On Friday 18 May we held the Mathew Hale Public Library annual dinner. Over 140 people attended this event to pay tribute to the life of Alex Crawford, hear from ABC Radio presenter Steve Austin, and engage in fellowship with fellow believers committed to the promoting of Biblical truth in the Anglican Diocese of Southern Queensland.
Thank you to all those who attended and blessed the ministry of the Mathew Hale Public Library. It was hugely gratifying to speak with so many of you and see so many people willing to support the work of the Library.
Steve Austin spoke wonderfully, but also broadly. Indeed, the breadth of his remarks covered a wide variety of topics and perspectives. Interspersed in his remarks were references to numerous authors and their books. Steve has been kind enough to provide us with a list of the books he referenced in his speech and you will find that by clicking here.
At the event I spoke on the future direction of the Library, particularly following the death of Alex Crawford ; the founder, visionary and company secretary of the Library. We have been most blessed, however, through the generosity of Chris Wallace and an organisation called Sodia. With their help, we embarked on a process of strategic planning for the future of the Library which acknowledges the past and where we have come from while painting a direction for the future.
This plan will focus on five key aims:
Supporting theological students through to Anglican Ordination in the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland.
Supporting Clergy in the Anglican Church of Southern Queensland.
A public voice in the Diocese promoting Biblical teaching.
Expanding and Re-energising our Donor Base focused on purpose of ministry.
Build Ministry Capacity (Balance our capacity and resources for the new strategy
More information will be made available on the future activities of the Library in the coming months.
I hope to see you soon at a future Library event, or perhaps you may wish to take the chance to visit the Library in person. We are open on Mondays from 12pm – 3pm and I’d encourage you to look through our extensive collection of books.
Lastly, if you wish to engage further with the work of the Library I’d urge you to sign on as a member or as a regular donor. Our work is only possible thanks to the generous donations of our stakeholders. You can find the various supporting options here.
Many blessings,
Steve Woodward,
Managing Director,
Mathew Hale Public Librar