THE local Anglican church has an old face returning for a new role with father Paul Roberson taking the position of locum.
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After serving as a rector from 1979 to 1988, father Roberson has spent some time away from the area, but will reside in Scone once again in the part-time position.
Working on Fridays and weekends, he will be conduct funerals, pastoral visiting, organise baptisms and weddings, and lead the service on Sundays.
He said he was surprised when he got the request to take up the role, acknowledging it had been a long time since his family last lived in the area.
“My wife Noreen and I came here nearly 40 years ago when I was appointed Rector, our four children were born at the Scott Memorial Hospital and now we have five grand children,” said father Robertson.
He said there is a familiar feel in the parish to when he first came to Scone in 1965, when they were also in the middle of a crippling drought.
“I come at a time of great difficulty to many people and the church are trying to respond to the immediate need of families who are doing it tough,” he said.
“With the CWA (Country Women’s Association) at Parkville and Wingen we’ve established a pantry, goods are coming in… and we’re boxing them up and sending them out as hampers to people that are really in great need.”
He said Scone has changed a great deal since he left, highlighting the development of the church-run grammar school.
Father Robertson was involved in the re-establishment of the educational institution in his final years of rector, including the re-purchase of the original 1840’s building, and is proud to see how far it’s come since then.
“It’s been wonderful to see that school grow in the last 30 years, it now has 495 students, you can see the growth that’s taking place.
“It’s very gratifying to see Scone Grammar School operating and flourishing, so I get a great sense of satisfaction from that,” he said.
The Scone community haven’t forgotten about father Robertson, with the locum saying he’s already been inundated with welcome back messages and greetings from people that still remember him.
He admits he can’t recall all of their names and faces yet, noting that many of them were just children when he last saw them, but is looking forward to engaging with the community once more.