Community & Business
29 October, 2025
Pause for thought and reflection at Pittsworth Prayer Breakfast
Chaplaincy Field Manager for SU Toowoomba Region Jason Berry was the guest speaker at an entertaining 2025 Pittsworth Mayoral Prayer Breakfast, held at the Pittsworth Function Centre on Friday, 24 October.
A hot English breakfast of sausages, bacon, egg and beans was cooked by the Pittsworth Scout Group and served by Pittsworth State High School students.
Among the students was Anastazia Kingsford, who had the day before, received a Mayoral Medal from Toowoomba Region Mayor Geoff McDonald.
Following introductions to attendees, the breakfast’s namesake Mayor McDonald entered the Function Centre, with Crs Gary Gardner, Trevor Manteufel and Kerry Shine. MC was St. Stephen’s Primary School Assistant Principal Mission and Identity Fiona Drew who invited St. Stephen’s Principal Janine Butlin to say grace.
Music was provided by the dynamic duo of district state school music teacher Beth Wheeldon (piano) and Peta Watt (voice), both from the local Singsationals choir.
The pair performed the national anthem in two verses, followed by ‘This Is Me’ from the 2017 musical The Greatest Showman.
Pastor Willie Liebenberg from Pittsworth Uniting Church led a prayer, while Reverend Tony Swansson from St. Andrew’s Anglican Church presented a reflection based on a verse from the first letter sent by St. Paul to his younger colleague Timothy.
“Don’t let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in conduct, in love, in faith and in purity.”
Reverend Tony talked about how the letter was written to a man who was not respected because of his youth, and offered encouragement to those from Pittsworth’s schools who were in attendance, that they are never too young to serve and lead in their communities.
Main guest speaker Jason Berry then took to the podium. Jason spoke about the wonderful service chaplains in the Pittsworth district were performing, including Chappy Ros at Pittsworth State High School, Chappy Phil at Southbrook Central State School, Chappy Steve at Pittsworth State School, along with Chappy Clare at Kindon State School, between Millmerran and Goondiwindi, which is being looked after by the Pittsworth Support Team at present.
He thanked the Pittsworth Chaplaincy Support Team executive of Karen, Dawn and Peter for their work in helping raise funds to support the work of chaplaincy in local schools, and spoke of the difference he was able to make as a chaplain in Toowoomba.
Jason summed up chaplaincy using the acronym CHAPPY.
C = Compassionate
H = Human
A = Authentic
P = Present
P = Peacemakers
Y = Yes-takers
“Chaplains listen with the intent to understand not the intent to reply,” Jason said.
“(More than teachers), Chaplains have the flexibility to be vulnerable and show that it’s okay to be upset and broken.
“The shortest verse in the Bible is ‘Jesus wept’ and if it’s ok for the son of God, fully man and human to cry it’s ok for us, too.”
Having had a 2.8kg tumour removed from his torso over several months last year, Jason made the analogy that there were many negative pressures in the world, in real life and online that can grow on a person over time.
The funniest moment of the morning was undoubtedly when Jason quipped that he could now tell his wife that he knew what it was like to give birth after his experience with having the tumour removed.
He concluded his address with a quote relevant to the work of chaplains.
“You can’t do everything for everyone, but you can do something, and that something can mean everything to someone.”
The microphone was passed from Jason to Ms Drew, who chastised him for his pregnancy joke.
Ms Drew asked the audience to stand for a surprised Mayor as he approached the podium.
“Crs Kerry, Gary and Trevor, I hope you noticed that,” he said.
“Yes, Jason was going so well up until that point.
“Jason, you are a blessing my friend. You seriously are.”
The Mayor’s address was the last speech on the program. The Councillors embarked on a short tour of St. Stephens School before heading to Millmerran for the opening of the Hospital.
