St Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church and school community - Rooty Hill
411 Woodstock Avenue, Plumpton NSW
The establishment of the church community of St. of Archdeacon Stefan in Liverpool happened due to the schism that arose in America in 1963, which then spread to Australia.
Church school communities of St. Nicholas of Blacktown and St. George from Cabramatta, which included the western parts of Sydney, decided to split at the end of 1963. It seems that there was no imminent reconciliation, but in the middle of the 1960s, the ecclesiastical dispute became more and more intense. Many Serbs who lived in those parts of the city, who did not agree with the decisions of these Church communities, not wanting to go into schism, were left without a place to pray. Among them was Very Reverend Father Svetozar Sekulić, priest of the parish of St. George in Cabramatta, who invested a lot of effort and made many sacrifices for its foundation and construction. During the outbreak of the schism, Fr Svetozar remained with the Serbian Church, and the administration of this church community went with Bishop Dionysius. Thus, the pressure against Fr Svetozar grew more and more to stop mentioning Patriarch German at church services and to sever ties with the Serbian Church. When the St George Church community board set certain conditions for his parish priest, which he could not accept, the only way out for him was to look for another place to pray.
One of the first members and founders of the St. Archdeacon Stefan Serbian Orthodox Church community, Nedeljko Balać, later wrote about it: "At the insistence of a small number of our good hosts, Fr. Sveto decides to call a meeting - an assembly and to create a new church community. The assembly was scheduled for February 28, 1965. The membership, which took part in the assembly, unanimously decided to establish a new church community for Liverpool and its surroundings, dedicated to St. Archdeacon Stefan. Liverpool was chosen as the seat because it is the largest place in Western Sydney. It is important to note that at that moment none of those present believed that a permanent church community was created, but that soon the dispute would be positively resolved and church life would continue as before."[1]
At the founding assembly, besides Fr Svetozar Sekulić, the following were elected as the first Board members: president Nikola Tršić, treasurer Milovan Ljubić and secretary Petar Lukić.[2]
On March 3, 1965, Very Reverend Fr Petar Radoš reported to Patriarch German about the establishment of the new Church community and the reasons for it, addressing him with a request: "Since a large number of our brothers who have remained faithful live in the territory of Liverpool - Cabramatta – Rooty Hill and Penrith and still are in the unity with the Serbian Church, and the distance and the problem of transportation make it impossible for them to join the St Lazarus church community in Sydney, after long discussions it was decided to establish a church-school community that would serve the people there. According to the wishes of those present, it was decided to take Saint Archdeacon Stefan as the patron of the newly founded parish and church-school community.
The newly founded church-school community asks Your Holiness for blessing and support for their work so that they persevere on this arduous journey even though there are Serb brothers who do everything to hinder them in this work."[3]
On March 23, Patriarch German gave his blessing for the establishment of the church-school community and at the same time confirmed the elected administration, expressing the hope that church life will be improved.[4]
After the establishment of the church community, Fr Svetozar held regular services in various rented premises in Canley Vale and Rooty Hill, until 1969, when he moved with the service to the St Lazarus church community in Sydney, where he replaced the retired priest Very Rev Fr Ilija Bulovan. This was a great loss for the newly founded church community, for which then difficult times arose. Its president, Nikola Tršić, was trying to find a new priest to continue with services. He also went to Bishop Sava from the Russian Church Abroad, but without success. So the committee began to deal with the idea of suspending further work and extinguishing the existence of this church community.
Upon his arrival in Australia, on December 24, 1969, Bishop Lavrentije visited all the parishes in Sydney. On the St. Archdeacon Stefan church feast, on January 9, 1970, in the presence of a considerable number of the faithful, he served the Divine Liturgy in this church community. After that, a rich celebratory lunch was prepared, and Bishop Lavrentije, in a conversation with the administration and parishioners, removed any thought of its abolition. Its board, although under difficult conditions, encouraged and taught by its bishop continues its work with new strength. How difficult the situation was in this church-school community is best expressed by the report of Dragan Tošić, submitted at the session of the Diocesan Council in 1971: "...thanks to His Grace Bishop Lavrentije, our church community still exists today. We have 11 members, but if they were to get a young priest, the number would rise to two hundred, because around us there are numerous camps full of our people who either go to the St George Church at Cabramatta or nowhere."[5]
Since Fr Sekulic moved to St Lazarus Church, this parish was occasionally served by priests from the surrounding parishes. Then, priest, Ljubomir Vučurović assumed the duties of its parish priest in 1972 (later, on January 20, 1981, he was stripped of his priestly rank). Divine services then were held in various places, most often in the hall of the School of Arts in Rooty Hill, until February 1975.
