First edition printing 2002Published by Morningside Uniting ChurchMorningside Q 4770

ISBN 0-9580385-0-3

Copyright @ 20OZ by Denise AustinPrinted by Preserved MemoriesBrisbane, AustraliaCover printed by University of Queensland Printery

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may bereproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmittedin any form or by any means electronic, mechanical,photocopying, recording or otherwise without priorpermission of the publisher.

FROM PASTURE TO PASTORATE

lf* 4ioøoy "f ¿Vloz,níngtí/E U.nit*gCßunoß

l9o2-2OO2

by Denise A. Austin

FRONT COVER lnk and ink wash by Lance Lamb Uniting Church Balmoral Parish

My righteousness will last forever, My salvation through all generations(lsaiah 51:8)

Dawn of MorningsidefF he suburb of Morningside, so named

I because the rising sun shines on the

I adjacent hills, has always been verydear to the hearts of its residents. The Bulimbaelectorate, encompassing Morningside, was

constituted under the Electoral Districts Act ofi872, with 685 electors on the roll.s The districtwas supported mainly by primary industry,along with the tin smelter and the brick works.The Cobb & Co. mail coach rattled daily alongNew Cleveland Road, now called W'ynnumRoad. In those days, it was little more than arough stock route.

Some of the earliest settlers were members ofthe Rossiter family who had moved fromCannon Hill to Morningside, in 1874.6 EdmundRossiter established the Keralgerie tannery inwhat is now Mornington Crescent. He built thefirst house in the suburb, on the corner ofBridgewater Road and Rossiter Street.T His son,

James, later settled with his wife, Emily, inKates Street.s Another early resident was R. B.Stark, a co-founder of the old Brisbane firm ofAllan & Stark (later a Myer store). EdgarWalker and his wife, Katherine, took upresidence on a choice block ofland, on the crest

of what is now Belgrave Street. Materials forthe house were brought by timber waggon,along the bumpy bush track.e The character ofMomingside residents was already beingfashioned.

The opening of the Cleveland railway line, in1889, resulted in marked progress and a steady

rise in the population.r0 The first big housingestate offered for public sale at Momingside

One of lhe earliest stores in Morningside.This photo was taken during the 1920s, stood where

lhe Scherezade Indiøn restaurant now is.

was called, oddly, Bulimba Railway StationEstate and was submitted for auction on 4

August, 1888.1r Ordinary allotments realised as

much as f30-f.40 Despite the ensuingdepression of the 1890s, new families wereallracted to the area. One young couple wasGeorge and Clara Swain who moved toMorningside in 1898, to reside at the corner ofNew Cleveland Road and Agnes Street,Morningside, where Tim Altass' real estate

office is now situated. Their son Arthur and hiswife Lillian later built their home at the oppositeend of Agnes Street, where their daughter ValSwain, still lives today.l2

By 1900, Brisbane was about to become a state

capital, within the Commonwealth of Australiabut Morningside was still largely covered bybushland. Under the Local Authorities Act of1901, the Balmoral Shire Council was formed,comprising the suburbs of Bulimba, Hawthorne,Norman Park, Morningside, Cannon Hill,

L+ The morning journey The morning journey L5Murarrie, Tingalpa and Hemmant.13 These

neighbouring regions became closely connected.

Morningsiders' pride in their community wasalready evident by the mid-1920s, when theyvigorously and successfully opposed a proposal

by the Greater Brisbane Council to make thehilltop of Balmoral Park, Morningside, into whatwould have been Brisbane's first crematorium.The residents argued that the park was held intrust by the council as a 'recreation reserve' and a

crematorium 'could not by any stretch of theimagination be classed as recreation'.ra It was

later made available to a bowling club, as well as

for Girl Guides' and Boy Scouts' halls, althoughthese are now unused. The hilltop of this parkalso housed arúi-airqaft gun emplacementsduring World War II.

Birth of Morningside Methodist ChurchAlthough Methodist churches had beenestablished in the surrounding suburbs ofBulimba (1856), Hemmant (1S66) and Tingalpa(1877), transport to any of these was difficult.Therefore, in 1900, local Christians of alldenominations began gathering for Sundayafternoon services, conducted by the popular Rev.Stead, of the Wesley Church, East Brisbane.These happy times of fellowship were held in thehome of the postmaster Fred Allison and his wife,Elizabeth, located on the site later occupied byJocumsen's butchery, approximately next door towhere Kentucky Fried Chicken now is. Joyfultunes, such as 'Stand up, stand up for Jesus'fromSankey's hymnal, would be sung by the ruralfellowship.rs

The families would often enjoy fundraisingconcerts, known as 'grand tea meetings', held in atent, in the yard of 'Ridgeway', Charlie and Jane

Crowther's home, on Vy'ynnum Road. This isnow a commercial property. The meetings wereheld on the evenings of the full moon, as it wasnot safe to venture out too far on a dark night, forfear of tripping over one of Swain's goats that

Tom Kelly's home at 106 Pashen Street

roamed the unfenced pastures!16 As a precaution,a hurricane lamp was usually carried. Thecongregation soon outgrew the Allisons'home, soplans for a church building were discussed andfundraising efforts were begun.

