Sam Kelly never planned to follow his two older brothers into the family business, his passion for music and regular stage appearances with Echuca’s theatrical company making a stage career more likely than his current career path.
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The 22-year-old was as surprised as anyone when he found himself enrolling in a theology course with the intention of become the third sibling to become a church leader.
Last week, the “wise beyond his years’’ ministry student was sitting in a makeshift office at The Cafe Rochester as the recently-appointed Bendigo Anglican diocese-funded Rochester community chaplain
Sam, who has maintained his involvement with Echuca Moama Theatre Company and has a lead role in its current production, has spent the past six weeks in the chaplaincy role, his first step toward becoming a Anglican reverend.
Both of his older brothers are Anglican ministers. Reece, the eldest at 33, leads a church at Clyde North in Melbourne’s south-east.
His other brother, Jacob, is much closer to home as the minister of Kyabram’s St Andrew’s Church.
The entire family has a penchant for serving humanity. Sam’s mother Sharon is a foster care trainer and assessor with Njernda in Echuca and his sister Sharon runs a counselling business with her husband Murray.
Sam started his theology studies in 2021, but had not planned on following into the “family business’’.
He will complete his studies at the end of 2024, deciding to have some “life experience’’ by accepting the Anglican chaplaincy role for two days a week
“I plan to spend three days a week studying,” he said.
“I am doing a mixed mode of study and attend one day a week at Ridley College in Parkville.”
The former River City Christian College student opted for a non-traditional version of the VCE and attended Bendigo TAFE to study sound engineering, focused on becoming a musician.
“I play a bit of everything — the guitar, keys, bass and little bit of drums,” Sam said.
“I’ve always been in church bands and singing is one of my passions. I think it will always be a part of my life.”
Before the COVID-19 pandemic, Sam had been invited to sing for record producers in the United States, but has ended up following a different path.
“A lot of people say I have a crooner’s voice,” he said.
“I grew up doing musical theatre with EMTC and I am involved with their current play, Play On.”
Not turning 23 until later in the year, Sam said the timing of his involvement in chaplaincy was not unusual.
“It is different for each person. I know a lot of chaplains in their mid-20s and several who are a bit older,” he said.
Most of Sam’s initial discussions with Rochester people have all been over a cup of coffee from a quiet corner of The Cafe Rochester, his unofficial base of operations.
“The Anglican church building is out of action at the moment and I still don’t know when it will open,” he said.
“While I base myself at the cafe, I also meet people in their homes, wherever they are most comfortable.”
Rochester is without an Anglican church minister at the moment, but the chaplaincy role is not connected directly to parishioners.
“I will not only be working with people from the Anglican community, the position is for everyone,” Sam said.
“The community is hurting and having an extra set of hands is the aim of the service.”
With financial backing from the Bendigo Anglican diocese through flood relief funding it received, Sam said he jumped at the chance to juggle the chaplaincy role with his theology and community service studies.
Most of his early contact with the Rochester community has been by word of mouth, including a the Community Chat breakfast two weeks ago.
“I know Heather Watson from doing threate with her husband, Graeme,” he said.
“And Debbie Bush was my school teacher at River City College.”
The flow of communication has contined through his early meetings.
“Every time I talk to someone, I get a couple of more phone numbers and I am reaching out to those people as that happens,” he said.
Sam has been appointed to the role for two years, during which time he will finish his Bachelor of Theology and Ministry.
He will work on a flexible basis on Thursdays and Fridays, fitting the role in with his study schedule and offering support from 9am until 2pm or 3pm.
“There was a need, so I filled the need,” he said.
“Being from Echuca, I felt the hurt and when I was approached it wasn’t really a question.”
Sam said he considered Rochester to be the little brother of his larger Campaspe home town.
As for his tender years, he said having an old head on young shoulders was somewhat of a family trait.
“Jacob was born an old man,” he said.
Sam said his mother “was just as surprised as we were” that she would soon have three ministers as sons.
“We were brought up in the church, but she never steered us in that direction,” he said.
“I’ve always loved music and thought that is where my future lied.”
His first involvement in what is now a 25-production career was as a six-year-old in Oliver.
But he has no intention of bidding farewell to the stage just yet, with time to enjoy both roles.
Sam said the chaplaincy role was designed to be “something a little more casual’’, instead of a daunting counsellor appointment.
“People don’t even need to leave their home,” he said.
Anyone interested in reaching out to Sam can do so by phoning 0427 507 595.
Campaspe News