A new chapter in this parish was born in 1972 when Budimir Stamenković ceded part of his farm in Scofield to the church community for free use. At his suggestion, the Community later bought a wooden military barrack, which the parishioners transferred to the farm and converted into a modest chapel.[6] The act of small consecration of the chapel was performed by His Grace Bishop Nikolaj (Mrđa) on February 16, 1975. After ten years of existence and moving to various locations, this church community then, for the first time, got its permanent place of worship, in which the role and kindness of Budimir Stamenković and his family were decisive. New families then begin to approach the young parish, but due to frequent illnesses and the absence of parish priest Vučurović, services are not held regularly. Nevertheless, the enthusiasm of this small community grew. A Sunday school and the folklore group, Rastko are founded, with the first teacher, Ljiljana Nikolić.
Fr Vučurović left his parish duties in October 1975, and the following year, in 1976, Bishop Nikolaj brought Milorad Lončar, a graduate of theology, from the Fatherland, who he soon ordained and appointed to this parish. In the meantime, the parish was ministered to by the priest from Wollongong, Fr Miroslav Popović.
With the arrival of a new priest Fr Milorad Lončar, the number of parishioners is increasing: services are more attended, Sunday school is starting to work better, and more and more young people are joining the folklore group. From 1976, Ilija Glišić took over the teaching of folklore and work with the youth, who was most responsible for their successful work for the entire next decade. The Circle of Serbian Sisters "Kosovka devojka" began its work in this Church community. The founding assembly of the Circle was held on March 6, 1977, and the first Board, headed by Vesna Lukić, was elected.[7]
Social life in the young church community is also starting to expand: there are frequent trips, regular parties, movie nights, etc. More and more new faces are noticed on them. With the arrival of the diligent priest, the collection of donations for the purchase of the church land begins, and the Circle of Sisters tries to help the Church community financially in various ways: every Sunday, after the Holy Liturgy, it prepares lunches, in addition, the sisters sell coffee, cakes, and other. So already in the first year of operation, the Circle of Sisters handed over three thousand dollars to their church.[8]
One of the members of the church community, Mateja Wolff (of German origin, who was born and lived in Belgrade before the war, and converted to Orthodoxy after arriving in Australia), found a five-acre property on the corner of Woodstock Avenue in Root Hill and Hyatt Rad in Plumpton. The church community decides to buy that land for $40,000. Plans for future construction were immediately made and an appeal was sent for help and donations to all Serbs in the area. On behalf of the church community, father Milorad Lončar explained the idea: "More and more, in this part of Australia, there is a need for a larger centre that could meet the needs of our Serbian population, settled in these parts. Almost all of our churches, which have been built so far, are located on limited, cramped land. Most of them don't even have a space to park a car, not to mention some other much-needed facilities. Bearing this in mind, as well as the interests of the Serbian Orthodox Church in Australia and its believers, we have decided, with the blessing of His Eminence the Bishop of Australia and New Zealand His Grace Nikolaj, to start building such a centre, which could meet the needs of the whole of our pious Serbian people. It would be a Serbian-Orthodox centre, and it would include: a Church, a home for the elderly, a hall for parties and various receptions and gatherings, a Sunday school, a house for a priest and quarters for the diocesan bishop. If the latter comes true it would at the same time be the episcopal seat in New South Wales."[9]
Judging by the contributions that arrived, the appeal was well received by loyal Serbs. After the purchase of the land, the chapel was transported from Scofield to the church property in August 1978. In the same year, on November 12, bishops Nikolaj and Vasilije performed the rite of consecration of the land and the chapel.[10]
The house, which was located on church land, was in very bad condition. It was soon repaired and made suitable for a parish house.[11]
By agreement with the Administrative Board of the church community[12], on May 14, 1978, Bishop Nikolaj appointed Fr. Miroslav Popović, former parish priest in Wollongong, to the Second Liverpool Parish, which includes the area around Liverpool and Fairfield. Father Miroslav lived in Cabramatta, had a full-time job in a factory, and devoted his free time to work in the parish and church community.
