One of the Sydney Diocese’s most well known figures was at the centre of a seafaring accident that gripped an entire community during a routine summer holiday in January.
The Rev Chris Moroney, Senior Assistant Minister at St Andrew’s Cathedral, was holidaying in Norfolk Island and conducting locum work at All Saint’s, Kingston when two local fathers, Glen Macnamara and Peter Nicoli, failed to return from a day deep sea fishing. As the only Anglican minister on Norfolk Island, which is part of the Diocese of Sydney, Mr Maroney was informed that his role was to coordinate counselling for the panicked tight-knit population.
The emergency occurred when the motor on the mens’ boat failed and the SOS flare signals went unnoticed. New Zealand search and rescue teams and police rescue helicopters were launched but were forced to turn back due to rough seas. After three days and nights of extensive searching, the men were found, dehydrated and sunburnt, having restarted the motor. They returned to shore with the last reserves of fuel.
The island community thanked Mr Maroney publicly for leading a packed thanksgiving service in All Saints Cathedral. According to The Norfolk Islander, it was the first time in many years that the entire Norfolk Island community gathered together to sing hymns of praise.
The victim’s families said the service was a chance to put it to rest, Mr Moroney said.
“The swells were as big as house, it’s a miracle they made it back at all,”  he said.
“The incident has softened many people’s hearts to God and ploughed the seeds for follow up by local Christians.”