May2011_DAYBORO RECIPIENT OF COMMUNITY SERVICE AWARD 2011
On Wednesday 6th April, at the annual gathering of the districts services clubs at Murrumba Downs, this year’s award for outstanding community service was presented to Dr Paul Inglis, Community Minister at the Dayboro Uniting Church.
He accepted this “on behalf of the many people who pulled together after a fire and flood in Dayboro”.
Paul was born on 2nd August 1945, the youngest of 3 boys to Noel and Hazel Inglis. Tragically his father died when he was 13 and his mother Hazel was left to work full time to provide a home for the boys. The family made a combined sacrifice to send Paul to teachers college and his first posting was at Scarborough State School.
Paul continued to study at night to gain his Bachelor of Education and then was transferred to a one teacher school. He moved on to North Ipswich and met Robyn. They were married in December 1971.
The next move was to Kallangur where they settled for some years. During the day Paul taught in primary schools and at night he studied at University. As the years rolled on Paul and Robyn were blessed with two daughters. Working as a lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at N.B.C.A.E which later became Q.U.T, Paul continued his studies to gain his Masters in Education and then he studied externally for his Doctorate in Education in 1989. Still not done, Paul went on to study Theology. In 2001 Paul left the University and accepted the position of Community Minister with the U.C.A. in Dayboro and Mt. Mee.
Moving to Ocean View and living in the district has enabled Paul to work closely with other churches in the area through the Dayboro Combined Churches Committee. It was Paul’s vision which saw the establishment of an effective welfare program supported by the community and the churches to provide relief for families and individuals in the area. A close working relationship with the local medical centre and the school has helped many to benefit from the generosity and closeness which is an integral part of the Dayboro community. This dynamic relationship of community and churches, headed by Paul, resulted in the very successful fire and flood concert which has benefited many in our community.
Paul has always had a passion for helping communities to assist those who need a helping hand. As a lecturer at QUT he initiated the ‘QUT Staff Community Welfare Fund’. He invited all staff of QUT to contribute a small amount ($1 or $2) each fortnight from their pay to the fund. This initiative had the strong support of the Vice Chancellor who backed the fund by holding an annual function to distribute the proceeds. Over a period of about 5 years (until Paul left the University to take up his ministry position at Dayboro/Mt. Mee) the fund distributed tens of thousands of dollars to such groups as “Trinity Kitchen” which provided food for the homeless of Fortitude Valley; Karuna Hospice; Montrose Home for crippled children; and the Huntington’s Association. It also paid for excursions for groups of underprivileged children and for the lease of a car for a year for home nursing organisations.
Since becoming a Community Minister in Dayboro/Mt. Mee, Paul has been a driving force in the Combined Churches Welfare Fund as well as overseeing the operation of the distribution of provisions from the community “Pantry” and casserole bank. These community based welfare programs enjoy great support both from the local churches and the community. They are currently providing assistance to eleven families or individuals in the area.
When the McKavanagh’s home burnt down in late December 2010, Paul was asked to coordinate assistance for the family. He met with Col and Mary McKavanagh and members of the extended family who were also deeply affected by what had happened, to offer support and practical help.
Some residents of Dayboro asked for Paul’s help to organise a benefit concert for the family. In the meantime offers of assistance were phoned into Paul’s home office. Just as the organisational wheels began to roll, many in the community of Dayboro were faced with the extraordinary floods which engulfed the area on January 11th 2011.
At the request of the McKavanagh family, those who were to benefit from the concert were to include those who had suffered from the devastation of the flood. As the concert was being organised, Paul visited many of the victims worst affected by the flooding and organised assistance for some through the Combined Churches Welfare Fund. He also helped to source accommodation for those unable to return to their homes.
Paul wrote to local businesses and service organisations seeking sponsorship for the concert. He also wrote advertisements and articles which he had published in local newspapers.
Paul coordinated a very enthusiastic, dedicated and talented committee to organise a benefit concert which included a charity auction. In the record time of only three weeks the whole event was organised, advertised and sold out.
The Flood and Fire Concert raised $31,500 – $10,000 of this went directly to the McKavanaghs. Application forms for grants were created and distributed – Paul personally visited many of the people who had been affected by the flood to encourage them to submit an application. On Thursday 31st March, Paul chaired a committee who processed the applications and distributed the remainder of the funds to 13 families and individuals. Paul then wrote to the recipients and sent cheques of up to $2,000 to help in the recovery process.