The move to the church property in Rooty Hill contributed to a further increase in the membership of the church community, especially the parish. As the number of members grew, and with its enthusiasm for new actions, after moving to the church land, the Board members drew up a plan for the future of objects. It was first and foremost a Holy Church, dedicated to St. Stefan the first martyr and archdeacon, protector of the ruling line of Nemanjić and the Serbian state to this day. But, with the arrival of new members during 1977-78. year, new problems came. The priest Milorad Lončar tactfully writes about this: "The spiritual situation in the still small Church community was changing. At one moment it seemed that everything was in the best order, but immediately afterwards, the one who would observe people and their relationship to others, God and the Church, would have to change his mind and worry about the coming problems. Some unnecessary and groundless fear crept into people's hearts and mistrust reigned over everyone. Everyone sees the enemy in the other. Why? "I heard, they are talking...!" Because of such unnecessary retellings, the normal work of the Church community was slowed down, and it was very difficult to gain people's trust. Instead of spending time doing something useful, we talked for a long time and widely about some elusive problems, which found their refuge not only among the members of the Board, but also spread to the Circle of Serbian Sisters, and sometimes even the youth have burdened these things. All this slowed down the pace of our work."[13]
Despite such intrigues, the priest and the Board members made every effort to inspire people for further work. Thus, during the consecration of the land, the sum of $5,500 was collected and the debt to the bank for the church property was paid on November 12, 1978, which means just over a year after the purchase.
However, the city authorities placed a temporary ban on construction on the purchased land. The whole year 1979 passed in great uncertainty, during which it was thought of buying some other property, where a temple and other facilities could be built.
Negotiations with the authorities regarding the lifting of the ban on construction on the purchased land lasted until the middle of 1980 when the local Council finally gave consent for the construction of the church and accompanying buildings. The church board[14] immediately started preparations according to the adopted plans for the temple, which were made by the architect Miorag Šundić. The foundations were dug for free by Dušan Sančanin, and a long-time member and then honorary president of the church community, Dragan Tošić[15], financed the pouring of concrete. The ceremonial consecration of the foundation took place on January 11, 1981, accompanied by articles in the local press.[16]
Great help from individuals and contributions to the construction of the church, strengthened the morale of many and enabled them to start with new strength in the further work of building the church.[17] The construction of the temple began in March 1981.[18]
The temple was completed and decorated relatively quickly.[19] The church bells were ordered from London and their consecration took place on Theodore's Saturday, March 6, 1982. In the church, which was still under construction, Bishop Vasilije served the Divine Liturgy. [20]
During this and the beginning of the next year, 1983, the church was completed with the contributions of the parishioners and the voluntary work of many, [21] about which there are detailed records in the church community. All of them will always be mentioned as founders and contributors to this church, because the Lord himself, who sees everything, knows everything and knows everyone, will reward everyone according to their deeds.
A total of about 300,000 Australian dollars was spent to purchase the land and build the temple.
SANCTIFICATION OF THE CHURCH
At the consecration of the new church of St. Archdeacon Stefan in Rooty Hill, all of them had a big part in the foundation, construction and life of this Diocese.
The consecration ceremony of the St. archdeacon Stefan church in Rooty Hill, to which Bishop Vasilije invited the bishops: Stefan of Žica, Lavrentije from Western Europe and Nikolai Bishop of Dalmatia, was the biggest event in the Serbian community in Sydney until then. The festivities began on the evening of March 5, with a vigil, which was served by Western European Bishop Lavrentije, with six priests and Archdeacon Vikentije concelebrating. The next day, on Sunday, March 6, the festivities continued with the carrying of the throne of the temple. According to daily press estimates, the archbishops were welcomed by around six and a half thousand believers. The act of consecration and the Holy Hierarch's Liturgy was served by bishops Stefan, Lavrentije and Nikolaj, with the concelebration of ten priests and one archdeacon. The choir of the church-school community in Rooty Hill responded. At the end of the Holy Liturgy, state representatives arrived at the Church, led by the Governor General of the Queen of England in Australia, Sir Ninian Stephen, who unveiled a memorial plaque placed at the entrance to the temple. Duke Momčilo Đujić came from America, especially for this occasion. After the Holy Liturgy, a festive lunch was arranged under a tent for about a thousand guests, and in the churchyard for all the other people present.
