15 ABM supporters from across Australia spent a delightful seven days in Tasmania this March, not only seeing hidden treasures but meeting them too!

From a warm welcome reception at All Saints Anglican Church, South Hobart to dinners up the East Coast and various functions in Launceston, Tasmanian Anglicans showed our mainland visitors wonderful hospitality. These faithful Anglicans were as much the “hidden treasures” we’d come to meet as the beautiful scenery we drove past each day. We enjoyed local food and wine with them as we shared in worship and fellowship with our brothers and sisters from all corners of Australia.

Ably led by Grahame Foster, owner-operator of Land Voyages, we travelled in comfort, visiting beautiful but often lesser-known places of interest, often being the only tourists around! We marvelled at both the built and natural beauty. This included: Australia’s oldest surviving large stone arch bridge at Richmond, 200 years old this year; the Little Blue Lake, an old tin mine near Gladstone; the Tasmania Bush Gardens near Buckland; and the poignant carved memorials to WWI soldiers at Legerwood. A couple of brave souls even got their feet wet at Ansons Bay.

While fellowship and food were important aspects of this bus tour it also aimed to fundraise for ABM AID’s Sustainable Communities Program. In total over $10,000 was raised towards this life-giving program. Over the course of the week, the Bus Tour participants and guests at the various functions heard from ABM’s Key Relationships Manager, Meagan Schwarz, about how AID’s projects and our partners are transforming lives and how our ABM supporters can also join in God’s mission.

While in Tasmania, Meagan and the Rev’d Warwick Cuthbertson, Chair of the Tasmania ABM Committee, presented five Coaldrake awards to former ABM Missionaries.

ABM AID is grateful to the ABM Tasmania Committee and Grahame for initiating this tour and hosting us so generously. We’d also like to thank All Saints South Hobart, All Saints Swansea, St Paul’s in the town of St Helen’s, Holy Trinity Launceston, and St Matthias Windermere, for their hospitality and welcome.

ABM is exploring options for similar tours in future, and you are welcome to indicate your interest by email to info@abmission.org.au or phone 1300 302 663.