Chaplaincy week: Yanto’s 25 years in a rewarding vocation

Generations of Maranoa locals know Yanto Hall as the enthusiastic, musical chaplain of our region’s school. This year he is marking 25 years in the job.

Maranoa school chaplain Yanto Hall looks after Roma State College, Surat State School, and Wallumbilla State School.

BEING a chaplain is so much more than a job for Roma’s Riwayatiyanto Hall; it is a fulfilling service to his community, and his enthusiasm for chaplaincy is contagious to all who meet him.

Generations of students know him well, and for some who met him in his earliest days as Surat’s school chaplain since 1995, their children are now being inspired and supported by the stalwart of the school community.

This chaplaincy week, Mr Hall has reflected on more than two decades in the Maranoa, and said each day is just as rewarding as the first.

“The beauty of chaplaincy is that no day is ever the same, and each chaplain has a different way of connecting with their students” he said.

“When I first started, a lot of chaplains were very sporty and I wasn’t, but we all use our talents and what we are good at, and I find music is a great way to communicate with the students.”

A keen musician, Mr Hall has used his guitar skills and lessons to reach out to our kids, as one of many ways to supporting them spiritually and emotionally, through both the difficult times and the good ones.

A huge part of his role is helping the kids develop resilience: something more important then ever for the school community.

“They can come to my office with a heavy heart, but when they go, they will leave with a smile,” Mr Hall said.

Before he became a rural chaplain, Mr Hall was a youth worker, helping homeless young people in Brisbane’s southern suburbs.

While his rural locale is a stark contrast to his city roots, he said the same motivation has driven his chaplaincy.

“Working with young people is my passion,” he said.

“Helping them strive to lead a successful life is what inspires me, and when you see them grow into adulthood and become a part of the community, it had such an impact on them and their peers.”

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