Kununurra Parish |
| Kununurra is the local aboriginal word meaning 'meeting of big waters' & is in the
East Kimberley region of West Australia (situated 880 kilometres west of Darwin and 1100 kilometres north east of Broome). It is one of the youngest towns in WA created by the damming of the Ord
River. The town is progressing rapidly through agriculture, the Ord River Irrigation Scheme, tourism & Argyle Diamond
Mine. The consequent Ord River irrigation system supplies water to the Ord Valley farming community which produces
sugar, melons, mangoes, cotton (soon) and other tropical products. It exports cattle to much of South East Asia and cattle
stations are spread over much of the Kimberley. Tourism is a growing industry as people discover the beauty of the rugged
ranges, rivers, gorges and plains; and the Kimberley, particularly the Shire of Wyndham/East Kimberley, is rightly named
"The Last Frontier". The population is approx 5500, apart from the farmers is a mobile one with many
contract workers moving back to major centres after 2-3 years. There are large numbers of small Aboriginal
communities in the Shire, including Oombulgurri (formerly Forest River Mission –accessible only by air) in the Parish of
Wyndham. Wyndham and Oombulgurri have now been included in the pastoral oversight of Kununurra since the Palmers
transferred to Coober Pedy. The climate is arid-tropical with dry & wet seasons. Two important events have happened recently which will further open up the area in the next few years. The Ord Irrigation Project Stage 2 agreement between the government and traditional owners, with the Argyle Diamond Mine now authorised to go underground. Both projects will mean more employment and more people, but accommodation will be a real problem. The ministry is town based and the parish also includes a number of large cattle stations in the remote Kimberley. Both the spiritual needs and the opportunities are great. Ron & Robyne Johnson took up the position of BCA Field Staff in September, 2004, after 13 years of helping other churches establish lay pastoral care ministries. They are concerned to reach out to a younger generation who are growing up without Christ, while seeking to make sure that the elderly are not disenfranchised by the many changes in church and culture. They are strong biblical servants of the Lord who live out the truths of Christ showing love to others in a ‘fair dinkum’ way. With the strength the Lord provides, they are well suited to overcoming the difficulties that life throws their way and be a blessing to the people of Kununurra. Jim and Natalie Watson are self-funded Co-workers ministering alongside Ron & Robyne Johnson. They grew up within the family of Gymea Anglican Church in Sydney being greatly blessed with love & discipleship. They were married in 1994 and now hope to be an encouragement to God's people & to Ron & Robyne’s ministry in Kununurra. This may involve Jim in youth & men's ministry, & Natalie in women's, children's & pastoral-care ministry. Natalie completed a Graduate Diploma in Bible & Mission at Sydney Missionary & Bible College. Jim is a Carpenter and continues this work in Kununurra. Natalie is an Occupational Therapist & now a full time mum. In September they were blessed with the birth of their second son, Matthew, a brother for Jesse (born May 2004). In 2003 Natalie completed a Graduate Diploma in Bible & Mission at Sydney Missionary & Bible College. Go to Jim and Natalie's Prayer Notes. Rev Ron & Robyne Johnson may be contacted at : Tel. +61 8 9169 1650 Email:
r.johnson@bushchurchaid.com.au Jim & Natalie Watson (Co Workers) can be contacted at: Email: jn.watson@bushchurchaid.com.au
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Copyright © 2008 Bush Church Aid Society of Australia |