From the outset, the church was established bycooperative effort and generosity. An interest-free loan of f50 had been made available by Ezraand Eliza Firth, early pioneers who had madetheir fortune developing 300 square miles ofcattle country which they called Mount Surprise,before eventually retiring in Brisbane.tT GeorgeLang also collected local donations amounting to

Original sønctuüty of the church, in 1902

Road where the

church buildingnow stands, was

purchased forf50. It was

chosen mainly for its cool prevailingwinds.tt

Not surprisingly, the popular father and sonteam, Charlie and Emie Crowther, wereawarded the building contract, after theirtender of f350 was accepted.re EvenChristians from other suburbs donated tothe venture. Thomas Daw and James

Carmichael, of the Tingalpa Methodist

Church, carted the bricks, in their dray, fromKelly's brick yards, at Murarrie.2o Establishingthe church was truly a cooperative communityachievement.

Two foundation stones were laid, on 8 February1902, one by Eliza Firth and one by KatherineBarnes, the wife of local politician WalterHenry Barnes, MLA. The Federation Gothic-style, gable-roofed church was constructed of

Ezrø and Eliza Firth's grand home'Morningside Villa' at 123 Wøminda Street

was built in 1881 and destroyed by /ire in IggS

f90. One 50 acre

block, known as

Lawson's paddock,

on the western side

of what is nowThynne Road, \ryas

considered forpurchase. However,

a different block ofland on Thynne

Rev. Dr. Robert Slewarlpreached the Jirst sermon

at the church

/

-L6 The morning journey

cream brick with decorative light band work andlancet windows and doors.2r It was completedin just two months and Rev. Dr Robert Stewartconducted the first church service, on 3l March1902, preaching on John 12:32 'And I, if I belifted up, will draw all men unto me.'22 DrStewart, who spent five years at Wesley, EastBrisbane (1907-1911), was twice president ofthe Conference.2' The 7 p.m. service was led byRev. Bernard Frederick, assistant minister toRev. Powell who was superintendent minister ofthe Brisbane South circuit.2a

Morningside church member, Hilda Smith,recalled her grandmother's stories of these earlydays. Before there was any room to houseSunday School pupils, classes were often heldoutdoors. Hilda's grandfather, AlexanderQuelch, used to bring his mechanical HMVgramophone to the churchyard to play music forthe children's classes. Since the church did nothave any fences, the congregation used to find itconvenient to use somebody else's stables.25

The suburb of Morningside experienced a boomperiod during the 1920s, with its inclusion underthe Greater Brisbane scheme, in 1925, wherebythis rural suburb attained city status.26Development was also spurred by the extension

Original churchbuilding - note bell-

lower and threewindows along the

side, compared wilhtwo today

This photo of thefírst congregation

was presented loEzra & Eliza Firth,

in 1902, on their63'd weddinganniversary.

of the Balmoral tram line to the Bulimbacemetery, in March 1925. Ron Beech recalledthat, in the absence of modern suburban noise,he and other local lads could tell which eveningsteward was ringing the church bell, by the styleof tolling. The clear, crisp single strokes of thebell indicated Bob White, while double strokesidentified Tom Kelly.2' The church wasbecoming a focal point in the community.

From its inception, the Morningside Methodistchurch was a close-knit, family church, wheregenerational clans gathered to worship. EdgarWalker was the trust treasurer.2s His daughter,Elva, was an organist and his son, Les, was anorganist and choirmaster. Harry Hoskins wassteward at the church door, whilst the nextgeneration, Gil and Beattie Hoskins, were veryactive in youth ministry. The family of SidneyD. Fletcher, a former organist, choirmaster andlay preacher, remained devoted to the music andyouth ministry of the church, through hischildren Beryl, Hubert and Owen Fletcher, thelatter becoming Sunday School superintendent.This generational mandate continued to be animportant characteristic of the church.

Another outstanding feature of the Morningsidechurch family was the number of marriages that

One of the most remarkable features of the Morningside Methodist/Uniting Church has been thefaithful family membership, from generation to generation; and some of those are stillrepresented today.

Four Generationsof church members

paternal&

maternal

Barbura ProJke Gil lVrght

Barbara Profke holds a unique heritage at Morningside. Her ancestors have created a line ofmembership spanning four generations. Her maternal great-grandparents, Alexander and AgnesMunyard, were among those at the first church service. Barbara's paternal great-grandparents, Harryand Charlotte Hoskins, were also founding members. Barbara's grandfather, Albert Henry Wright(Harry), was the MLA for Bulimba, from 1923 to 1929. lHer father, Gil Wright, still attends the churchand sings in the choir, with Barbara and her husband, Rob. In fact, Gil has been singing bass in thechoir for more than sixty years!

