|
St George's Holiday House is conducted by the Service Personnel Anglican Help Society Inc (founded in 1915 by the Reverend Canon David Garland, OBE, VD, as the Soldiers' and Sailors' Church of England Help Society). The main aims of the Society are to support Defence Force chaplains in their ministry and to provide for the moral and social welfare of serving and ex- members of the defence forces. The second aim is achieved by the provision of the holiday house at Rainbow Bay where a weekly ecumenical service of worship is conducted. The block of land at Rainbow Bay was purchased in 1917 and in 1918 a wooden building was erected and named the Soldiers' Church of England Rest House. A large number of men from military hospitals were cared for during convalescence, while others discharged from the Army spent their holidays at the Rest House. The House continued to be used by ex-servicemen between two world wars. Later it was decided that a permanent building should be erected and the Queensland Patriotic fund provided £20,000 out of the £27,000 required. On 25 November 1953 the Foundation Stone was laid by Lieutenant General Sir John Laverack, Governor of Queensland, and blessed by the Most Reverend Reginald C. Halse, Archbishop of Brisbane. In June 1954 the building was opened by the Chairman of the Queensland Patriotic Fund, Sir John Chandler. The second stage was completed in 1958 and the third in 1961. Between 1992 and 1999 a major refurbishment of the House was completed at a cost of $500,000. A new managers' residence and administration centre was built during 1999 and 2000 at a cost of $230,000 and dedicated by the Director of the Society, the Right Reverend Adrian 0. Charles, AM, RFD, ED on 29 March 2001. Other projects are continuing as funds become available.
|