From November 1984 to February 1985, Very Reverend Fr Ilija Dragosavljević was assigned to the brotherhood of this church, who at the same time worked as a priest - a clergyman in industry.
During the following years, projects were started on the church property in Rooty Hill for the decoration of the yard, the construction of a large church hall and a retirement village. After this successful period for the ecclesiastical church and parish, Fr Milorad Lončar left in 1987, and priest Miodrag Perić arrived as the next parish priest, who took over the pastoral duties on October 19, 1988.[22] In the meantime, the church of St. Stefan was served by monk Luka (Kovačević), priest Dušan Vavić and other priests.
Next to the holy temple, a church hall - the Parish Center - was built on the church property in Rooty Hill, with about 1200 m2 of space on the ground floor. On its floor, there are offices, a museum hall, a library, two classrooms and other auxiliary rooms. Its construction began in the middle of the 1980s, but considering the size of the project and the necessary funds, the work on it and the equipment lasted more than 10 years, so that the project was finally completed and accepted by the community in 2000. Today, this huge church hall and the Parish Center serve the parishioners and the church community for various celebrations and gatherings, as well as for Sunday school, folklore, church administration and more.
ST. SIMEON RETIREMENT VILLAGE
With the efforts of Dragan Tošić and Toma Ilić, the efforts of priest Milorad Lončar and the church board[23] headed by the president dr. Marko Marinković, then the Circle of Serbian sisters and other valuable parishioners of this church, built the Retirement Village of St. Simeon, which was consecrated by His Grace Bishop Longin and ceremonially opened by the deputy prime minister Lionel Bowen, on August 6, 1989. Over time, the Serbian population in Sydney began to age, so the St. Simeon Retirement Village proved to be an undertaking of exceptional importance for the Serbian Orthodox community.
Settlement of St. Simeon Village, to this day, Simeon works under the administration of the Diocese of Australia-New Zealand, and the land belongs to the church community that helps it in its work. It is a complex of 40 separate apartments, with offices and accompanying rooms. During the last decade, it has been constantly filled with about 40 tenants, among whom there are various nationalities, and the average number of Serbs in it ranges from 15-25. The long-term presidents of the retirement village committee were Slobodan Tošić and Rendon Stevan Ilić, the sons of those who built it.
In 2006, plans for the addition of 10 more apartments were made and approved by Blacktown Council.
RENOVATION OF THE CHURCH
In the early 1990s, there was a disagreement between the Board members and the parish priest in charge, which confused members and parishioners. Due to such a situation, in November 1994, Very Reverend Fr Srboljub Miletić was appointed as the dean of the church.
When the situation in the church community improved, a parking lot for over 100 vehicles was built around the church and the Parish Center. That work was organized and managed by Gojko Petković.
However, the St Stefan Church was built on a terrain consisting of a layer of clay 5-6 m deep. so, after only ten years since its consecration, it cracked in many places. In particular, there were large cracks around the altar, where the greatest weight of the central cube lay. Attempts were made several times to fill the cracks with various new materials, but in vain, over time they appeared more and more. After several expert consultations, it was decided to rebuild the church from the ground up and give it a new look in the Serbian-Byzantine style. In 1996, the dean of the church, Fr Srboljub Miletić, brought the famous architect and professor of church architecture, dr. Predrag Ristić, who made plans for the complete restoration of the holy temple. The board managed to raise enough funds and work began in 2000.[24] First, columns - foundation supports - were poured into the ground, up to a depth of 6m, and then reinforced walls, connected at the top with reinforced concrete. Then a new roof and dome were built on them, higher than the old ones by about 1.5 m. Inside the church, 12 columns were added, a separate chancel, a built-in baptistery for adults and an extended gallery along the walls, in continuation of the choir area. New semicircular vaults were also built, which greatly improved the interior appearance and acoustics of the temple.
