From Father Mick
PICTURED are builders Simon Timms, Don Hassan and Neil Rankin of Rankin Builders of Pambula, who have, since May 19 this year, worked on the restoration project of St Mary’s Catholic Church.
Earth tremor damage over the years had left numerous cracks in walls and all but destroyed the suspended slab Sanctuary floor.
Two tremors, one in 1994, the epi-centre of which was in the Adaminaby area measured 3.4 on the Richter scale when it was recorded at the Mila seismometer, and then the largest recorded since the measuring device was installed in our area in 1988, the February 5, 2006 3.33am tremor centred sixty kilometres north of Orbost, sent
the needle to 3.9 on
the scale.
Of course, older residents of the district will tell of two tremors experienced in the 1960s which sent people out of their homes to watch the quake rippling the roads as they rolled and rumbled away to the north of the town.
Geoff Bowland and Ovi Boaru, of G O Engineering, Cooma, have designed specifications for works which thankfully did not require any work on the foundations or roofing structure of the church.
The tremors, while some were quite strong, did not have the same effect as some of the sermons delivered in the church over its sixty-five years!
The restoration of the church is now almost complete. The parish is taking no chances this time. A wooden Sanctuary floor, designed and built by Neil Rankin has replaced the old, fashioned from area hardwood timbers.
The cracks in the walls have been painstakingly repaired, it’s been like watching a dentist drill out cavities in teeth and carefully patch them.
People may remember the very large crack in the eastern wall. Many people have had a go over the years at repairing it I’m told. The late Paddy Lomas would get up there each time another tremor opened it up again and patch it. But this time, a new section of wall was built, it took almost three weeks to do that one alone.
Local crafts and trades people, along with local suppliers have been extensively involved in the project as well.
Betty Bruns and staff at Rockton Furniture have crafted a new Altar and Presider’s Chair along with other works, Donna and Mark Porrit and Philip Jacobs are working on a glass feature, Keith Brownlie and Les Atkins have milled timber for a special cross feature, Stephen Jones and Vince Moore have installed a new power board with safety switches (already ‘tested’ successfully by the parish priest!), Malcolm Hurley and staff at MCH have been fashioning metal work and Ray and Raymond Turnbull have completely repainted the interior.
This week Nicky and Nigel Spoljaric will carpet the nave of the church - with 100% woollen carpet of course.
Jan, Terry Murphy and staff and Rudi and Elsie Wertenbach, Mick Sullivan and Desi Douch at Bombala Electrical and Hardware, staff at Milliners, Trevor Morgan and Mayor Bob Stewart have also provided materials, equipment, advice and assistance.
Parishioners are working extensively at working bees to have the project finished for the scheduled re-opening by the Archbishop of Canberra and Goulburn, Bishop Mark Coleridge, on Saturday, September 27 at 11am.
Everyone is invited to celebrate with parishioners and join in a barbecue lunch afterwards.