Uniting Church in Australia
Northern Synod

Vale Rev Jovilisi Ragata

With sadness the Northern Synod notes the passing of Rev Jovilisi Ragata.
The funeral for Jovilisi will be held on 2 June in Brisbane, some NRCC
members from Galiwinku will be attending to pass onto Jovilisi’s family our
condolences.

Jovilisi Ragata came to Australia in 1970. He came from the Methodist
Church in Fiji with a Certificate in Agriculture and Animal Husbandry.
He began work as an agriculturalist at Milingimbi 1970 and was there until he
moved to Goulburn Island June 1974 to continue his agricultural work.
In April 1976 Jovilisi began work as the Lay pastor at Milingimbi, which also
involved community worker in training at Ramingining. Following this training
he moved to Galiwin’ku where he was the Community Worker from 1978 to
2003.

During this time in 1985, Jovilisi was ordained as a Minister with the
Methodist Church of Fiji at Nightcliff Uniting Church.
In March 1998 Jovilisi became the NRCC Arnhem Region Presbytery
Minister. He then was Ordained as a Minister of the Word in the Uniting
Church in 2000.

In January 2007 Jovilisi was appointed as theology teacher and Dean of
Students at Nungalinya College as a joint NRCC/Synod appointment. The
late Rev Dr Les Brockway has commented that a highlight Jovilisi’s ministry
was his ability “to lead a community Bible study and conduct inspirational;
gatherings at the same time”.

The Northern Synod and the NRCC Presbytery mourns the loss of Rev
Jovilisi Ragata. Jovilisi served with passion and a strong message about
God’s people being active in His service.
The former Northern Synod Moderator and NRCC Executive Officer Rev Dr
Djiniyini Gondarra has on behalf of our Synod expressed our condolences to

Jovilisi’s family as we also celebrate the great contribution this wonderful
servant of God has made, especially among the members of NRCC in the
Northern Synod.

Peter Jones
General Secretary