Church cooks up plans

St Augustine's Uniting Church is calling for volunteers to take part in an initiative which supports people in rural communities who are battling hardship.

The church will hold the Great Outback Barbecue this Saturday to help raise money and invite interested people to help with the Frontier Services’ Outback Links program.

Outback Links offers people in remote Australian locations with gardening, farming and general domestic support while they recover from injury or illness.

St Augustine’s Uniting Church mission coordinator Phil Brett said the service played a crucial role in providing help when it was desperately needed.

“Frontier Services looks after the outback of Australia, ” he said.

“We are involved in the Outback Links program, it helps provide people with assistance.”

Frontier Services was established by Reverend John Flynn, the founder of the Royal Flying Doctor Service, with its origins dating to 1912.

Mr Brett and his wife Helen have previously helped a family in remote Victoria through the Outback Links program, with Mr Brett describing the charitable work as fulfilling.

Mr Brett said previous Great Outback Barbecue events had helped generate interest and support in Outback Links.

“Last year we had people outside the church interested in the program which was great, ” he said.

“We are targeting volunteers to come and get involved.”

All proceeds from the barbecue will be donated to Frontier Services to help fund the Outback Links program.