Mission to Seafarers Newcastle

30/10/2026

On Wednesday, Fr Garry and Fr Rod were honoured to attend a special event at Government House celebrating 145 years of Mission to Seafarers - Sydney.

The event was hosted by the Governor of New South Wales, Her Excellency the Honourable Margaret Beazley AC KC, and Mr Dennis Wilson. It shone a light on the importance of quality shore leave for seafarers, and on the need for sustainable, secure funding for seafarer welfare across NSW.

As Her Excellency put it, 99% of how our trade operates “is because of the seafarers.”

Congratulations to our friends at MtS Sydney on reaching such a remarkable milestone, and thank you to the NSW Seafarers Welfare Fund for its ongoing support of maritime welfare charities across the state, including here in Newcastle. ⚓

14/10/2026

Yesterday we were delighted to welcome Toobah, Managing Solicitor of Hunter Community Legal Centre (HCLC), and Bronwyn, Volunteer Solicitor, to speak at our volunteer meeting.

They shared details of the legal services HCLC provides across the Hunter, including the new range of support they can offer to seafarers in need.

A big thank you to Toobah, Bronwyn and the whole HCLC team for the important work they do. We were pleased to present them with a small token of our thanks, and we look forward to working together! ⚓

Pictured: Fr. Garry with Toobah and Bronwyn.

06/10/2026

A huge thank you to Port Waratah Coal Services (PWCS) for their generous grant, which will keep our doors open on Saturday and Sunday nights for the rest of 2026! ⚓

This funding allows us to employ a pool of casual drivers, so seafarers arriving in Newcastle can get from their ships to the Mission on weekend nights for a place to rest, connect with home, and enjoy some time ashore.

Our first weekend was a great success, and we're looking forward to welcoming even more seafarers in the months ahead.

Thank you, PWCS, for your generosity and ongoing support of the seafaring community. 💙

23/09/2026

Today is World Maritime Day, which is a moment to bring attention to the importance of shipping safety, maritime security and the marine environment.

The theme 'From Policy to Practice: Powering Maritime Excellence' will run for two years. This policy is set by the International Maritime Organization, which undertakes vital work to ensure that seafarers are protected and that ships and ports can respond to threats.

90% of global goods are carried across the oceans. Ensuring the 1.5 million+ workers in the maritime sector are protected, cared for and supported is something the Mission to Seafarers always strives to achieve with the help of kind donations and our hard-working volunteers and staff.

Photo by 国余

19/09/2026

If you’re looking for a great work or meeting space, our conference room is available to hire!

This space is equipped with a table to seat 12 people, a large monitor for presentations and a white board, not to mention a coffee machine!

Contact [email protected] for bookings and to learn more

07/09/2026

All the photos from our 2026 International Seafarers Photo Competition are now live on our website!

You can find them at

https://mtsnewcastle.org.au/international-seafarers-photo-competition-2026/

Shown is the winning snap taken by Emerson Madlangbayan Reyes, with the caption:

"Taken on the 5th of July 2025, after a long day and months of work cleaning the cargo holds from dirty coal to clean grain-standard cargo holds, we were sitting there in front of the setting sun.

This photograph captures a powerful moment of us, camaraderie among us seafarers of my previous vessel, MV FJ Fresia, after a long, tiring day. Bathed in the warm glow of the setting sun, we shared our stories and recalled all the happy moments together on the same vessel, rather than feeling exhausted from cleaning the cargo hold. We sat side by side, united not only by our profession but also by the shared rhythm of our lives at sea. “United by the Seas, Together as One” is not just a theme; for us, it is a lived reality. We honor the invisible thread that connects us seafarers across oceans—a brotherhood built on resilience, unity, and the enduring human spirit."

The competition is a great way to get insight into what life at sea is really like, as well as the stunning views seafarers experience around the world.

03/09/2026

Today marks Merchant Navy Day. It's a day to commemorate the civilian seamen who served on merchant ships during both World Wars. The day marks the tragic moment of the first attack on an Allied merchant ship (the Athenia) in WW2 on September 3 1939.

The red ensign is raised to mark Merchant Navy Day and pay respects to former and current merchant seamen around the world.

Volunteers are the lifeblood of The Mission to Seafarers, without your help the organisation could not help the 1.5 million seafarers across the globe.

21/08/2026

Can't wait to see the rest of the 2026 Art Exhibition Entries? Head on over to our website to see great artworks such as this piece by Lynda Black.

See all the entries here: https://mtsnewcastle.org.au/newcastle-maritime-art-prize-2026/

We'll be uploading all the photo entries for the International Seafarers Competition soon.

07/08/2026

Our volunteers conduct regular ship visits, which serve several purposes:

1. It allows our team to check on the welfare of the seafarers and their living conditions.
2. We're able to bring care packages and food to them, which is essential when they're unable to have much shore leave.
3. We can provide chaplaincy and spiritual care, whether that be from a visit or with readings.

Today our team visited a ship at port, and you can see just how much of a positive effect these visits (not to mention warm beanies!) have on them.

03/08/2026

Introducing the winners of the 2026 Maritime Art Prize:

Best in Show: Creation Day 5 - Lee-Anne Corrigan

Open Category: Merewether Baths - Isabelle Emmerton

Highly Commended: O Captain! My Captain! - Otto van de Wijgaart

Seafarer Photo: Where the Ocean Makes US One. - Emerson Madlangbayan
Reyes

School/Group: Sea to Sea, Eye to Eye - St John's Primary School

High School Student: Confluence of the Ocean and Us - Mae Petrohelos

Primary School Student: Together at the Jetty - Max Polin

Primary School Student: We got you Mates (You love the sea, we got your safety!) - Briona Ando

Primary School Student: Different Boat, Same Story - Mila Martin

Come along to Mission to Seafarers Newcastle and see all the other great works at 96 Hannell Street. These pictures don't do the artworks justice!