I

F.

Lg The morning journey The morning journey L3

Two Generations

20 The morning journey The morning journey 21,

Church with original picketfence, l9S2

have taken place between members of thechurch, excluding the even more extended list ofthose from within the parish! The first marriageregistered in the church was that of Bill Brodieand Hettie Gibbs, although it is not certainwhether they actually met in the church.2e Hereis a list of couples who met and fell in love atMorningside church.

Couples who mel and manied ut theMorningside Church3o

Trustsecrelary,

Bob llhite,with his wifeFlorence and

døughter foyce

Ghurch finance

The history of Morningside church also reveals

an excellent record regarding financial matters,

owing to godly, wise stewardship. Edgar Walkerbegan as trust secretary before 1910 and resignedin 1938, just a few months before his death.

Many recall his wonderful cheerfulness, despite

ili¡ress. His keenness in the work is indicated bythe fact that trustees' meetings were held in hishome, when he could no longer walk to thechurch. Many sets of minutes end with the

words 'a vote of thanks was passed to MrsWalker for having so graciously providedrefreshments'.3l He was succeeded by BobWhite who served in that capacity for twenty-five years and who, by careful control of theflnances, made it possible for all outstandingliabilities on the property to be liquidated.32 Anannual Thanksgiving Day was

celebrated at the church, for manyyears, to acknowledge thegoodness of God in His provision.

In March 1960, the Balmoralcircuit entered into the firststewardship canvass, 'Faith inAction', which was undertaken bymany Methodist churches at thattime. These campaigns were

conducted by the young people's

department, to raise money forvarious church projects. W'omen

'Kønimbla' the llthiles' home at627 lltynnum Road

worked as hostesses, men as canvassers andyouth as helpers. At Balmoral, it was

inaugurated under the leadership of AlexBorgeaud, as director, with Col Ray as hisassistant. Reg Alcom was general chairman and

Ron Angell was canvass chairman. It was agreat encouragement when 650 people accepted

the invitation to the loyalty dinner, in the CityHal1.33 The generous pledging which resultedfrom this campaign ensured the support of a

second minister, as well as funds for theparsonage trusts. During an intensive pledges

campaign to raise f 10,000 for extensions to thechurch and Sunday School hall, Reg Alcornwrote: 'We need one MIGHTY EFFORT. Eachman doing his utmost to bring the church in step

with the progress made by our lovely city.'34

It is worthy of comment to note the tremendousgenerosity of spirit displayed consistently by theMorningside congregation. In the financial

Canvass committee meeting, in 1960

-I 22 The morning journey The morning journey 23

Canvass res ults for Mornìngside, I 960

quarter ending 30 June 1985, the total offeringsfor Balmoral parish amounted to 524,937 ofwhich gl3,l77 came from Momingside churchalone.3t As the people of Morningside gavefinancially, as part of their worship, blessingsflowed back into their lives.

Building fmprovements

Through tithes, love offerings and fundraisingcampaigns, the church building itself hasundergone extensive renovations, during thecourse of its one hundred years. In 1920, thetransepts wereconstructed as a memorialto the thirteen young menkilled during World WarI; and electricity wasinstalled, to replace thegas lamps. During thesemajor alterations, theservices were held undera big marquee in thechurch grounds. Onestory recalled a bout ofbad weather, when oneSunday, the makeshiftchurch collapsed on theworshippers!3u TheSunday School hall wasadded, in 1933. Inmemory of World War IIsoldiers, an entire church

refurbishment was undertaken, under thedirection of trust secretary, Bert Faulkner, in1947. Generous donations were made: a pipeorgan, pulpit, communion rail, communiontable, hymn board, pews, palm stands, baptismalfont, offering plates, conductor's lectern,memorial gates and windows. During the 1950sand 1960s, other additions included vestryextensions and improvements, fluorescentlighting, ceiling fans and concrete paths andlawns laid around the church yard.

Another substantial addition was made to thechurch building, jn 1974. The front porch wasenlarged to a design by Rod Ellwood, and builtby John Beech. A fine, stained glass windowinstalled, along with new fumishings and. apublic address system. A larger kitchen wasdesigned by Jim Ryan and constructed byTrevor Davis, with the assistance of JackHalstead, in 1984, to cater for the many dinnersand fellowship lunches, for which the churchhad become renowned.3T The kitchen was builtat a cost of almost $7,000. Of that, more than$5,500 was contributed via donations by the

Refurbished sanctuary of rhe church, in 2000

The new

frontporch,1974

BUCC, the ladies' morning fellowship, Cannon

Hill property board, Bulimba property board, and

the proceeds of a breakfast held in the hall. Aninterest-free loan was given, to cover the

remainder.3t

In 1995, the building underwent anotherextensive renovation, including reroofing,rewiring, repainting and installation of heaters.

