Homelessness is on the rise in Taree and Father Peter Tinney is on the frontline helping vulnerable men, women and families.
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People can often be found sleeping rough in the gardens and archway of his church, St John’s Anglican in Victoria Street, and he works with others to try to provide compassionate and practical care through the St John’s Emergency Relief Fund.
“There is greater need now, more than ever. There is a lot of homelessness around, probably more than we would anticipate in our community,” Father Tinney said.
People come to the area because it is a little more comfortable and safer than Sydney. They sleep under the bridge, they sleep in our garden, sometimes in the archway out the front.
- Father Peter Tinney
St John’s Emergency Relief Fund is vital to the work of the church as it seeks to help vulnerable people in our community, and Father Tinney is celebrating the success of its recent fundraiser – the Blue Cross Festival of Christmas Trees.
Twenty-one decorated Christmas trees stand in the church, created by community groups and individuals. It is a spectacle of creativity, community engagement and support for the fund and it officially opened to the community on December 14. Entry fees and gold coin donations to view the trees is boosting the fund’s bank balance, but Father Tinney says the first Blue Cross Festival of Christmas Trees is contributing more than money.
“It's just wonderful that people are enjoying the anticipation of Christmas.
“There is greater kindness and a generosity of spirit that rises in people at this time of year. It is really remarkable and it's a lovely thing for our community; it's the kind of thing that can really change the world.
“Sadly, I think people aren't as hopeful as they used to be, and so we (the church) need to work on building people's trust and faith in each other, and in God, and to help people to be more intentionally peaceful in their interactions with each other.
At this time of year people become more generous, more accepting, more loving, and will look for ways to help people.
- Father Peter Tinney
“However, we can get very stressed and quite aggro in our society, and it's really important that we have a grounded sense that everyone has their own journey, and we need to respect those things.
“Part of respecting ourselves is in how we deal with other people, and we need those interactions to be friendly, gentle and caring so that we can build stronger community.”
Father Tinney said the kindness and creativity evident in the Blue Cross Festival of Christmas Trees was cause for celebration.
“It’s really wonderful and helps to restore people’s faith in each other, that there is a goodness in humanity. Sometimes we don't behave in that way and it's lovely when those things become present and seen in our community.”
Father Tinney’s Christmas wish is for “everyone to have a wonderful Christmas” adding, “if they need a hand then they should reach out and ask for help.”
St John’s Anglican Church will be open for people to view the Blue Cross Festival of Christmas Trees from 10am until 5pm until Friday, December 21.
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