Week 1 campaign milestones
- Save St Oswald’s petition reaches 8,500 signatures. Thank you for getting us here.
- Byron Shire Council passes unanimous motion as a matter of urgency to Save St Oswald’s.
- ABC TV (starts 28:56 on this link) and radio cover the Anglican Diocese of Grafton’s plans to sell multiple churches.
- The Echo publishes a letter questioning whether there is social license to sell community land for profit.
What next?
We requested a meeting with the Diocese to discuss the future of St Owald’s. They replied:
“I have attached a copy of the certificate of title showing that the Diocese purchased the land, which was then Crown Land, at public auction for 15 shillings in 1922… I can also confirm that the Diocese intends to proceed with the sale as this is a sad but necessary action…While I cannot talk with you about ceasing the sale process, I can however talk with you about whether there is a way within that context that Arthur Goard and other war veterans can be honoured.”
We are continuing our campaign to stop the sale of St Oswald’s. We are seeking legal advice and researching historical documents to support our case. We are also researching fund raising and other options to save St Oswald’s.
The transfer of St Oswald’s to the Diocese was not a commercial transaction.
Our historians have unearthed records showing Arthur Goard’s parents allowed 1 acre of their land to be resumed (re-possessed) by the Crown in 1920 “for the purpose of a memorial”. The Foundation Stone of St Oswald’s was laid in 1921.
Arrangements appear to have been made for St Oswald’s to be transferred to the Diocese for a nominal sum. The resumption of land was revoked in April 1922, and in July 1922 the Diocese paid 15 shillings to the Crown for St Oswald’s – equivalent to $1.50 in today’s currency according to the Reserve Bank of Australia's calculator.
St Oswald’s was clearly transferred to the Diocese as a gift, and the exchange of nominal funds was simply to transfer ownership from one party to another.
What you’ve been saying about our petition.
“Goodwill should not be transferred into profits.”
“We as a country need our history saved for future generations.”
“It’s appalling for a church to sell a donated place built in honour of soldiers.”
We need your help!
Can you help us reach 20,000 signatures?
Can you share our story with the media?
Can you write a brief email of protest? Feel free to copy and paste from our campaign.
Tamara Smith, Member for Ballina (NSW Parliament): ballina@parliament.nsw.gov.au
Justine Elliott, Member for Richmond (Australian Parliament): Justine.Elliot.MP@aph.gov.au
Chris Nelson, Registrar/General Manager, Anglican Diocese of Grafton: admin@graftondiocese.org.au
Geoffrey Smith, Primate, Anglican Church of Australia: gsoffice@anglican.org.au
Together we can Save St Oswald’s.
Any support is welcome. We will be in touch with further updates.