BROTHERHOOD ST BISHOP NIKOLAJ VELIMIROVICH
After the academy was dedicated to St Bishop Nikolaj on March 29, 1985, the Brotherhood of St. Bishop Nikolaj was established. To this day, it helps church educational institutions and spreads the works and words of St. Bishop Nikolaj. As its patron saint, the Brotherhood celebrates Saint despot Stefan Lazarevic. During the past decades, a large number of faithful Australian Serbs were involved in the work of the Brotherhood, who in this way helped over 170 poor seminary students and students of the Faculty of Theology. At the beginning of March every year, the Brotherhood holds a Spiritual Academy dedicated to St. Bishop Nicholas, where the works and significance of this saint of our days are discussed. From the contributions collected from these evenings, as well as throughout the year, aid is delivered to seminaries and faculties of the SOC. The most responsible for the founding idea and long-term work of the Brotherhood is its president, Nedeljko Balać.
PARISH OF ST. APOSTLE PETER AND PAUL,
CHURCHES OF ANTIOCH
At the request of the Metropolitan of Antioch for Australia His Eminence Paul and with the blessing of the His Grace Bishop Nikanor, the church community, in September 2000, leased the hall of the museum, on the first floor of the Parish Center, for free religious use to the parish of the Antiochian Church of St. Peter and Paul, which was in the process of establishment.[25] Their priest, Fr. Aziz Abwi, started with twenty parishioners, and in a few years gathered a parish of over 250 homes, mostly Arabs from Palestine, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran. Having grown in number and willing to build their own church, in 2004 they bought a plot of land in the immediate vicinity, and during 2005, they submitted the finished plans for construction to the Blacktown Council, which approved them in March 2007. During all this time, they worship in the hall of the museum, on the floor of the church hall. In them, our Church gained great friends, whose help and support were not lacking.
VISIT OF THE PATRIARCH
During his stay in this Diocese, on November 11, 2004, Patriarch Pavle, together with a delegation of bishops, visited the Church and this church community, as well as the Retirement Village where, having performed the act of prayer for health, he sprinkled the tenants with holy water. On that occasion, ending the visit to this Diocese, a farewell dinner was held in the Parish Center of this church community, which, apart from the Patriarch, Bishop Milutin as host and visiting bishops, was attended by about a thousand people. This was one of, until then, the most solemn days in this church community and the Retirement Village.
NOTES:
1.Serbian Orthodox Church of St. of Archdeacon Stefan, Sydney 1983, p. 48-49.
2.The other members were: Đuro Tromošljanin, Vlado Vidulić, Branko Dimitrijević, Srećko Aleksandrić, Prvoslav Radonjić, Marko Hadžić, Lazo Vukmirica, Dane Miljković, Milenko Vasić, Nikola Gotovac, S. Planić, Nedeljko Balać and Gojko Kosanović.
3.Archives of the Patriarchate, Cabinet of the Patriarchs, Exile Petar Radoš to Patriarch German, no. 57, March 13, 1965.
4.Archives of the Patriarchate, Cabinet of the Patriarchs, Patriarch German to the archbishop's vicar Petar Radoš, P. no. 25, D/65, 23 March 1965.
5.Archives of the Diocese of Australia and New Zealand, Record, 3 April 1971.
6.Rado Kurtuma, Đuro Tromošljanin, Budimir Stamenković, Miloš Dejanović, Petar Lukić, Milovan Ljubić,Milenko Vasić, Novak Lazić, Momčilo Cvijanović, Srećko Aleksandrić, Branko Reljanović and Velimir Degoricija stood out the most in the work related to the arrangement of the land and the chapel.
7.Among the first to take part in the work of the circle were the sisters: the priest's wife Zora Lončar, Zagorka Ljubić, Danica Đukić, Evica Stojanović, Irena Aleksandrić, Tonka Stamenković, Mileva Balać, Angelina Kurtuma, Angelina Stanković, Rada Stojković, Vera Lazić, Milka Dejanović, Danica Blanuša, Jelena Antonić, Vukosava Ćirić and Neda Caran. A little later, they were joined by: Jela Popović, Danica Dragomirović and Marija Šabić, and then many others.
