Port Hedland Seafarers Centre Latest News
Ship to Shore Newsletter
Check out our regular newsletter - Ship to Shore, for further information about whats happening in and around the seafarers centre! You can find previous editions here also.
Most Recent Edition: Dec 2017 - Issue 9
Jun 2014 - Issue 1
Oct 2014 - Issue 2
Jun 2015 - Issue 3
Dec 2015 - Issue 4
Mar 2016 - Issue 5
Sept 2016 - Issue 6
Jun 2014 - Issue 1
Oct 2014 - Issue 2
Jun 2015 - Issue 3
Dec 2015 - Issue 4
Mar 2016 - Issue 5
Sept 2016 - Issue 6
Christmas goodies for seafarers
Taken from The North West Telegraph - Wednesday 29th November 2017. By Sophia Constantine.
Nicky and John Latham helping assemble bags at the weekend.
Picture: Helen Komene |
Seafarers coming into Port Hedland in the two weeks leading up to Christmas will receive gift bags courtesy of the Port Hedland Seafarers Centre.
Volunteers met at the Sealanes Building over the weekend to help assemble the bags, which contain various gifts valued about $40. Seafarers centre manager Chris Towsey said the bags were a token of appreciation for the seafarers who made Australia’s economy the success that it is. “It’s a service we offer to the seafarers every year,” he said. “It’s a small compensation for seafarers who work over Christmas. “They have a fairly hard life,” he said. “They have lack of contact with their families . . . time over Christmas can be fairly stressful and emotional for them.” He said if the seafarers didn’t give up their family life for nine months at a time, then no shipping would run. “Australia is an island. Everything big has to come and go by ship,” he said. Seafarers spend $5 million a year on average at the Boulevard Shopping Centre, bringing vital funds into the local economy. |
Stretcher to help sick sailors
Taken from The North West Telegraph - Wednesday 26th July 2017. By Sophia Constantine.
The Port Hedland Seafarers Centre has been given a stretcher to help with the safe transport of patients from ships in port and at anchor.
Fortescue Metals Group has donated the stretcher to the organisation, which provides pastoral care services and assistance to thousands of seafarers every month.
There is a transient population of about 1300 seafarers who visit Port Hedland each day, and around 66,000 visit the town each year.
As a long-time supporter of the Seafarers Centre, Fortescue takes part in the annual Christmas gift bag drive.
Food hampers and presents are given to ships’ crews who are anchored in Port Hedland in the leadup to Christmas. Seafarers Centre operations manager Chris Towsey said there were occasionally medical cases in which an evacuation was necessary.
“This stretcher will be a great asset in assisting the safe transport of patients from ships both in port and at anchor,” he said.
Fortescue general manager Port and Rail Fernando Pereira said the donation was set up to recognise the invaluable service the Seafarers Centre provided to Port Hedland.
He said the donation of the stretcher would ensure the centre was equipped with the necessary tools to assist seafarers safely.
“At Fortescue, the health and wellbeing of our people is paramount and this extends to the ongoing welfare of all crew that arrive at Herb Elliott Port,” he said.
Fortescue Metals Group has donated the stretcher to the organisation, which provides pastoral care services and assistance to thousands of seafarers every month.
There is a transient population of about 1300 seafarers who visit Port Hedland each day, and around 66,000 visit the town each year.
As a long-time supporter of the Seafarers Centre, Fortescue takes part in the annual Christmas gift bag drive.
Food hampers and presents are given to ships’ crews who are anchored in Port Hedland in the leadup to Christmas. Seafarers Centre operations manager Chris Towsey said there were occasionally medical cases in which an evacuation was necessary.
“This stretcher will be a great asset in assisting the safe transport of patients from ships both in port and at anchor,” he said.
Fortescue general manager Port and Rail Fernando Pereira said the donation was set up to recognise the invaluable service the Seafarers Centre provided to Port Hedland.
He said the donation of the stretcher would ensure the centre was equipped with the necessary tools to assist seafarers safely.
“At Fortescue, the health and wellbeing of our people is paramount and this extends to the ongoing welfare of all crew that arrive at Herb Elliott Port,” he said.
Tour Promotional Videos
The Port Hedland Seafarers Centre is gearing up for another busy tourist season. To help spread the word on the great tours provided by the Seafarers Centre, 2 promotional videos have been produced. Not only do the tours showcase what the Port Hedland Seafarers Centre does on a day to day basis, but the money raised goes directly to providing services for visiting seafarers! Check out the videos below.
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Christmas 2016 Gift Bag Drive
The Port Hedland Seafarers Centre has extended the Christmas spirit to visiting seafarers once again this year. Check out the video of this years gift bag drive. Thanks to Helen Komene for producting this video - https://www.helenkomene.com/
New leadership for seafarers centre
Taken from The North West Telegraph - Wednesday 1st February 2017. By Taylar Amonini.
Port Hedland Seafarers Centre has started a new reign with chaplain Alan Mower stepping down in his leadership role.
New operations manager Chris Towsey has been learning the ropes over the past few months in preparation for Mr Mower’s bittersweet departure.
