Pastor Owen Lukins was a minister at the Bega Uniting Church for 13 years from 1989-2001, and returned to the Bega Valley mid-October to perform supply ministry work back at the church.

After he finishes his time in Bega this month, he and his wife Linda will return to Dapto until April when he “officially retires, whatever that means!” 

In 2001 Pastor Lukins moved to Dapto to work at the Uniting Church there, which he said was very different to being in a rural area. 

“You miss the connectedness you get in small country towns,” he said.

“I got to know a lot of people in the Bega Valley, and I sort of miss that in the bigger city environment.” 

In Dapto one issue he became involved in was a case of a couple of refugees who had overstayed their visas and were facing deportation, but with a lot of help from the community he and the church managed to have that decision overturned and the refugees were allowed to stay. 

Some of his best memories of the Bega Valley include connecting with its people, raising his family in a great environment, seeing Christian schools start up and going fishing at Tathra. 

Pastor Lukins has a great love of cycling, and in 1999 he took part in the RTA Big Ride travelling from Canowindra to Bega fundraising for research into multiple-sclerosis. 

Two years ago he rode in a cancer charity ride pedalling 200km over two days near Sydney with his wife. 

While he still enjoys riding, medical issues have forced him to reduce the times he goes pedalling. 

“Bega is a great place to train as it’s got plenty of hills,” he said. 

In addition to the church, Pastor Lukins was involved in Bega Scouts, schools around the town, cyclists and the yearly carols by candlelight. 

He said the town has changed “dramatically” since his exit, and he could “feel” it getting a lot bigger. 

“Bega is certainly giving the appearance of a town growing and progressing into the 21st Century,” he said. 

“It’s encouraging to see how people grow in their faith and people remain consistent and still do what they feel is right, as far as serving God is concerned.” 

After he leaves Bega this month, Pastor Lukins will be doing three months supply ministry on Norfolk Island, then “work out what retirement is about, with the prospect of future supply ministry”.