Bronwyn Tupper and Ian Cleworth were engaged in January 1983.

 

A Judeo-Christian Passover Celebration Meal was held in the Norwood Scout Hall on Thursday 31st March. [see PHOTOS 1983​]

 

David Williams and Margaret Stokes were married at St. Bartholomew’s Church on Saturday 2nd April 1983, which was the Easter weekend. David and Margaret had close connections with Jireh people.

 

Jeremy Glenn Graetz was born on the 19th April 1983, Mal and Jenny’s 3rd child.

​

The Norwood Primary School held a Dress-Up Parade. The Jireh kids participated in this event.

 

In July, Josie Tanner was farewelled in the community shed as she was departing to go to Hong Kong. Josie was to become the nurse for the Hong Kong Youth With A Mission base after completing the YWAM Summer of Missions and Evangelism.

 

Mal Graetz organised a “Jireh Community Music Night” on Saturday 23 July in the Scout Hall. The night began with a children’s session with special guest appearance of “Psalty the Singing Songbook” (Jenny Graetz). The singing, games and shared tea was followed by dancing to Country Bluegrass and 1950’s music. After the kids were bunked down in creche homes, the adults had sessions of Australian music, contemporary gospel and a humorous bracket. There were live performances by community members followed by ”music to raise the dead” - the Rock’n Roll hour. The night concluded with some easy listening music and sing-a-long around the open log fire.

 

A special Jireh Training Night & Community Meeting was held on Thursday 11th August. There was training on all aspects of the Thursday night ministry together - mealtimes, children’s session, creche and worship. The Community meeting agenda included planning for the Melrose community holiday, finances, reflection on the Music Night, end of year events and general sharing. 

 

The house at 62 Fisher Street, Norwood came up for sale and an auction was held on the 12th August. Des and Cherie Fellowes purchased the house. Their house at 45 Gray was sold to Peter and Marilyn Brown. Josie Hogg provided a generous bridging loan while the financial details were being settled. Substantial gifts and interest free loans were given from Jireh and St. Bart’s people. Eleven single people and families contributed to this house acquisition. Settlement date for the Fellowes house was Tuesday the 27th September. Norwood Council gave approval to add an extension on the back of the house on the 29th November.

 

September was a busy month for camps: 

Jireh Community had a week long holiday at “Shalom Cottage” which was on the “Gumville” property of Jim and Jenny Bishop, a few kilometres north of Melrose. The property had a creek lined with magnificent River Red Gum trees and was just West of Mt. Remarkable National Park. The community camped from Monday 29th August to the 5th September in the school holidays. The campsite included a community kitchen, dining area and limited indoor bedding. Some camped in tents and  others in caravans. The group went on various hikes and visited Alligator Gorge in Mt. Remarkable National Park. On one outing, the group went on the Pichi Richi steam train line leaving from Quorn railway station. The kids loved the trailer rides.

 

The Norwood Scout group had a camp at the Mylor Baptist Campsite. Jeff Byerley, one of the scout leaders and also a member of Jireh community invited Jireh people to share some spiritual input. “Psalty the Singing Song Book” helped lead the scouts in singing some Christian songs with the help of Maureen Harris and Mal Graetz on guitar.

 

In late September, St. Barthlomew’s Anglican Church had a camp at Cuddle Creek. Quite a few Jireh people also attended with their children.

 

The Norwood Christmas Pageant was held late in November. This year the three Wisemen were riding on camels to the delight of the crowds lining the streets. This was the third year the churches had joined together to participate in the pageant walking down The Parade, the main street in Norwood.

 

Issues arose over divorce and remarriage. Over the decade, the Rev. Geoffrey Bingham had given us much teaching on the role of man and woman, the sacredness of marriage and issues surrounding divorce. Some of that differed from Christian denominations that were becoming more relaxed on the issue of remarriage. Sue Franklin decided to leave Jireh Community after exchanges of letters and dialogue with the Jireh eldership came short of finding some resolve.

 

Bronwyn Tupper and Ian Cleworth were married in December at St. Barthlomew’s Anglican Church. A pre-wedding celebration was held on the lawns of the King’s property and a meal was shared in the Bezalel shed. Bronwyn and Ian were dressed up in wedding clothes for the special occasion.

 

Jireh Community held an outdoor Christmas gathering on the back lawn of the King’s property.