If you’ve never met James Hunter – SU QLD’s new Field Development Manager for Logan and the Scenic Rim – then chances are it’s only a matter of time before you do.
“I’m an extreme extrovert. I love meeting people every day who I’ve never met before, and I remember them. Even when they’ve moved somewhere else, I keep in touch to keep those connections going,” he says.
It’s these connections that James hopes will benefit his chaplains and the LCCs in his region.
Having served as a chaplain for nine-and-a-half years at Rochedale State School and Springwood Central State School, James knows the value of chaplaincy, and the challenges of raising money outside of working hours to effectively do your job.
A natural people person, James looks for any excuse to connect with members of the community and demonstrate the importance of what school chaplains do. He also has a particular passion for his immediate community, Logan, where he was born and raised and where he has established deep and lasting connections.
As a school chaplain James was an ever-present figure helping out, not with just raising money for school chaplaincy, but other great causes as well. It’s these small gestures that he believes showcases the true value of chaplaincy.
“If school chaplains really are there to benefit the community, then chaplains, LCCs and all of us who work to support chaplains, need to be demonstrating that we are indeed of value to the community, and not just serving our own needs – regardless of how important our own cause is,” he says.
During his time at Rochedale State School, James coordinated Bandanna Day, Jeans for Jeans Day and Crazy Sock Day and a host of other non-chaplaincy fundraisers.
“I got involved in a World Vision fundraiser. We did a Christmas food hamper drive recently. A couple of years ago when the Bundaberg floods came through, we put out some advertising and asked students to help bring him school supplies to help young people in Bundaberg who’d lost everything in the floods.
“So I think where there is that element of supporting other causes, it shows you’re not just looking after yourself. And that, I believe, is something the school community and the broader community can see and understand the value their local school chaplain brings,” he says.
James says he is genuinely excited about his new FDM role and can’t wait to meet and work with local LCCs throughout the Logan and Scenic Rim.
“With me you’ll get passion for what you’re passionate about. I won’t come in with an agenda and say, ‘you’ve got to change how you’re doing things’. And if you need someone to turn some snags on a barbie, I’ll do it. If you want me to help out with a fundraiser, like a Trivia Night, I’m there. If I can’t be there, I’ll write the trivia questions for you. I just want the LCCs in my region to be successful. I want them to grow stronger.
“I want them to understand their chaplain more and I want them to work well with SU QLD. Ultimately, I just hope my enthusiasm rubs off and I’m excited for us all to be working together to support our awesome chaplains,” he says.