The sanctuary was totally reconstructed,

modernised and carpeted. At the dedicationceremony, Rev. Dr Des Neil, commented:

'Thanks to Almighty God for ninety-five years ofworship and service to the Morningsidecommunity. He calls us to be a "pilgrimpeople" - moving forward - and today wededicate a renewed sanctuary to the glory of Goda¡d to better serve the needs of the 21st century.'3e

Norm Stubbersfield's keeping of meticulous

details of property committee records for morethan twenty years, has been greatly appreciated.

Brenda Wharton recalls that, although he was

offrcially the church secretary, he contributed so

much more, including climbing onto the roof(even in his eighties) to clear leaves out ofgutters.ao

The devoted Christians of Morningside, hungryfor worship, vr'ere drawn together at the dawn of anew federation, in a new century. Methodismwas pioneering a place in Brisbane's heritage.

This stained glass windowwith its missionary exhortation was

installed in 1974øs pürt of the enlarged porch

t

-a-

Parish life 25

J-l u"n in the virgin pastures of early

|l Australia, the Methodist Church wasr inseparably linked through suburban

circuits, each comprising several churchcongregations. After the union of Presb¡erian,Congregational and Methodist churches, in 1977,these circuits were called parishes which wereserved by one or more ministers. The Methodist/Uniting Church tradition of moving ministers atfrequent intervals has meant a long line ofsuccessive ministerial appointments to theMomingside church. Nevertheless, each one ofthese men and women who provided teaching,counselling and comfort to the Morningsidecongregation left a lasting legacy for futuregenerations.

Brisbane Methodism

The history of Methodism and the ministers whopioneered the work in Brisbane can provide someinsight into the life of the Morningside church.On 6 March, 1812, the first Methodist classmeeting was held in Sydney.a2 However, it was

Rev. Ihilliom and Mrs MooreMethodist pioneers in eueensland

The old logo of theMethodist Church of Austrølasia

not until 1846 that a Methodist mission was sentto Brisbane.a3 In fact, this was the last colony inAustralia to have a Methodist minister appointed.Rev. William Moore arived in 1847 and AlbertStreet church opened the following year. Rev.Moore was a fervent evangelist who travelledwidely throughout Brisbane and Ipswich,establishing congregations, thus earning AlbertStreet the title of the 'Mother Church ofMethodism'.aa

For the next twenty years, Rev. Mooreestablished a great Methodist work in Fiji (1S50-1870).45 Upon his return to Australia, he waselected to the Presidency of the New SouthV/ales and Queensland Conference. On the daybefore his death, he was heard to exclaim: 'I ama sinner saved

- a sinner saved!,a6

When Rev. Moore's successor, Rev. WilliamLightbody, arrived in August 1849,he reported:'Our members in the Moreton Bay Circuitmanifest their love to the Lord Jesus by the

feeling of peace and unity prevalent amongthem; by their upright deportment before the

people of the world; by their own zeal in seekingthe conversion of sinners; and by their liberalcontributions toward the support of the gospel.'a7

The Brisbane work had already begun to bear

fruit.

In 1855, a constitutional change was made forpractical reasons, to separate the Australianchurches from the British Wesleyan conference,to form their own conference. In recognition ofits potential growth, Queensland was given thestatus of a separate district from Sydney, in1863.48 As a district of the Australian conference,far removed from the growing cities in the south,

Queensland Methodism was dependent upon itsown resources, to service aî area of more than600,000 square miles. The Home MissionSociety was founded in 1864, to care for theincreasing population extending westwards and

northwards.ae

In 1874, the first New South W'ales and

Queensland annual conference of the V/esleyanMethodist Church of Australasia was convened.to

The general conference of 1891, in Sydney, gave

authority for the constitution of a separate

Queensland conference, allowing wider powers

of self-government to the Methodist Church inBrisbane.st On 6 March, 1893, exactly 81 years

after their southern pioneers, the first

Queensland conference was held in Brisbane. At

In 1905, amobile

waggon wusintroduced,to semice

homesteadsloo far away

fromestablished

homemissionstations

that time, there were 33 ministers andprobationers in Queensland, with a total churchmembership of 1,981.52 At the conference, a

resolution was passed, ' ... to set apart the firstweek in June as a week of humiliation and

special prayï in all our churches, for theoutpouring of the Holy Spirit upon our colony.'s3

Clearly, these were not just empty words because

the conference memorial collection to reinforcethe loan fund, reached f600.5a

In 1901, the last Queensland annual conferenceof the Australasian Wesleyan Methodist Church,was held in Brisbane. It was also the fourthunited conference of the V/esleyan and PrimitiveMethodist churches in Queensland.ss Theproperties and interests of the Bible ChristianChurch were also taken over by the QueenslandV/esleyan Methodist Church. The first

Queensland annual conference of the Methodist

Rev. Albert Taylor's church and hontemissionøry's quarters at Paradße, in 1892,

prior lo seming at Morningside

ln Christ we who are many form one body and each member belongs to attthe others, (Romans'l 2:5)

*I*,

a

.T

26

Church of Australasia was held in 1902. Finally,union was completed with the primitiveMethodist Church, in 1906.56 ny the timeMcrningside church was established, Methodismhad built a strong foundation in Brisbane.

