Restoring St Mark's historic chapel

Are you looking to make a meaningful difference this Christmas and into 2018? St Mark's Anglican Church, Thorpdale, built circa 1898, is one of the oldest wooden chapels in the Gippsland shire of Baw Baw, and is desperately in need of urgent restoration to prevent further degradation of its  weatherboard facade, and to modernise the outdated electrical wiring/switchboard.  The township of Thorpdale is in a very picturesque area of the Strzelecki ranges, and was originally opened up for timber milling and farming in the late 19th century.  It once boasted having the world's tallest tree, a giant mountain ash.  Today, due to its remote location and limited infrastructure, it is considered an area of economic need but with rich volcanic soil and high annual rainfall also remains a gardener's paradise.  Population growth is stagnant, with only approx. 130 people, but significant tourism potential. Our congregation consists of only 11 people, and our parish has no maintenance funding available to it. We are located in a remote rural corner of the Baw Baw shire, far away from the main growth areas and centres of decision making.  The chapel, which was originally built in 1898 (shortly after disasterous bushfires tore through the virgin giant mountain ash forests) still has its original bell, and is used for community gatherings and holds services for worship monthly, but we are unable to raise adequate funds without external financial assistance.  Your assistance with fund raising would not only restore dignity to a beloved & historic country chapel, but would also help restore faith and hope in the congregation and to all who regularly pass by this sad lady in need of basic maintenance and care.  Even small donations will help us achieve our goals, and if you could help to spread the word amongst others with community minded spirits we would be very very grateful.  Wishing you peace and goodwill this Christmas and thank you for considering our cause.