Love God. Love Others: 40 Years of ADRA Victoria
Rebecca Auriant / Ashley Standon
Published
"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ There is no commandment greater than these." - Mark 12:30-31
On Saturday June 22, ADRA in Victoria held a special 40th anniversary event at Burwood Adventist Community Church. The evening was an opportunity to celebrate and recognise the work and commitment of ADRA’s Victorian volunteers, to reflect on the past 40 years, and to look to the future.
Rebecca Auriant, the Conference ADRA Director in Victoria, began working one day a week with ADRA in May 2007.
“I was excited to work for the church and help people in need,” says Rebecca. “There were four food parcel programs and two op shops at the time.”
However, after the tragic Black Saturday bushfires in 2009, Rebecca identified a huge potential to serve the local community through ADRA and the Seventh-day Adventist Church, especially in times of disaster. After a few years, her role was made full-time.
“Today, by the grace of God, we have 23 programs across the state,” says Rebecca. “We also have four op shops.”
ADRA’s projects help those in the community who would otherwise fall through the cracks. They are also the recipient of key government grants and have established crucial partnerships with Women’s Housing, Afri-Aus Care, OrangeSky, SecondBite, Foodbank, and Support for Employment.
With much to celebrate, ADRA’s 40th anniversary event in Victoria kicked off with a concert by music group The Commissioners. Throughout the course of the evening, local teacher and renowned artist Kate Pincheira did a live painting on the stage. The final artwork was sold at a silent auction for $1,000, which was donated to ADRA’s response in Gaza.
Shirley Tarburton and Krystelle Ko shared their family’s long history of volunteering and engaging in welfare assistance through ADRA and the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
“In 1932, our family’s official participation in Seventh-day Adventist welfare work began and has extended over nine decades through five generations,” Shirley shared. “We are now into the second year of our 10th decade of work with ADRA and the various organisations that were its forerunners.”
A highlight of the evening was the awards ceremony in honour of Pr. Eddie Erika and John Beament, two of ADRA’s most dedicated volunteers who both passed away within the last year.
“Pastor Eddie Erika and John Beament were both trailblazers for supporting the most vulnerable people in their communities,” says Rebecca.
The recipient of the Eddie Erika Award was Pollyana Stanly Levi; and the recipient of the John Beament Award was Courtney Baumgurtel.
The anniversary service also included encouraging words from AUC President, Pr. Terry Johnson, and Victorian Conference President, Pr. Graeme Christian. A special word of prayer was said by Pr. Mebzar Quinto over Dandenong Central volunteer Janelle Bocola and her recent amputation.
ADRA is the global humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church that serves communities regardless of ethnicity, political, or religious affiliation. Globally, ADRA works with communities, organisations, and governments to enhance the lives of millions of people through sustainable community development and disaster relief.
Here in Australia, ADRA works in partnership with local Seventh-day Adventist churches to provide initiatives such as food pantries, community gardens, and emergency relief. ADRA in Victoria is proud to contribute to ADRA’s global purpose to serve humanity so all may live as God intended.
