FRIENDS OF THE OUTBACK – HISTORY

“FOTO”

For over sixty years a small committee in Sydney supportedthe Bush Brothers who worked in the remote outback parishesof Australia. But with the changes in society, by 1982there were no 1onger any young single men offering for thisservice and parishes were then staffed by .married men,often with families to support.

In 1983 this committee changed its name to Friends of theOutback and decided to continue its support for outback Australian Anglicans.

We have raised funds for specific projects that are vitalto the ongoing life and growth of the church in theseplaces. Projects have been suggested to us by the Bishops of the three most isolated dioceses in this country,namely North West Australia, Northern Territory and NorthQueensland.

We take each diocese in rotation and in September/October each year the Bishop of the diocese visits Sydney to speak with interested groups and congregations. All moneys raised each year are received by the diocese for which our appeal is held.

This is a caring mission, directed towards much needed specific projects. It has enabled us to participate in areal way in the lives of those whose work takes them tolive under conditions of isolation and difficulty and very limited means for any form of expansion. It has established warm links with outback folk, and many haveexpressed their appreciation that they are in the thoughts and prayers of city dwellers.

This Article was written by Jim (James) Shuttleworth who together with his wife Mary passionately devoted their time to directing FOTO. We wish to pay tribute to their legacy.