Bishop Clarence Bester from the Wangaratta Diocese inducted Rev’d Roberta who was ordained in 2009 following a career as a music teacher.
With her husband Stephen, Rev’d Roberta spent 12 months in London in 2006, whilst she completed academic studies and realised that she was being called to the priesthood.
She has appreciated the “warm and lovely welcome to Yarrawonga” and has taken an instant liking to the town. “I like the rural ministry - that’s my passion,” Rev’d Roberta told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“Bishop Clarence has invited me for some time to come to the Yarrawonga Parish and I felt the time was now right.”
Prior to coming to Yarrawonga Rev’d Roberta was a locum Priest at Queanbeyan and Crookwell, Vicar at St. Dunstan’s Camberwell Vic, Rector of South Tuggeranong NSW, Priest and Deacon at Taralga NSW.
Rev’d Roberta was widowed in 2019 and has four children and seven grandchildren. She enjoys music, writing novels and has a passion for medieval architecture.
The Induction Service was well attended with 21 members of the Clergy, family and friends, the congregations of St. Cuthbert’s and St. Thomas’s and members of other Yarrawonga churches.
The service began with a Processional Hymn “The Summons”, followed by a welcome, prayers, reflection, readings before the Presentation Induction and Licensing. This was followed by representatives of the Yarrawonga Parish bringing forward symbols of Christian Ministry and the Office of Priesthood; Renewal of Baptismal Vows, Eucharist and Speeches of Welcome from Community Representatives including Commissioner John Tanner – Moira Shire; Villa Nowacki – Uniting Church, Malcolm Browning – Presbyterian Church; Rev’d Jeni Bedding - St. Andrews by the Lake Anglican Church Mulwala, Deanery Welcome – Rev’d Jerome Francis and Warden Geoff Campbell.
The service concluded with the hymn “God Gives us a Future” and a blessing of the congregation by Bishop Clarence Bester, followed by a magnificent supper in the church hall.
