Hermannsburg Thanks God for its hospital
by Neville Doecke
31 July 1960. Where were you? What were you doing?
Up in the Centre of Australia they had just finished building a brand new, very modern hospital and had gathered to dedicate it ‘to the glory of God’. The gifted builder and brickmaker, Roy Burton, together with a work team of Aboriginal men, were proud of what stood before them in the middle of Hermannsburg.
Dedicated on this day by the then President General of the Lutheran Church of Australia, Dr M Lohe, this much needed hospital was opened by Mr TGH Strehlow, son of Missionary Carl Strehlow. It represented the culmination of many months of working side by side of both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people together.
This was an historic event to remember, with thanks to God.
Some Aboriginal ladies who were nurses in the hospital joined hands to cut a large 60th anniversary cake
Read more about the history of this occasion
Read similar stories in the 2020 Summer edition of Christ in the Centre, news from the Finke River Mission (FRM) of the Lutheran Church of Australia (LCA).
Neville Doecke is the Ministry Support Worker
for the Western Arrarnta Language Area
Ministry of the LCA’s FRM