8.The Board of Directors of the Church community for 1977 consisted of: Velimir Degoricija, president, Jovan Stojković, vice-president, Nedeljko Balać, secretary, Budimir Stamenković, treasurer, Petar Lukić, treasurer (since half a year), Srećko Aleksandrić, accountant. Members: Momčilo Cvijanović, Miloš Đukić, Gojko Kosanović, Sveto Nikolic, Dragutin Ranđelović, Nebojša Lazić, Krsta Caran, Sreto Bošković, Milenko Vasić, Žika Nedeljković, Toma Tošić, Živorad Ćirić, Premil Stanković, Milisav Antonić, Milovan Ljubić.
9.Memorial - Serbian Orthodox Church of St. of Archdeacon Stefan, Sydney 1983, p. 59.
10.The following parishioners stood out in the work of moving the chapel and cleaning the grounds in Ruta Hill: Milovan Ljubić, Petar Lukić, Gojko Kosanović, Velimir Degoricija, Jovo Stojković, Nebojša Lazić, Živorad Ćirić, Milenko Vasić, Miro Vujović, Tomo Tošić, Dragutin Ranđelović, Srećko Aleksandrić, Sveto Mirjanić, Budimir Stamenković, Miloš Đukić, Ilija Vučićević, Vlado Drageljević, Slavoljub Tomović, Rade Kurtuma, Sreto Bošković, Krsto Caran, Miodrag Lukić, Raco Dabić, Boro Božić, Stojan Ćurčić, Goran Ćurčić, Zika Ćurčić, Mateja Volf , Đuro Stojić, Predrag Mirjanić, Premil Stanković and M. Zarac. The foundations of the chapel and side rooms were built by the brothers Jovo and Ilija Blanuša with Rado Kovačević, Ćiro and Dimče.
11.All repair work was done free of charge, to which the following contributed the most: Milovan Ljubić, Bata Nedeljkov, Rado Kurtuma, Greg Hadari, Đuro Nišević, Premil Stanković, Ilija Vučićević, and others.
12.In 1978, the Board of Directors of the Church community consisted of Srećko Aleksandrić, President, Velimir Degoricija, Vice-President, Nedeljko Balać, Secretary, Petar Lukić, Treasurer. Members: Živorad Ćirić, Nebojša Lazić, Milovan Ljubić, Budimir Stamenković, Pane Gligić, Ljubo Tomović, Gojko Kosanović, Milenko Vasić, Miroslav Vujović, Vladimir Drageljević, Ilija Koprivica, Mateja Volf and Rado Kurtuma.
13.Memorial - Serbian Orthodox Church of St. of Archdeacon Stefan, Sydney 1983, p. 61.
14.During 1980, the Administrative Board of the Church Municipality consisted of Dr Marko Marinković - president, Toma Tošić - vice president, Živorad Ćirić - second vice president, Ilija Glišić - secretary, Radica Lazić - assistant secretary, Milorad Dragomirović - treasurer and accountant Srećko Aleksandrić. Members: Nebojša Lazić, Raco Dabić, Miloš Đukić, Rade Kurtuma, Vlado Drageljević, Ilija Šešum, Premil Stanković, Miodrag Lukić, Gojko Kosanović, Budimir Stamenković and Duško Mikulić.
15.Honorary President Dragan Tošić prepared the engineering plans for free and then supervised the construction. Because of all that, as well as because of his long-term work in the Serbian Church, his duties as the secretary of the Diocese of Australia-New Zealand for eleven years, Dragan Tošić was awarded the Patriarchal award during this consecration, in the presence of about 3,500 faithful Serbs.
16.Advocate - A Cumberland Newspaper, City of Blacktown, Wednesday, January 28, 1981.
17.The administrative board of the church community in 1981 consisted of: Dr. Marko Marinković president, Živorad Ćirić vice president, Nedeljko Balać secretary, Milorad Dragomirović treasurer, Raco Dabić assistant treasurer and Srećko Aleksandrić accountant. Members: Nebojša Lazić, Jovo Dragomirović, Gojko Kosanović, Budimir Stamenković, Duško Mikulić, Jovo Božić, Miroslav Vujović, P. Šabić, Ilija Blanuša, Jovo Spajić and Milan Zorić.
