Newborough Celebrates 70 Years of Faith, Music, and Migrant Heritage

NEWBOROUGH, VIC – The Immaculate Heart of Mary Parish celebrated a historic milestone on Sunday, 7 December 2025, gathering current and former parishioners to mark its 70th Anniversary.

The thanksgiving Mass was led by the Bishop of Sale, Most Rev. Greg Bennet. He was joined by a significant gathering of clergy, including the Provincial of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate, Fr Andrew Chen OMI, and current Parish Priest Fr Casmir Arul.

It was a special homecoming for several former leaders of the parish. Fr Herman Hengel, the parish priest who oversaw the construction of the current brick church in 1982, and Fr Harry Dyer OMI, a Newborough local who became the first Oblate Parish Priest of the Moe-Newborough partnership in 2014, were both in attendance.

Also concelebrating were Fr Christian Fini and Fr Vincent McGillicuddy, assisted by Deacon Mark Kelly.

Speeches delivered during the Parish Luncheon highlighted the parish's humble post-war origins. Established in 1955 to serve the growing workforce of the State Electricity Commission, the community originally worshipped in a converted corrugated iron Nissen hut, affectionately remembered as the "tin hut".

Guest speaker Sophy Morley (née Broeren), whose name appears on the very first page of the parish baptismal register, reflected on the unique spirit of the "Singing Parish".

“To this primitive settlement, they came from all over the world... migrants hoping for a better life,” Mrs. Morley said. She noted that over 21 nationalities, including Polish, Dutch, Italian, Maltese and Ukrainian families and migrants from Great Britain and Ireland, made Newborough their home, bringing with them a rich cultural heritage of music and faith.

Fr Harry Dyer OMI paid tribute to the pioneers who physically cleared the land and built the first church with their own hands. He also acknowledged the significant contributions of the Sisters of St Joseph and the Presentation Sisters, who provided education and pastoral care to the region for decades.

“Today is not just a celebration of years, but of faith, community, and a shared history,” Fr Dyer said. “We are the living stones... called to be the living Church.”

The celebration concluded with a parish lunch, where stories of the "Nissen Hut days" and the community’s legendary choir competitions were shared.

Today, Immaculate Heart of Mary is now united as a single parish with St Kieran's Moe, formed four years ago, continuing its legacy of welcome and diversity in the Latrobe Valley.