Parish life

The minìsters altending the Queenslantl Conference, 1902

took over in 1916 and as both of these early

ministers were unmarried, the ladies of the

Church Help Society assisted with circuitvisitation.60 To provide a comfortable home forsucceeding married ministers, a parsonage was

built, in 1918, on a site in Main Avenue. It was

removed to its present site at the top of NuttallStreet, Bulimba, in 1928.6'

Rev. V/illiam H. Leembruggen arrived at

\,Íorningside in 1917, with his wife, as well as a

helper, Samson Goolapooka. The Leembruggens

had recently completed missionary service in the

Solomon Islands and Samson cared for theiryoung children.6' Rev. Leembruggen, a zealous

prohibitionist, owned a battered old single-seater

car, which was often sighted, loaded down withyoung boys both outside and inside

chugging around the streets with prohibition

signs aloft. He and the boys used to sing: 'Heydiddle diddle, put your cross in the middle' and

'Prohibition, prohibition, prohibition every

time' (to the tune of 'O my darling,

Clementine').63 Rev. Leembruggen also

conducted open air services at the corner ofV/ynnum Road and Thynne Road, every Sunday

evening. This young, vibrant preacher endeared

himself to the hearts of the congregation,

especially to the

boys, as theirpopular cricketcaptain.6a MrsLeembruggenwas remembered

for her regular

women'smeetings, at the

parsonage.

Successiveministers made

their mark on the

growing church in

VernonWinstanley, MLA

Morningside. Rev. Edwin G. V/alker, who

served from 1925 to 1928 became veryprominent in the wider church, as director of the

Christian Social Order Movement in

Queensland.6s Another popular minister was

Rev. J. H. (Jimmy) Heaton who held tenure from1926 until 1933. He was remembered fororganising wonderful picnics and for playing

football with the young people. His son, Rev.

Ralph Heaton, as a supernumerary (retired

ministers who became honorary preachers inchurches around their places of residence), oftenpreached in the Balmoral circuit, long after his

retirement and well into his eighties. Rev.

William Kleindienst is also fondly remembered

for his dedication, fortitude and tenacity incycling between Bulimba, Morningside and

Tingalpa, leading three services, nearly every

Sunday! Rev. Herbert Garrett had a great rapport

with people and captured the attention of childrenin his seÍnons, with all sorts of stories of his

experiences in the bush and by making origamiplaythings out of handkerchiefs and paper.uu

Many fiery lay preachers were active in the

Balmoral circuit, including the excellent public

speaker and politician, Walter Henry Barnes,

MLA, who held the seat of Bulimba, 1901-1915

and 1918-1923 and was a councillor of the

Coorparoo Shire Council, for thirty years.ut

Vernon Winstanley was the MLA for Queenton,in the state parliament, from 1908 to 1932; he

was govemment whip from 1915 to 1929; and he

was an executive member of the QueenslandTemperance League. He was also a lay preacher

in the Balmoral circuit, for many years.68 Some

lay preachers brought light-hearted relief to theirconvicting seÍnons. Tom Kelly told of the

custom of putting a stool in the pulpit for shorter

preachers and how one layman became so excited

that during his sennon he fell off the stool!

Another so vehemently banged the pulpit with his

hands that one side of it fell offl6e

Cyril and Ivan Alcorn, raised aL Tingalpa,

became two of the most influential and revered

Parish life 27

Shepherds of the tr',lock

The Morningside Methodist Church was foundedin 1902 but there was, as yet, no full_timeminister. The earliest ministers, from WesleyEast Brisbane, who serviced the fledglingchurch, were Rev. Michael Scott Fletcher, Rev.Dr Robert Stewart, Rev. Lewis Hudson and Rev.Sampson Stephens.sT On 2g April 1913, anhistoric meeting was held at the Morningsidechurch, to inaugurate the Balmoral circuit. Thepresident of the conference, Rev. RichardDunstan, occupied the chair 'and conducted theprodeedings with his usual urbanity'.r8 Nineteenofficials attended, including Rev. Fred Hot J.Crellin, Alf Horne, J. Uhlmann, D. Lindsay,

Edgar Walker, F. Gibson, E. Stanton, ThomasRiding and Messrs Fleming, Kennedy, Daw,Enever, Carmichael, Briscam, Mcleod, Tyler,Gibbs and Vanstone. The meeting appointedcircuit stewards and resolved that theremunerative allowance to Rev. Hof a ministerof full standing

- though not mar¡ied _ wouldbe f,40 per quarter.'e Rev. Alexander S. Rothwell

I

Balimba parsonage at 22 Nuttail Street

28 Parish life Parish life 29

preachers includedMr Baglini and Sidney D. Fletcher of Morris,Fletcher & Cross, solicitors for the eueenslandSyncd of the Uniting Church in Australia.