Mr Mower, who has been chaplain of the centre for the past six years, said he would be sad to leave the organisation he had put so much hard work into but was excited for the future.
He said the mission had got to the stage where he felt it was time to hand over the reins.
“I think it requires another stage of leadership to continue to take it forward and to continue to hang on to it would stifle to growth of the centre,” he said. Mr Mower is travelling with his wife, Maria, seeing both the world and Australia.
Mr Towsey, however, has been putting the skills he has developed in his 40-year mining career to work and finding his place in the well-loved seafarers centre.
“I’m taking over a business that’s in very good shape, has a brilliant future and is on a very good foundation, both financially and in terms of management systems.
“So from that point of view, it’s a good system to come into.
“There’s a future for it (the centre) and there’s also room for improvement.”
The upcoming developments are critical to determining what direction the centre will take next, according to Mr Towsey, but the bottom line is caring for seafarers.
“The seafarers are our prime focus,” he said.
However, Mr Towsey does invite the public to come down to the centre and discover the opportunities available to the public such as mining tours and volunteer positions
“We’re open 365 days a year and we welcome all visitors,” he said.
New operations manager Chris Towsey has been learning the ropes over the past few months in preparation for Mr Mower’s bittersweet departure.
Mr Mower, who has been chaplain of the centre for the past six years, said he would be sad to leave the organisation he had put so much hard work into but was excited for the future.
He said the mission had got to the stage where he felt it was time to hand over the reins.
“I think it requires another stage of leadership to continue to take it forward and to continue to hang on to it would stifle to growth of the centre,” he said. Mr Mower is travelling with his wife, Maria, seeing both the world and Australia.
Mr Towsey, however, has been putting the skills he has developed in his 40-year mining career to work and finding his place in the well-loved seafarers centre.
“I’m taking over a business that’s in very good shape, has a brilliant future and is on a very good foundation, both financially and in terms of management systems.
“So from that point of view, it’s a good system to come into.
“There’s a future for it (the centre) and there’s also room for improvement.”
The upcoming developments are critical to determining what direction the centre will take next, according to Mr Towsey, but the bottom line is caring for seafarers.
“The seafarers are our prime focus,” he said.
However, Mr Towsey does invite the public to come down to the centre and discover the opportunities available to the public such as mining tours and volunteer positions
“We’re open 365 days a year and we welcome all visitors,” he said.
New supporters come aboard with Seafarers
Friday 29th July 2016.
The Port Hedland Seafarers Centre is a not for profit organisation, and relies on the support of the local community, to help look after the international seafaring community. The Seafarers Centre is delighted to have some new supporters "come board" to help the Centre with its ongoing work. We hope that you might support them as they have supported us, to continue with our worthwhile mission. Thanks!
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Please check out the Supporters page for more information
Unique insight into iron ore
Taken from The North West Telegraph - Wednesday 18th May 2016. By Ben Leahy.
Visiting grey nomads can view Hedland’s iron ore industry from a new angle now the seafarers centre has begun guided tours into miner Fortescue Metals Group’s port operations.
Beginning at the Port Hedland Seafarers Centre, the tour takes tourists by bus into Fortescue’s Herb Elliott Port operations where they pull up alongside vessels loading iron ore.
Seafarers centre senior chaplain Alan Mower said the tour allowed visitors a unique insight into the operations of the world’s “fourth largest seaport exporter of iron ore”.
“(We go) in through the front gate … past the stockyards, looking at stackers and reclaimers,” he said.
We have also been given access to go … along the wharf, in under the ship loaders, to see the ships being loaded.
“There is a real sense of getting behind the scenes.”
The Fortescue tour joins the Seafarers’ innovative harbour tour and the visitor centre’s guided ride through BHP Billiton’s Nelson Point port operations in allowing visitors access to Hedland’s iron ore industry.
The Seafarers’ harbour tour allows tourists to join the centre’s staff as they use a small boat like a taxi to motor between iron ore carriers and pick up visiting crew wishing to come ashore to shop and relax.
Mr Mower said Hedland’s mining-related tours had increasingly put the town on the grey nomad tourist trail.
He tipped an even bigger tourist season this year after the Town of Port Hedland decided to open its Turf Club discounted caravan campgrounds for an even longer period from May until the end of August.
With Fortescue also allowing the Seafarers to pocket the proceeds from the new port operations tour, the Christian pastoral care mission hoped it would generate substantial income to help fund its plans to build a new, larger centre.
“It is a very practical way (for Fortescue to) support the building of our new mission,” Mr Mower said.
Fortescue group manager government and community Alexa Morcombe said the miner was proud to grant “access to our Herb Elliott Port for weekly tours that will help the (Seafarers) with its ongoing fundraising, while also sharing our journey with visitors”.
Beginning at the Port Hedland Seafarers Centre, the tour takes tourists by bus into Fortescue’s Herb Elliott Port operations where they pull up alongside vessels loading iron ore.
Seafarers centre senior chaplain Alan Mower said the tour allowed visitors a unique insight into the operations of the world’s “fourth largest seaport exporter of iron ore”.
“(We go) in through the front gate … past the stockyards, looking at stackers and reclaimers,” he said.
