Closure service for Charles Vesely

This special service led by Presbytery representatives, Brian Mowbray and Graeme McRaild marked the formal recognition of Reverend Vesely's five years of service to Grenfell and the official handing back the elements of ministry to the church council.

The following luncheon and farewell speeches proved to be both sad and celebratory, as many people spoke of Charles' service to our entire community.

Charles was minister to Grenfell, Greenethorpe and Quandialla congregations. He has been instrumental in bringing the historic Cowra Road blue church back into service for Easter and for carols on Christmas Eve.

His work with the minister's fraternal in Carols By Candlelight, the Easter Ways of the Cross service and a covenant of sharing with the Holy Trinity Anglican Church have assisted the drawing together - the ecumenism - of all the churches of Grenfell.

Charles has also had some memorable exploits in Grenfell. With his partner in enthusiasm, Don Needham, we have seen some interesting lessons - the first being a change of the outer man: Don, a rather hairy individual at the time, had a shave and a haircut in church! Who would not remember, having seen it, the carols night when we saw cola flowing like a volcano out of the mouth of a bottle.

We also saw enormous efforts such as the lovely Easter idea to put an illuminated cross on the tower of the Church - a highly successful venture until the storm which left two very worried and sheepish fellows trying to tarp the church roof to keep the water out.

Charles was also chaplain to the Grenfell RSL sub branch, later becoming a part time Australian Army chaplain. Charles was a member of our rural bushfire brigade and SES, working for his community in times of need.

He became an SES chaplain in his time at Grenfell and travelled to towns in our region, assisting SES members after critical incidents. Charles has been member and president of the Grenfell Rotary Club. Many other service groups also remember his support at various times.

Charles' final prayer over the congregation gathered to farewell him was presented in the Czech language - an act of respect and love that will linger long in the minds of those who heard it.

Charles, Yvonne, Kari, Damaris, Shem and Andraya now look toward the next adventure: Charles' posting as Chaplain in the Australian Defence Force, to 1 RAR in Townsville. He, Yvonne and the children are now busily making preparations for this change to take effect in mid January 2007.