Figtree Anglican Church National grandparent conference Leaving a Living Legacy 2018 Everyone needs a connection to the past and a light for the future. Most of all they need what only grandparents can give. For many grandchildren, their grandparents play a unique and influential role in their lives. This conference is to help grandparents be encouraged and inspired to invest in the lives of their precious grandchildren in ways that only grandparents can.
Details As a grandparent, I assume you too have a passion and desire to leave a lasting legacy that will assist your grandchildren (those born and those yet to be born) to navigate their future with greater confidence. That is why this conference started, but central to leaving this legacy, is developing a heart to ensure our grandchildren discover for themselves what it means to have a strong faith in Christ. Ian Barnett Senior Minister, Figtree Anglican Church Saturday, 2 nd June 2018 Morning tea, afternoon tea & lunch provided Location: Figtree Anglican Church 4-10 Gibsons Rd, Figtree NSW 2525 Register online at figtreechurch.org/events or call Figtree Anglican on 4272 1322 Topics 9am to 4:30pm $35 per person or $60 per couple Join us for what will be a day of encouragement, as inspirational speakers share from their own life experiences. Rev Ian Barnett The Art of Remembering David and Maxine Cook The Art of Grand Parenting Professor Tony Okely The Art of Running Wild Nicki Edwards The Art of Romance Dr Megan Best The Art of Influence Dr Bronwyn Hughes The Art of Choosing My Legacy Keith Farmer The Art of Never Saying Never
About the Conference As Ian Barnett, the Senior Minister of Figtree Anglican Church and his wife Rhonda have entered the new season of becoming grandparents, Ian has been more and more challenged about the legacy he is leaving. This is the God driven inspiration behind his passion and desire to hold an annual conference that sows into the lives of grandparents; grandparents who are feeling the burden of fast paced change and the need to be better equipped to engage and positively influence the lives of their grandchildren. Below are comments from some of those sharing about their experience of attending our inaugural National Grandparent Conference in 2017. Terrific speakers, delicious food & relevant topics. I thought it would be a good day, but by morning tea break it had exceeded my expectations. It was a wonderful day, all the speakers where excellent. It was so encouraging to hear of the positive influence grandparents can be.
Speakers & Artists Rev Ian Barnett has been the Senior Minister at Figtree Anglican Church for over 10 years. He has a heart for all generations and a strong belief that every generation leaves a footprint for those who follow, especially grandparents. Ian is passionate that grandparents take hold of the legacy they leave and the path they build for their grandchildren to follow. Ian is married to Rhonda. They have three married children and six grandchildren. David and Maxine Cook have had a significant, influential ministry in Sydney, country NSW and around the globe. David was the Principal of SMBC for many years and Maxine a midwife. Their shared life experiences drive their passion to ensure their family, especially their grandchildren, understand the things of this life that bring true and lasting value. Married for over 40 years, they share a common belief that a life well lived is a life shared. They have over a dozen grandchildren and while retired, like true grandparents, have never retired. Professor Tony Okely is a Senior Professor in the Faculty of Social Sciences at the University of Wollongong, with a focus over the past 20 years on promoting physical activity and preventing obesity in children. He led the Australian Government research that developed National Guidelines for Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour for Children, and is currently working with the World Health Organisation to develop global 24-hour movement guidelines for children aged birth to five. Tony s work will leave a legacy whereby our grandchildren develop a positive attitude to physical and emotional wellbeing. Nicki Edwards has always been a voracious reader who from a young age, dreamt of becoming an author. Nicki became a nurse, however the dream never left her. In January 2014, Nicki wrote her first book and now divides her time between writing medical rural romance novels for Pan Macmillan and working as a nurse from where many of her stories and characters are imagined. Nicki is passionate that grandparents understand reading and imagination is something they can and should take responsibility for passing on to the generations that follow.
Speakers & Artists Dr Megan Best graduated from medicine in 1985 with the University Medal. Her medical experience lead her to develop palliative care policy for NSW State & Federal Health Departments. Megan s interest in understanding human suffering and ways it can be relieved is the driver for her now writing a book about spiritual care. She also authored two books exploring ethical issues at the beginning of life. Megan has always valued the older generation and the influence they can have on all generations, irrespective of personal circumstances. She lives in Sydney with her husband John. They have two daughters, a son-in-law and two grand-dogs. Dr Bronwyn Hughes has worked as a researcher/producer with ABC Radio National, for NCLS and as a Research Fellow at Macquarie University s Graduate School of Management. Her published writings include a series of short stories, scripting for radio documentaries, research papers and a doctoral thesis, now published as a book. Married to Graeme for 47 years, they have three children and eight grandchildren. Every year her conviction grows that grandparents have a significant role in choosing the legacy they leave for their grandchildren. Keith Farmer s passion for the next generation is infectious as he sees the importance of influencing future grandparents. He is the former Principal of Church of Christ Colleges, pastor, Bible teacher and psychologist who now mentors around 100 senior church leaders. Keith was part of our Conference in 2017. This year he will provide wisdom and insight from his experiences about what it means to speak positively into the lives of our grandchildren. Peter Shurley is one of Australia s most sought after gospel artists; a multi-award winning singer, songwriter and instrumentalist. In 2014, his song Fingerprints was nominated as a finalist for Country Ballad of the Year at the Tamworth Country Music Festival. As he pursues his passion to inspire the next generation, Peter is very aware of the fingerprints grandparents leave on the next generation. Peter lives in northern Tasmania with his wife Kerrie and five children.
About Figtree Anglican Church Figtree Anglican Church is part of the Sydney Anglican Diocese. We believe God has called us to be faithful, adventurous and compassionate with an expanding influence on communities, cities and nations with the hope and love that comes from Him. God is the God of relationships, therefore our focus as a church encourages both a deeper relationship with God and with others across all generations. Our National Grandparent Conference is just one way we seek to fulfill this vision. Figtree Anglican Church is located in the suburb of Figtree, a 5 minute drive from the Wollongong CBD. There is plenty of parking on-site. Alternatively, the closest train station is Unanderra. It is located on the Princes Highway, approximately 2 km south of the church. The Taxi rank is in Tannery St, a 3 minute walk from Unanderra station. 4-10 Gibsons Rd, Figtree NSW 2525 figtreechurch.org 4272 1322 info@myfac.org.au