Introducing our very own Verity Thomson who is part of our South Head Anglican Parish community!

My earliest memory … seeing my father and sister waving at me from outside a hospital ward where I had undergone ear surgery to save my hearing. I was about 12 months old. It’s one of the reasons I learnt AUSLAN (sign language) a few years ago.

I grew up in … Surrey, England. A beautiful part of the world.

As a child I dreamed of… a dancer and a human rights lawyer (though not at the same time!). 

My favourite vacation spot is … wherever my family can gather. We recently had a family reunion in Crete which was lovely.

I came to faith … through an Alpha course at St. Peter’s, Watsons Bay in 2003. I’d been heading in the general direction of being a ‘Believer’ throughout my life, but I needed someone to actually ask me the question “do you believe that Jesus is your Saviour?” before I could commit.

An item on my bucket list is … I have quite a few, so please allow me to mention two…to play a few tunes on the piano and to walk the Camino de Santiago in Spain.

My first musical experience was … my parents took me to see the Disney film ‘Fantasia’ when I was 6 years old. I can still remember how music by Dukas, Gershwin, and Saint-Saën came alive with the cartoons. 

The best decision I ever made was … I’d probably have to say, “going on a blind date with Duncan in 1981 and marrying him in 1985”. I’d also add moving with Duncan and our two young sons from England to Australia in 2002 and having the courage to go on my own to the Alpha course a few months later. 

I first came to SHAP … I joined Tanya Bosch’s Bible Study & Fellowship group in 2016 and I moved to worship here in early 2019. I’ve always felt welcomed and encouraged by Stuart, Jane and everyone at SHAP.

Currently I am reading/listening/watching… I usually have 2 books on the go at the same time. I am reading ‘When Helping Hurts’ (Corbett and Fikkert) and ‘The Bomber Mafia’ by Malcolm Gladwell. I regularly read several Christian online news publications and the Bible every day. I often listen to John Dickson’s ‘Undeceptions’ podcast and I recently enjoyed ‘Borgen’, a Danish political drama series on TV.

In my spare time I like to … go for walks with our dog, Trooper, and see plays, movies, musicals, ballet and opera with Duncan.

The best advice I ever received was … Don’t worry – God has got this covered!