CouncilCorrespondence202202Pope

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Letter from Robin Pope

4 Feb 2022

Dear David,

I am writing to ask if the Church Council would write to David Spitteler on behalf of our congregation, thanking him for the work he has done in support of refugees and asylum seekers in Australia.

David, ably assisted by his wife, has devoted the 25 years of his retirement to this voluntary work. He initially began receiving goods in his home garage to distribute to those in need, but this expanded beyond its capacity, and then he was able to transfer to a location in Dandenong with the use of space in a church there. From there he moved to another location in the shopping centre, where he has continued providing material assistance for all this time. This has all been unpaid work.

In addition to working at the Centre in Dandenong, David’s weekend have been spent travelling to speak at churches all around Victoria. He has preached at our church on numerous occasions, bringing the stories of asylum seekers to our congregation; this has inspired others to contribute in various ways. For many years we have had boxes in our church foyer to receive donations of clothes, food, linen and small household items. These have been emptied and passed on to David to help stock his Dandenong outreach location.

For various reasons, he has decided to call it a day, and he certainly deserves recognition for his constant service to those seeking to make a new home in Australia. It would be a fitting gesture for us to recognise his work and note our appreciation.

Yours sincerely,

Robin Pope