Rouse Hill rejoices at officially opening complex
Rouse Hill rejoices at officially opening complex
14 April 2022
Commissioner Janine Donaldson unveils the plaque at the opening and dedication of the new Rouse Hill Corps complex in Sydney. Yvonne White is holding the flag.
After three postponements in 18 months due to COVID-19, the Rouse Hill Region Corps complex in north-west Sydney was officially opened and dedicated over the weekend of 2-3 April.
From top: The new complex; local member Ray Williams presents the flags; Major Bill Geracia speaks with the Donaldsons; Sunday morning worship, an outdoor courtyard in the complex; the plaque at the complex entrance.
Territorial Leaders Commissioners Janine and Robert Donaldson presided over the celebrations at the new centre in Edwards Road, Nelson, and shared inspiring messages.
Janine unveiled the foundation plaque and dedicated the building to be a place of “hope, acceptance, and spiritual awakening of all people without discrimination”.
“May this be a place where young and old are encouraged in the gospel and equipped for service,” she continued. “May this be a place where the hurt receives comfort, the weary are revived, the despairing are filled with hope, and a place where people run to, a place where the sick are healed. May this be a place where friendships are established and deepened.”
Various corps officers and local community leaders who have played an integral role in the establishment of Rouse Hill Corps and the development of the new centre were present.
Retired Majors Dennis and Sue McGuigan, who planted the Rouse Hill ministry in 2003, were represented by two of the eight original planting team, Ron and Yvonne White, as flagbearers along with other former leaders of the corps – Majors Nigel and Sandy MacDonald (2011-2015) and Major San Holland (2015-2021).
“The Army purchased the 2.5 hectares here at Edwards Road just after we arrived in 2011,” Nigel said. “It was an exciting privilege to stand on the block and envisage what God might do for this community through his people.”
San recalls her experience: “As I stood in the paddock where the building now sits, I felt God say on more than one occasion, ‘this place will be an oasis for people to step aside from all that is happening around them – a watering hole’. It will be like a big family home to welcome people into; the jug will be on, and there will be a big welcome mat at the door.”
The current leaders are Major Bill Geracia and Liam Holland, who oversee the Norwest Region team. Liam, with his wife Alli, are founders of the Community Serve and Connect (CSC) Project, a specialised ministry of the Norwest Region team to families of young people with complex medical and physical needs.
Several community dignitaries attended the opening, including State Member for Castle Hill Ray Williams and The Hills Shire Council Deputy Mayor Mark Hodges.
“I like to refer to our Salvation Army volunteers and personnel as ‘undercover angels’ doing extraordinary things,” Mark said on behalf of Mayor Dr Peter Gangemi, who could not attend.
“As you can see from today’s ceremony, they are more than just a shoulder to lean on. They are a shining beacon of hope that shines bright even in the darkest of times. The presence of your chaplains in our courts and prisons brings help and hope to many who would be lost without your people there. They bring light and life into many dark situations.”
Mr Bob Charley OA, one of three executors of the Denise Cobcroft estate, unveiled a plaque dedicating an ancillary hall room to recognise a major donation from Denise’s estate to the project. “Denise Cobcroft will be smiling down on us today as I unveil her memorial plaque. The Salvation Army is one of four organisations she admired and supported,” Bob said.
Springwood Lighthouse band entertained the large crowd with bright, upbeat music throughout the festivities on Saturday.
Commissioner Robert Donaldson gave an inspiring message on Sunday and urged the Rouse Hill Corps community to live up to their mission statement: ‘Encounter Jesus, Encourage our people and Engage our community’.
“This is your mandate to join in this wonderful mission of bringing people into fellowship, faith and fruitfulness, transforming this society one life at a time,” he said.
For more information and YouTube videos about Rouse Hill, go to https://www.salvationarmy.org.au/sydneynorwest/events/
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