“It was awesome. It was great to see the number of people we had with people from Mulwala and Yarrawonga and most (15) of the priests in the diocese,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle. “Fifty people attended.”
Fr Geoff, who conducted his second church service last Sunday at St Andrew’s, acknowledged the downturn in attendances at church services.
“Unfortunately, it has become a common reality with country parishes,” the 71-year-old said. “I’m looking forward to my time here.
“I will be delivering interesting services. What you see is what you get. I’m a down to earth guy. I try to make the services as understandable as possible – user-friendly.”
Before entering the priesthood in 2014, Fr Geoff experienced a roller-coaster ride, selling insurance then being in real estate followed by being a lecturer in communications at the former Warrnambool Institute of Advanced Education (now Deakin University campus).
He was also involved in theatre and choir productions and appeared in television advertisements for a local wine outlet.
He and wife Ros moved back to Geelong where Ros was diagnosed with cancer in 2007, prompting Geoff to retire from work and become her full-time carer until she died in 2010.
“After feeling sad and down for a while, I thought I’d better get back into the world again,” he said.
He became chaplain at Stawell Secondary College for six months and had approached Ballarat Anglican diocese leaders about a role in church operations.
He was ordained into the priesthood in 2014 at the Ballarat Anglican Cathedral by diocesan bishop Garry Weatherill.
In September 2014 he was commissioned to fill in at the Mortlake parish and quickly found himself as the town’s go-to man, being the only resident clergyman of any denomination. The sole operator in Mortlake also covered Lake Bolac and Derrinallum.
While at the Mortlake church, he sought and obtained approval to plant some roses – a hobby of his, together with family history.
That ‘some’ roses increased to 250 and became a showcase garden, admired by so many people in town.
Explaining his changed direction, Fr Geoff said: “After Ros died, I felt I needed to put back some of the love and compassion to me by the church.
“I approached the diocese about doing a deaconship and the rest is history. “I’m looking forward to being at Mulwala.”
Fr Geoff, who is good friends with Fr Neil Hicks of St Cuthbert’s Anglican Church Yarrawonga, takes over from Berrigan-based Rev. Val Elson. Rev.Val officiated at St Andrew’s By The Lake Mulwala since 2010 and was such a respected and popular person.
“Reverend Val was well received at Mulwala,” church warden Glenda Brooker said. “She was very caring and just so well liked by our congregation.”
In her retirement, Reverend Val was presented with a bouquet of flowers from Glenda and Barham Priest Neale Sommersby.
On the question of flowers, locals should notice plenty of roses grow and bloom at the Edwards Street Rectory in due course.
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