18.Ilija Blanuša, Petar Živkov, Milorad Lukić, Bogdan Kalanj, as well as Frank Wolff, the son of the deceased, particularly stood out in this work. Matej Wolf, a long-time member of the Church Municipality. Nikola Kokotović commissioned the scaffolding and plastered the concrete surfaces, and the architect Šundić and the engineers Sullivan, Veljko Travica and Dragan Tošić, together with the hardworking priest Milorad Lončar, constantly supervised and visited the construction site. Miloš Lapčević made the iron structure, and Rade Timotić and brothers Cvetko and Slavko Sekulić made the roof. The group of Serbs, who voluntarily carried out the work of covering the church with roof tiles, was led by Novica Misić, and the domes on the belfry and the main dome were covered with copper by Ratko Zbiljić. Toma Pavličević and Vaso Ignjatović made and installed copper gutters. The two large crosses, which were placed on the bell tower and dome, were made by Ljubo Gloginja, and the outside of the church was washed by Milenko Rodić and his wife.
19.The entire church has a white marble floor. Brothers Vlada and Milan Vrzić made a beautiful iconostasis and all the doors of the church from Tasmanian oak. Their contribution was estimated at $30,000. The icons on iconostasis were made by an Orthodox New Zealander, monk Nikolai from Wellington, who spent some time in the Žiči monastery studying iconography. The table of honour is cast in concrete and coated on the upper side with white marble, contribution by Dragan Tošić. Toma Ilić donated seven crystal chandeliers from Czechoslovakia and one large bronze one from Greece in the central cube, with a total value of $8,500. Dragutin Pešić donated and installed the sound system in the church, and the electrical installation, worth $2,450, was donated and installed by Premil Stanković, who was assisted by: Zoran Stanković, A. Stanković, Petar Pećanac, Branko Lazić, Filip O Kornel, Sreto Bošković, Miroslav Oroz and Nebojša Lazić. Apart from these, the families of Ljubomir Stanojčić, M. Marković, Dr. Miše Nikolić, the Pešić family, the Zoran Jovanović family and many others.
20.After the liturgy, the bells were ceremonially consecrated in front of the church. The $4,000.00 bells were purchased by Dr Marko and his brother Dr Milan Marinković for the repose of the soul of his mother Jevrosima, and a bell worth 2,000.00 dollars was bought by Zlatko Petrović for the repose of the soul of his son Todor and the third bell, which also cost 2,000.00 dollars, was bought by Mića Petrović for the repose of the soul of his mother Milenije – Lena.
21.Among the most deserving were: Janko Uglješa, Vitomir Nikolić, the Stanojčić and Salihi families, Ozren Mirković, Milorad Dragomirović, Rada and Jovo Stojković, architect Miorag Šundić, Milan Vidović, Vera Lazić, Ivan Lovrić, Predrag Mirjanić, Slobodan and Dušanka Nikolić, Mile Matić , Anđelko and Perka Gajić, Ljubo Stamenić, Branko Radojčić, Dragomir Kos, as well as many others.
22.Fr Miodrag Perić remained in that position until February 15, 2002, when he was transferred to the St Lazarus Church in Alexandria.
23.Board for the construction of the Retirement Village of St. Simeon was composed of: priest Milorad Lončar, president Dr Marko Marinković, secretary Zaga Nađi, treasurer Srećko Aleksandrić, engineer Dragan Tošić; members: Nikola Kokotović, Toma Ilić, Petar Radan, Petar Dobrić.
24.The members of the Board in 2000 were: the dean Srboljub Miletić, president Slobodan Tošić, vice president Ilija Glišić, secretary Kosa Sojisavljević, treasurer Miladin Vujanović, accountant Olivera Trkulja, contact person - Ljubica Ridli. Sub-committees: construction - Milovan Janković, preparation - Radosav Žurkić, Circle of Sisters - Milijada Žurkić. Tutors: Veljko Mrakić, Bogdan Lazić, Mladen Vukelić and Rado Kurtuma. Churchman Ostoja Petković. Supervisory Board: President Momir Dubočanin; members: Milan Zorić and Toma Sirković. Trustees: Nedeljko Balać, Ljubomir Stanojčić and Rado Kurtuma.
25.Arabs from Lebanon, Syria, Palestine, Iraq, Iran, etc. belong to this parish of the Antiochian Orthodox Church in Australia. When they became financially stronger, they paid the church municipality a certain amount just to cover expenses.
