ANGLICAN Church of Australia in Flora Hill welcomed patrons onto its grounds on Sunday for the first service during the COVID-19 vaccination trial.
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After beginning the trial on Monday, October 11 Anglican Bishop of the Bendigo Diocese the Right Reverend Dr Matt Brain said it had taken some time to work out all the rules.
However, he said Sunday's first service had been a success.
"We were able to set up outside and had a wonderful mass in the sun," the Right Rev Dr Brain said.
"It took us some time to work out, but a majority of our patrons were able to work out the check-in system and we didn't have to turn too many away if they weren't fully vaccinated.
"We were joined by a few government officials to oversee the trialed event and they were very helpful."
The Right Rev Dr Brain said the last thing the church wanted to do was turn people away.
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"This isn't preparatory for locking people out," he said.
"It just means if you want to attend a service with higher numbers, you will need to double-vaccinated.
"There will be complementary services for the unvaccinated."
The church held three vaccination trial services and as they were held outside, they were able to have a group of 100 people attend.
Anyone who was unable to attend was able to view the event online.
The Greater Bendigo, Pyrenees, and Buloke shires are among six regional locations chosen for the trials which will allow more fully vaccinated people to safely attend venues and events.
The venues will test event settings attached to the 80 per cent double-vaccination mark on Victoria's Roadmap to Deliver the National Plan - a threshold due to be achieved on or before November 5.
In Greater Bendigo, the venues that will be included are the Anglican Church of Australia in Flora Hill, Bendigo Art Gallery, Village Cinemas and Body Fit Training.
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