Year in Review 2023 Catholic Diocese of Sandhurst 19 Sandhurst Diocese Reports Cameron Fraser Diocesan Business Manager Sandhurst that the tenders are being evaluated and it is expected a new insurance provider will be chosen well ahead of the renewal date of April 2025. We have undertaken many projects during 2023. These have ranged in terms of value and complexity. Perhaps of particular interest has been the upgrade to the lighting at the Sacred Heart Cathedral, a project which took months to plan and execute. Prior to the 2023 upgrade, the Cathedral’s lighting system with aged gas-filled globes had become increasingly costly to service and operate. Part of the Cathedral’s 20-year capital works plan was to replace the old internal and external lights with new energy efficient LEDs. The new “luminaires” are now in place and can provide a range of lighting effects, all being controlled wirelessly. The lighting is much more cost-effective and has a lower carbon footprint with almost no ongoing maintenance requirements. Those of us planning to attend events at the Cathedral in 2024 will, I’m sure, be impressed by the results. Let there be light! The Diocesan Development Fund has continued its work in the support of our parishes, schools and Catholic agencies. The Fund is a truly great example of service to Church. Throughout the year there has been strong collaboration across the fund network as we work together to support the increasing demand for capital works projects and to offer depositors competitive rates for funds held on deposit – none of which would be possible without the ongoing loyalty and support of parishes and schools. In seeking feedback on the Fund’s products during the year we have increased the number of term deposit tenors available, and it is good to see in this increasing interest rate environment, strong growth in these new product offerings. The colleagues I work alongside I know are committed to your service. I remain proud of our achievements this past year as well as acknowledging that we continue to learn from and adapt to the challenges that have also come our way. I would like to extend my thanks and appreciation to everyone for their efforts, professionalism and tremendous work ethic, support of each other and the wider Sandhurst diocesan community. “A personal highlight was the Parish Administrators’ Conference in October which provided the forum to share and learn from each other.”
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