As a young clergyman with a wife and two very young children, Jan and I thought we were glued into the parish of Cooma NSW. I was the assistant at St Paul’s and the Rector asked if I would welcome the NSW BCA secretary to present an address about the work of the Society.

Jan and I were ‘zapped’ that night and really believed that God put into our hearts the desire to join the outreach of BCA. We made a ‘wobbly’ approach to Bill Rich concerning our belief. He told us there was nowhere looking to be backed by BCA. But BCA was soon approached by the Primate who asked if it would consider providing ministry to the top end of WA.

Our lives were to change. In 1965 we were flown to Perth where we collected a long-wheeled Land Rover and organised furniture to be purchased and sent up via coastal shipping. The 2000ml+ road journey offered a sealed road to Carnarvon but after that we faced a rough red dirt road and high temperatures.

On arrival in Kununurra, we learned the news that our house which was supposed to be built was still in bundles on the docks in Perth. Like the Nativity message in the Bible, there was no room at the inn. Seventy plus miles north in Wyndham we could housesit some government homes. There had been a death of a young worker in Wyndham, and the townspeople heard of the clergyman coming, so they adjourned to the pub and waited. Jan and our two little ones were whisked off while I was told to take the funeral. Because we spent quite some time in Wyndham before our Rectory was built, we were able to build a special ministry there, which never would have happened if we had stopped in Kununurra – what a wonderful God!

Left: Barry prepares for a parish trip in c1969 (from the Women's Weekly)
Top Right: The Green family in February 1969 (from the Women's Weekly)
Bottom Right: Barry Green in 2025

Over the five years we got to know people in the two towns, the Forrest River Mission, Halls Creek, many cattle stations and road camps as well as the Kimberley Research Station (KRS). After celebrating Holy Communion in a shed at KRS using a bale of hay as a Communion Table, a Baptism was arranged in the Ord River. A drunk fellow, with beer cans, some empty, but others full, was sitting on the riverbank. As I began, he started rolling beer cans down the stony riverbank.... “What ya doin?’ I explained, and later he yelled, “Well my cans can be yer church bells” and then, “what’s the croc got to do with it?” I looked behind and saw a croc behind me. That was when I tried to emulate our Lord walking on water.

While in Kununurra our twin daughters were born. They made friends with Karina a little girl their age and the three were often mistaken as triplets. One day we heard car brakes squealing, the crunch of metal and then SILENCE! Karina had been with her mum, standing on the seat of a Toyota ute with windows open. A second ute came out of nowhere, hit the ute Karina was in, and our third little girl was thrown out and the ute rolled on her. Going to her dad and breaking the news was gutwrenching.

Within the local congregation and far-flung cattle stations, we experienced fellowship. We made friends with God’s people and are still in touch with some today. One young scallywag came to know Jesus and was later ordained. He and his wife are still serving our Lord. Their four children are our godchildren. He even conducted the wedding of our eldest daughter, Elizabeth.

All this, because 60+ years ago, the Rector at St Paul’s Cooma asked me to conduct the evening service and welcome the NSW BCA Secretary.

If you’d like to read the full five-page article by The Revd Green please contact Janine van den Tillaart in the National Office on 02 9262 5017 or email janine@bushchurchaid.com.au