We have also been given access to go … along the wharf, in under the ship loaders, to see the ships being loaded.
“There is a real sense of getting behind the scenes.”
The Fortescue tour joins the Seafarers’ innovative harbour tour and the visitor centre’s guided ride through BHP Billiton’s Nelson Point port operations in allowing visitors access to Hedland’s iron ore industry.
The Seafarers’ harbour tour allows tourists to join the centre’s staff as they use a small boat like a taxi to motor between iron ore carriers and pick up visiting crew wishing to come ashore to shop and relax.
Mr Mower said Hedland’s mining-related tours had increasingly put the town on the grey nomad tourist trail.
He tipped an even bigger tourist season this year after the Town of Port Hedland decided to open its Turf Club discounted caravan campgrounds for an even longer period from May until the end of August.
With Fortescue also allowing the Seafarers to pocket the proceeds from the new port operations tour, the Christian pastoral care mission hoped it would generate substantial income to help fund its plans to build a new, larger centre.
“It is a very practical way (for Fortescue to) support the building of our new mission,” Mr Mower said.
Fortescue group manager government and community Alexa Morcombe said the miner was proud to grant “access to our Herb Elliott Port for weekly tours that will help the (Seafarers) with its ongoing fundraising, while also sharing our journey with visitors”.
Fortescue and Hedland Seafarers staff lead tourists on the first guided tour of the miner's port operations earlier this month. Picture: Alan Mower
For more information on Tours offered by the Seafarers Centre,
please visit the Tours page or Contact Us.
please visit the Tours page or Contact Us.
Centre site a sea change for Seafarers
Taken from The North West Telegraph - Wednesday 20th January 2016. By Rebecca Parish
Port Hedland Seafarers Centre senior chaplain Alan Mower has expressed his delight after the mission secured land for a new centre last week.
Lot 9, The Esplanade will be the new home for the Seafarers Centre, the result of four years of hard work, dedication and patience from staff.
The new centre will cost about $4 million with major port stakeholders supplying the majority of the funding. Mr Mower said he hoped work would be near completion within 18 months to two years.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for five years,” he said.
“We were looking at blocks for two-and-a-half years and it’s just the current downturn in the retail market that has made it affordable for us.
“We’ve been squirreling away our little bits of money for four or five years now and the Lord has blessed us.”
Architect Fratelle Group director Kylee Schoonens said the new centre would be a striking building that served the needs of the Seafarers.
“For me, the Seafarers Mission has already moved so far, what we want to do is help them grow further into the future,” she said.
Mr Mower said the centre had also secured the lot beside their purchase last week, with BHP Billiton making the land available to give the new centre an extra 300sqm.
The building will not only be built using the square footage of the lot but will also go up by at least one level, making further use of the view of the port which sits in front of the lot.
“There’s obviously a sense of excitement but there is a lot of hard work and a lot of preparation to be done,” Mr Mower said.
The existing centre, on Wilson Street is owned by the Seafarers Centre but sits on Pilbara Port Authority land.
Mr Mower said the existing building would likely be demolished once the new centre was up and running.
He added the centre was still looking for extra finance to ensure the project was built to fully encompass the dream of staff.
Lot 9, The Esplanade will be the new home for the Seafarers Centre, the result of four years of hard work, dedication and patience from staff.
The new centre will cost about $4 million with major port stakeholders supplying the majority of the funding. Mr Mower said he hoped work would be near completion within 18 months to two years.
“I’ve been dreaming of this for five years,” he said.
“We were looking at blocks for two-and-a-half years and it’s just the current downturn in the retail market that has made it affordable for us.
“We’ve been squirreling away our little bits of money for four or five years now and the Lord has blessed us.”
Architect Fratelle Group director Kylee Schoonens said the new centre would be a striking building that served the needs of the Seafarers.
“For me, the Seafarers Mission has already moved so far, what we want to do is help them grow further into the future,” she said.
Mr Mower said the centre had also secured the lot beside their purchase last week, with BHP Billiton making the land available to give the new centre an extra 300sqm.
The building will not only be built using the square footage of the lot but will also go up by at least one level, making further use of the view of the port which sits in front of the lot.
“There’s obviously a sense of excitement but there is a lot of hard work and a lot of preparation to be done,” Mr Mower said.
The existing centre, on Wilson Street is owned by the Seafarers Centre but sits on Pilbara Port Authority land.
Mr Mower said the existing building would likely be demolished once the new centre was up and running.
He added the centre was still looking for extra finance to ensure the project was built to fully encompass the dream of staff.
Fratelle Group’s Marco Bense and Kylee Schoonens, with Port Hedland Seafarers Centre associate chaplains Garry South and Eion Simmons, watch on as senior chaplain Alan Mower unlocks the gate to the site of the new mission. Picture: Rebecca Parish
Christmas 2015 Gift Bag Drive
14th January 2016.
Every year Port Hedland Seafarers Centre will pack and distribute thousands of Christmas gift bags to Seafarers who will be berthed in the harbour or on standby at anchorage, up to 42 kilometres out to sea. The below video and photos are an insight to this massive undertaking.