The parish has also supported and inspired manyministers in training, such as BanambiWunungmurra, a young aboriginal dancer whorepresented Australia at Expo in Japan and felt

called to study for the ministry, at the KangarooPoint Training College. He entered Bible School,in 7972.71

In 7976, as a forerunner to union, the Balmoralcooperative parish was established under theguidance of Rev. Fred Buchholz, embracingHawthorne presbyterian Church. Fred and hiswife, Dalas, worked diligently to bring together theHawthome presb¡erians and the BalmoralMethodists, ananging many social evenings,including ballroom dancing in all the church halls.Rev. Bruce Gulley and his wife, Jenny, were incharge of pastoral ministry and Bible study groups,in the Morningside and Cannon Hill areas. Thejovial Bruce Gulley was particularly popular withthe young people.72 Rosemary Lane, the first ofseveral deaconesses, was also appointed at thistime, making a pastoral team of three for thethriving parish.

Church growth was forever on the minds andhearts of the ministers of Morningside. Rev. NeilJones' vision was conveyed in the Church Newspamphlet in 1986, where he placed a graphic cf the

world and beside it wrote the words: 'A recent

picture of our parish'.73 When the much-lovedRev. Peter Blackburn left Balmoral, in 1990,

'Parish Council recorded its most sincere thanks

for the very hne service which Rev. Peter

Blackburn, his wife Alison and their family have

given to Balmoral Parish over the last ten years,

through preaching, teaching, visiting, guidance,

leatlership, friendship, genuine smiles, finemusical talent and good printing abilities.'74

Throughout its history, Morningside church has

been blessed with very special ministers whofaithfully passed on the baton to their successors.

Uniting in Christ

Church union, which altered the destiny ofMorningside church forever, was certainly notsomething that was considered hastily. The unionof Presb¡erian, Congregational and Methodistchurches had been discussed since the turn ofthetwentieth century. Cooperative organisations

were established, such as the Presbyterian and

Methodist Schools Association, which was formedin I9I7.7s In 1921, a vote was taken and 60Yo ofPresbyterians, 8 5

0/o of C ongre gationali sts and 8 5Yo

of Methodists favoured the draft basis of union.76

After an even more successful vote, in 1954, ajoint commission was appointed in 1957, tonegotiate for union, involving a long process ofcomparing and debating doctrinal statements,

church structure and methods of government. In1960, in the Methodist Times, Rev. Dr A. H.

Wood pleaded: 'we are aheady united in spirit ...

Let us free our minds of snobbishness and

complacency.'77

Finally, on 22 Jlune 1977, the Uniting Church inAustralia was inaugurated, embracing allMethodist and Congregational churches and most

Presbyterian churches.Ts The Thynne Road church

subsequently changed its name to MorningsideUniting Church and joined the South MoretonPresbytery which extended south of the Brisbane

River to the New South Wales border. In more

recent years, the church has been transferred to the

Moreton Rivers Presbytery.

mtmsters, not only of the Balmoral circuit but ofthe Oueensland church. Ness Wright recalled: 'No

The logo of theUniting Church in

Australia - the blackcircle represents sin,fhe cross represenls

Chrìst, the IIrepresenls uniting andthe dove represenfs the

Holy Spirit

Cannon Hill, Seven Hills and Hawthornechurches were sold, in the wake of union

As a result of the union of the churches, the

Uniting Church rationalised its capital outlay byclosing a number of churches in Brisbane. Thisincluded Cannon Hill, in 1980 and Seven Hillsand Hawthorne, in 1993. Many of the members

from Seven Hills and Cannon Hill transferred tothe Morningside church. 7e

Examining the wider history of Methodism inBrisbane, the ministerial input of many ministers

of the Balmoral parish and the 1977 union,provides greater insight into the Morningsidestory. The congregation of the MethodislUnitingChurch in Morningside was very closely linked to

its neighbouring communities and churches. Itsministers, whom they shared within the parish,

helped to forge the vision of the church.

This is more than reminiscing, in the words ofRev. Basil Blake who wrote, in 1963:

'Appreciation of what our men and women -dead and living - have achieved for us provides

us with a true perspective of life. We are the

better for acknowledging it.'to

Ministries Nurtured

Poul Dalzell Befty Mcleltan

Kevín BøchlerLeah ShøwJesson

No photoavailable

a

30 Parish life 3LParish life

Morningside Ministers

Following are brief biographies of each minister, in the order in which they served atMorningside Methodist/Uniting Church. 81

Frederick Hof (Balmorar 1913-1916)was born in lgg0 in eueensland.From 1916-1919, Rev. Hof was connected to the young people,sDepartment of the Methodist Church.

