nd April 2025
“He Cares for You”. (1 Peter 5:7b)

A very inclement day greeted us as we travelled to Nobby. A warm cuppa was welcomed upon arrival.  Jenny Stollznow, DDZ President, with Del Priebbenow, President of Nobby Ladies Fellowship, and Des Jurgens, Nobby Chairperson, welcomed 44 attendees and the DDZ Executive, representatives from the LWQ Executive, LWA Executive, West Moreton Zone, Charlie Uebergang SMP Pittsworth and Bishop Dr Mark Vainikka

(The gathering at Nobby Church)

Margaret Eising gave a brief explanation on the display, a painting of God holding the world in His hands, with scrabble tiles spelling out the message ‘He cares for You’. Yes God cares for one and all of us as we care, serve and help one another.

(The theme for the day: He Cares For You)

Charlie Uebergang gave a devotion and bible study based on 1 Peter 5:1-7. The gospel is not about us but about serving others and caring for each other.  If we love God we will love others, that is love in action.  By giving love through our actions to our families, neighbours, strangers, the suffering, the lonely, communities and to others, it shows our love to God and our faith in Him. As we share His love in compassion and forgiveness to those around us we will make room to love another. This we do not do for ourselves, but we do it for our Lord Jesus Christ. God says to ‘Feed My Sheep’. He instigate us to reach out to others, not stand over them, but to encourage, help, walk along side of them.  When we do this, we will inherit the Kingdom of God.  We should be submissive, ready, humble and trust in God’s grace as we serve Him, because HE CARES FOR YOU.  Be ever watchful and listen to others, practice what we preach, hand it over to Him to lead you and He will watch over you as you serve.

(SMP Charlie Uebergang)

We were blessed to have Bishop Dr Mark Vainikka present.  He gave us an update on his ‘Out and About’ journey throughout North Queensland, Darling Downs, to Moree, Stanthorpe, Warwick and Pittsworth visiting schools, aged care facilities and communities. He reminded us that the people are the church and we serve the church.  Our church requires a lot of prayer and discussion as we transition to accepting the changes. Our Lord Jesus Christ holds our future and that we are His.

(Bishop Mark Vainikka delivering his report)

Guest Speaker Anne Hopper (Clifton Community Health Service) is the co-ordinator ‘Staying at Home with Dementia’. Anne’s life story started her career in Dalby Aged Care only to give it away to caravan around Australia arriving in WA to become a dump truck driver.  Here she stayed until she was called back to Queensland to once again work in aged care but with dementia. Anne served in the Dalby, Crows Nest areas and then Salem Toowoomba.  Once again she took a break to go back caravanning but didn’t last long when she was called to return to work with aged care at Clifton treating patients with dementia.  Anne co-ordinated and established a 3 year pilot programme with the help of a government grant to give a educational and respite programme to help people who suffer with dementia to stay in their own homes, hence ‘Staying at Home with Dementia’. This programme involves taking careers and couples away on a educational respite retreat at the Millmerran Caravan Park. Here the participants stay in cabins and participate in educational sessions called ‘About Me’  participating in a banana bag full of scrabble tiles to make words, art of conversation cards, and talk about cards. Six to four couples participate at one time with careers. These couples are screened before and are interviewed after and interviewed six months later to gauge their improvement.  After eleven retreats, they have seen success in their efforts in helping couples care for each other in their homes. People who suffer with dementia can never handle changes given to them when they have got to change the way they think, so tools and ways are devised to help in caring for them.   Google ‘dementia shop’ for resources and aids.   Anne gave each one of us a bag of goodies and brochure to take home. Thank you Anne for the service of care you give to others.

Offering for the day of $916 was equally split between Clifton Community Health Service and Mary and Marthas

(LWQ President Val Kath presenting Avalon Hall with a gift of thanks for 12 years as Treasurer of the Zone)

Darling Downs Zone Project for 2025 is LCAQD Rural and Remote Hardship Fund and Quiz Worx.

Surplus funds distributed $2000.00 to LCAQD Rural and Remote Hardship Fund and $1000.00 being given to Quiz Worx (Non for profit organisation spreading God’s word to school children through puppetry).

Robyn Williams gave a comprehensive vote of thanks and gave thanks to two of our retiring members, Avalon Hall -12 years as treasurer and Joy Wurst – 7 years as extra member on the Darling Downs executive.  Val Kath, LWQ President, presented Avalon and Joy with a small token for their years of support and knowledge given to our Zone.

(Jenny Stollznow presenting Ann Hopper (Guest Speaker) with a thank you gift)

The day closed with Bishop Dr Mark Vainikka, in the absent of our zone spiritual councillor, gave a closing devotion on the focus of whether we are giving or getting?  We should be focused on giving, as true happiness comes from giving and not receiving.  He reminded us that we have many gifts given to us and we are to use them with love and understanding. As we share our gifts we are showing acts of kindness and love to others, and He will bless us through the works we do.

The afternoon concluded with BYO lunch and fellowship and another hot cuppa.

(The Darling Downs Zone executive)

Reporter:  Cheryl Peters