Encouraging the community to help others has always been a passion for Paul and, wherever he finds himself, he endeavours to assist people in organising self-help welfare programs.
Paul was born on 2nd August 1945, the youngest of 3 boys to Noel and Hazel Inglis. Tragically his father died when he was 13 and his mother Hazel was left to work full time to provide a home for the boys. The family made a combined sacrifice to send Paul to teachers college and his first posting was at Scarborough State School.
Paul continued to study at night to gain his Bachelor of Education and then was transferred to a one teacher school. He moved on to North Ipswich and met Robyn. They were married in December 1971.
The next move was to Kallangur where they settled for some years. During the day Paul taught in primary schools and at night he studied at University. As the years rolled on Paul and Robyn were blessed with two daughters. Working as a lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at N.B.C.A.E which later became Q.U.T, Paul continued his studies to gain his Masters in Education and then he studied externally for his Doctorate in Education in 1989. Still not done, Paul went on to study Theology. In 2001 Paul left the University and accepted the position of Community Minister with the U.C.A. in Dayboro and Mt. Mee.
Moving to Ocean View and living in the district has enabled Paul to work closely with other churches in the area through the Dayboro Combined Churches Committee. It was Paul’s vision which saw the establishment of an effective welfare program supported by the community and the churches to provide relief for families and individuals in the area. A close working relationship with the local medical centre and the school has helped many to benefit from the generosity and closeness which is an integral part of the Dayboro community. This dynamic relationship of community and churches, headed by Paul, resulted in the very successful fire and flood concert which has benefited many in our community.
Paul has always had a passion for helping communities to assist those who need a helping hand. As a lecturer at QUT he initiated the ‘QUT Staff Community Welfare Fund’. He invited all staff of QUT to contribute a small amount ($1 or $2) each fortnight from their pay to the fund. This initiative had the strong support of the Vice Chancellor who backed the fund by holding an annual function to distribute the proceeds. Over a period of about 5 years (until Paul left the University to take up his ministry position at Dayboro/Mt. Mee) the fund distributed tens of thousands of dollars to such groups as “Trinity Kitchen” which provided food for the homeless of Fortitude Valley; Karuna Hospice; Montrose Home for crippled children; and the Huntington’s Association. It also paid for excursions for groups of underprivileged children and for the lease of a car for a year for home nursing organisations.
Since becoming a Community Minister in Dayboro/Mt. Mee, Paul has been a driving force in the Combined Churches Welfare Fund as well as overseeing the operation of the distribution of provisions from the community “Pantry” and casserole bank. These community based welfare programs enjoy great support both from the local churches and the community. They are currently providing assistance to eleven families or individuals in the area.
When the McKavanagh’s home burnt down in late December 2010, Paul was asked to coordinate assistance for the family. He met with Col and Mary McKavanagh and members of the extended family who were also deeply affected by what had happened, to offer support and practical help.
Some residents of Dayboro asked for Paul’s help to organise a benefit concert for the family. In the meantime offers of assistance were phoned into Paul’s home office. Just as the organisational wheels began to roll, many in the community of Dayboro were faced with the extraordinary floods which engulfed the area on January 11th 2011.
At the request of the McKavanagh family, those who were to benefit from the concert were to include those who had suffered from the devastation of the flood. As the concert was being organised, Paul visited many of the victims worst affected by the flooding and organised assistance for some through the Combined Churches Welfare Fund. He also helped to source accommodation for those unable to return to their homes.
Paul wrote to local businesses and service organisations seeking sponsorship for the concert. He also wrote advertisements and articles which he had published in local newspapers.
Paul coordinated a very enthusiastic, dedicated and talented committee to organise a benefit concert which included a charity auction. In the record time of only three weeks the whole event was organised, advertised and sold out.
The Flood and Fire Concert raised $31,500 – $10,000 of this went directly to the McKavanaghs. Application forms for grants were created and distributed – Paul personally visited many of the people who had been affected by the flood to encourage them to submit an application. On Thursday 31st March, Paul chaired a committee who processed the applications and distributed the remainder of the funds to 13 families and individuals. Paul then wrote to the recipients and sent cheques of up to $2,000 to help in the recovery process.
Encouraging the community to help others has always been a passion for Paul and, wherever he finds himself, he endeavours to assist people in organising self-help welfare programs.
