SEAFARERS’ 100 ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
 
Christina Siciliano is to be commended on her forty years’ service to Stella Maris.  It is indeed a remarkable effort and one that will not cease soon. Christina, as we know is a valued member of Port Phillip Rotary.
 
 
Christina said:
“There were many events planned to celebrate the ‘Hundred Years of Caring for Seafarers’ and then Covid hit our shores, and all the celebrations were placed on hold. Covid, however, had a far sinister effect on seafarers.  No government would allow seafarers to disembark. The ships arrived in port and seafarers had to stay on board. They were prisoners on their vessels.
 
I mentioned a few years ago prior to Covid that Stella Maris would be celebrating its centenary in the following year to John Wall, a fellow Rotarian who works at Australia Post, and asked if it would be possible to commemorate the event with a stamp or envelope. John kindly said that he would put me in touch with Cheryl Roy and, the rest is history.  A wonderful envelope was produced and to John, Cheryl and Jane Levin, we thank you for all your work in producing such a fine, artistic envelope promoting the work of Stella Maris, caring for seafarers, who are the lifeblood of our island nation. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Without seafarers the global economy would come to a standstill.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Stella Maris planned to make up care packs to show the seafarers that were being thought about.  Then, as if on cue, Bronwyn Stephens, a former District Governor of Rotary, called to say that Rotary would like to assist with goods to go into care packs. The items flooded in! Following from Bronwyn, Pam Dittmer, President of the Rotary Club of Melbourne South, produced pallet loads of items, and it continues to this day again with Pam, and the present President Wendy Stirling of the Port Phillip Rotary (formerly Melbourne South Rotary) continues to generously support us. I must mention the Rotary club of Wyndham that also has contributed. Another call from another Rotarian, Sylvie Berchick from the Rotary club of Prahran, and now President elect of Elsternwick, gave us access to even more goods.   Sylvie contributed again and again very generous amounts of items.
 
 
 
 
 
Our grateful thanks go to Matt Purcell from the International Transport Federation for his contribution to the care packs, and the very generous contribution from the ITF to renovate the accommodation wing. Thanks to the National Stella Maris Committee for their contribution to the care packs.
 
I think that it would be apt at this point to mention Bob Iverson from the Rotary Club of Melbourne South.  Bob’s efforts to promote the mental health of seafarers has been amazing. He managed to get Beyond Blue on board also.  Pamphlets were printed and placed on ships visiting the port of Melbourne. Today the mental health of seafarers has a much higher profile due to Bob’s efforts.”
 
The following now is an update of what has happened at Stella Maris.
 
  • In April 2020, Fr Wayne Edwards began live-streaming Mass on Sunday for the seafarers. The Mass is popular and averages a few hundred views each week
  • We assisted in supplying seafarers with basic needs. The ship would send an order through, and the staff would purchase the items needed and deliver them to the vessels.
 
  • Seafarers also started running out of vital medications.  With assistance from Dr James Quinn, medications were prescribed, collected and delivered as requested.
 
  • In January 2021, June was contacted by crew from a ship in Spain. They desperately needed help from the ITF as they had not received wages for over 3 months.  Through the ITF, the crew eventually received all back pay owing (around $700,000). June keeps in contact with the crew.
 
  • In March 2021, an estimated 200,000 seafarers remained on board vessels unable to be repatriated.  
 
  • In late February 2022, we received a request to vaccinate 11 crew from a ship berthed at Appleton Dock. This took endless phone calls, involvement with Border Force, DHHS, Ports Victoria, MyGov and Dr James Quinn, but remarkably the operation took place, and the crew were vaccinated. Many thanks to the efforts of Seamus, Lee-Anne and June.
 
  • Monday 14th March, the same gang is headed to Geelong to vaccinate another 12 crew following a request received this week.
 
It is hoped that in 2022 vaccinated seafarers will once again be able to visit the centre and we wait for the Government to allow seafarers the opportunity to meet us face-to-face once more.
 
Sunday 13th March a service was held in the chapel at Stella Maris, officiated by Archbishop Peter Comensoli and Father Tony Cox.  Following the service, Christina gave a wonderful speech and the cutting of the cake was held. After that a light lunch was offered.  It was a very special event for a wonderful program.  It was attended by Lili Teichman, Pam Dittmer and Sophia, John Wall and Sylvie Birchick amongst others.
 
  
 

 
 
 
As John Wall wrote, “After 2 years, finally able to celebrate the 100 year anniversary of Stella Maris with his Excellency Archbishop Comensoli! Australia Post for the envelope, Rotary for the care packs! Christina Siciliano - you are an inspiration ❤️❤️❤️”