Gertrude Jacob was one of three recipients of the 2012 Servant of Christ Award. The award recognises the faithful, but not always obvious, service of laypeople within the LCA. It is conferred annually as a highlight of the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) graduation ceremony. Gertrude’s independent living unit at Lutheran Homes, Glynde, reflects her ongoing […]

Gertrude Jacob was one of three recipients of the 2012 Servant of Christ Award. The award recognises the faithful, but not always obvious, service of laypeople within the LCA. It is conferred annually as a highlight of the Australian Lutheran College (ALC) graduation ceremony.

Gertrude’s independent living unit at Lutheran Homes, Glynde, reflects her ongoing passion for mission, and stamps. Practically every surface of the 91-year-old’s unit is covered in stamps or packets of stamps that she works with daily.

Gertrude is the main stamp receiver for Stamps for Missions in South Australia. She has held this position since 1982 and seen Stamps for Missions grow in her lifetime from a Lutheran initiative to also embrace Anglican, Church of Christ and Uniting Church projects.

But Gertrude’s influence on the development of the LCA could also be seen in the number of former pupils who greeted her following the ceremony, recalling her contribution as classroom teacher and then founding principal of Lutheran schools at Loxton, SA (1956) and Angaston, SA (1962).

Her teaching career began at age 15, when she assisted her father, Friedrich Jacob, in one of two schoolrooms at Light Pass Lutheran School, which was re-opened in 1936. She also served at Appila and St Johns Lutheran School, Highgate.

Stamps for Mission has now raised over $300,000 for mission projects and continues to grow, mostly due to the dedication of people like Gertrude.

If you would like to consider the opportunity to donate used stamps or become a stamp receiver, you are invited to phone Peter Nitschke on (08) 8365 7717 or email pmnitschke@bigpond.com. For more information, go to https://www.lcamission.org.au/join-gods-mission/stamps-for-mission/