Parishes: 1908 croydon, 1909-10 Herbert River, rgrl-12 Kilcoy, rgr3_1916 Balmoral, 1916-1918 East Brisbane, 1919-1921 Darwin. 1922_24Cairns, 1925 -27 Boonah.

Rev. Hof died in 1958 and is buried in the Balmoral cemetery.

James Henry Heaton, BA (Balmoral 1928-1933) Offices he held

were: 1915-46 Chaplain to the Forces, 1918-1928 Chairman of the

District, 1927 Secretary of the Conference, 1928 President of the

Conference, I94I-44 Chairman of the District. Parishes: 1900

Longreach, 1901-03 Howard, 1903-04 Queen's College, 1904-07

Brisbane Valley, 1907-12 Fassifern, l9l2-15 Toowong, 1915-18

Mount Morgan, 1918-19 Campbell Street, Rockhampton, l92l-23Townsville, 1923-26 Warwick, 1926-28 Nambour, 1928-33 Balmoral,

1933-37 W'ooloowin, 1937-47 Stanthorpe, l94l-45 Archer Street,

Rockhampton, I 945 Supernumerary. Deceased

Atbert Taylor (Balmoral 1933-1936) was born in 1868, in England.

Offrces he held were: 1922 Secretary of the Conference, 1916-19

Chairman of the District, 1923 President of the Conference.

Parishes: 1894-9 6 Peak Down s, 1896-97 Townsville, 1897 -99 Sandgate,

1899-1900 Laidley, 1900-04 Pine Rivers, 1904-05 Supernumerary,

1905-07 Barcaldine, 1907-10 Raff St., Toowoomba, l9l0-I3 V/est End,

Brisbane, l9l3-14 Pittsworth, 1914-16 lthaca, 1916-19 Townsville,

l9l9-23 Campbell Street, Rockhampton, 1923-26 Sherwood, 1927-32

Coorparoo, 1933-35 Balmoral, 1936-37 V/ilston, 1938-48

Supernumerary Moorooka. Rev. Taylor died in 1948, and his ashes are

at Mr. Thompson Crematorium, Mt. Gravatt.

\ililliam. Henry deBoer Leembruggen (Barm orar l9r7-rg22) was bom inceylon, in 1886. 1926-30 connexiõñal eàitor, Turmurriu. -

Parishes: 1910 Beaudesert, 191 1-13Roviana, Solomon Islands, l9l7-22 BTasmania, 1927-31 Invermay, LaunceVictoria, 1936-40 Moonee ponds, 194Y ale, 7 9 47-48 supernumerary, Rosebud, rg45 -52 Toorak, 1 953 retired.Rev. Leemb_1¡seen died in 1957 and, his ashes are atthe crematorium atSpringvale, Victoria.

Alexander S. Rothwell (Balmorat 1916-1917) was born in England in1 883.

Parishes: 1913 Dalby, 1914 Ravenswood, 1915 Howard, 1916-1917Balmoral, r9l7-20_ Bundaberg, 1920-22 ñashville, cy-pi.. rg22-25Pittsworth, 1925 -? Beenleigh.

Rev. Rothwell died in 1946 and his ashes are at Mt ThompsonCrematorium, at Mt Gravatt.

Edwin G. \ilalker (Barmorar r925-r92g) was born in New SouthWales, in 1880. He entered the ministry in téOS.

Rev. v/alker died in 1955 and his ashes are at Mt ThompsonCrematorium, at Mt Gravatt.

\ililfred Leonard Slater (Balmoral 1922-1925) was born in 1883, in

England.

Parishes: 1908-10 Mossman, l9l0-12 Helidon, l9l2-13 Harrisville,

1913-15 Herberton, 1915-18 Nambour, I9I9-22 Mt Morgan,1922-25

Balmoral, 1925-? Nundah.

Rev. Slater died in 1955 and his ashes are at Mt Thompson

Crematorium, Mt Gravatt.

Witliam Christian Kleindienst (Balmorù 1936'1941) was born in

1883 inNew South Wales. He served as a military chaplain 1926-27.

Parishes: l9l0-12 Caboolture, l9l2-15 Beaudesert and King's

College, 1915-16 Wynnum/President's supply, 1916-19 Lowood,

1919-22 Crows Nest, 1922-25 Boonah, 1925-28 Townsville, 1928-29

New Farm, 1929-33 Wooloowin, 1933-36 Windsor, 1936-41

Balmoral, 194l-46 Sandgate, 1946-50 Paddington.

Rev. Kleindienst died in 1958 and his ashes are at Mt Thompson

Crematorium, at Mt Gravatt.

I

rf- 32Parish life

Bernard Frederick (Balmoral 193g-1950) was born in 1g 70, in Victoria.Parishes: lg96_9g peak Downs, 1898-1900 lthac4 1900_03 SouthBrisbane, lg03-07 Bundaberg, 1907-11 Adelaide Street, Maryborough,1911-14 Charters Towers, 1914-16 Townsville, 1916-21 Ipswich, 1g2I _26West End, 1926-28 Neil Street, Toowoomba, 1928-34 Brisbane VallMission, 1934-39 Neil Streer, Toowoomba, I 938-s0

åä"*,iîïi,*ïå#;ttt and his ashes are at tvrt rhompson

supermrmerary

ames Hall (Balmoral 1946) was bom in England, in

Parish life 2.2

rsaac Bennett (Balmoral 1947-1952) was born in l gg2 in eueensland.

Parishes: 1906-07 Toowoomba, rg07-0g Herbert River, 1909-10caboolture, 1910-13 port Darwin, l9r3-14 Bundaberg, 1914-16Barcaldine, 1916-19 pine Rivers, l9r9-20 Archer Street, Rockhampton,1920-22 Kingaroy, 1922-26 North lpswich, 1926-? East Brisbane.

Rev. Bennett died in 1956 and his ashes arc atMt Thompson crematorium,at Mt Gravatt.

ey

Herbert James Garrett (Barmorar 1g4r-1g46)was born in London, in1886' parishes: rgr2-r3 Noosa, 1ér3-1a wánd at,-tiru_tsNanango,1915 Hamirton, 1g16-1g cairns, tgt-í-zs Lowood, tgzg_zs Ar.0ra, rg25crows Nest, 1g2g-32 Campbe' street and Archer street, Rockhampton,1932-34 Gympie, rg34-3g n"¿rarrà., ß3g-4t paddington, 1941_46

iijî-iî% i,i::i caboorrure , tgqi_qs Beenreigh, tsi+s_sE Laidrey,

christmas Day, in :Tä."' 1956 supernumerary Bardon. He died on

Balmoral.

Ernest George J1 888.

samuel George Monro (Barmorar r952-r9sg) was born 1g92.

Parishes: 1923-25 Herbert River, rg25-27 North Rockhampton,lg2T_31Longreach,lg3l-35 pialba, 1935-3g oakey, lg3g-44 crows Nest, 1944-47 Boonah, 1947-s2 Nambour, r952-5g Balmoral, 195g-62 wooloowin.

Rev. Monro died 1982.

Parishes: r9r7-rg Herbert River, r9r9-2rpapua New Guine a, r92r_24Harrisvilre, 1924-26 Murgon, 1927-;0 west End, Townsvilre , 1931_33Soutþort, 1934_36 Nambour, ßSi_Zg Red Hill, Gympie, 1940_45Vy'arwick, 1 946 Balmoral.

Rev' Hall died in 1946, aft,* onry three months at Barmoral parish andwas buried at Murgon, eueensland.

Basil Hartley Brake, BA, LTh (Barmoral rgsg-rg64 ) was born inBrisbane inl9l2.

Parishes: 1939 Proston, 1943-45 Longreach, 1945-49 South Kolan,Bundaberg, 1949-53 Noosa, r953-g Dalby, rg5g-64Balmoral, 1965-7rEnoggera, 1972-7 g Coorparoo, lgTg retired.

Rev. Blake died on 26th October,2000.

Walter Stanley Bath, BA (Balmorat 1946-1947) Offices he heldwere: 1912_13 Secretary of Overseas Missions, 1920-24 Treasurer ofOverseas Missions, 1916-24 Master of King's 1926 Secretaryof Conference and 1

College,927 Prcsident of Conference. Parishes: 1901_02Mt Lyell and Strahan, Tas, 1902_04 Brisbane Valley, 7904 Warwick,190s-06 Caims, 1906-09 Ipswich, 1909-12 Nambour, lgl2_16Sandgate, 1916-19 Missions Coordinator, l9I9_22 Coorparoo, 1922_24Brisbane Valley, 1924_26 Bundaberg, 1926_31 Ipswich, 1931-34 WestEnd, Brisbane, 1g34_3g Bundaberg, lg3g_4 3 Sherwood, lg43_45

Desmond Edward wilriams, DipDiv (Barmorar 1960-196r)

Parishes: 1953-54 Mitchell, 1955-56 clermont, 1956_57 Mossman,1957-59 King's college, 1960-6r Balmoral, rg62-6s Mackay, 1966-69Bundamba, 1970-74 Noosa, rgTs-77 charters Towers, r97g-g3chaplain Presbyterian Ladies' college, perth, lgg4-g0 Bundaberg,1990-99 Burke and wills patrol, with Frontier Services, 2000 retired toToowoomba.

/

Toowong, 1945 supernumerary Albion, 1 g 46_47 Balmoral. Deceased.

- 3+

Mervyn Genrich, DipDiv (Barmoral 1967-1972) was born in 1930 atCrows Nest.

Parishes: 1956 Dana, 1956 Roma, 1957 yeppoon, 195g crermont,1959-60 King's college, 1961 cunnamulla, 1962-63 Bowen, 1964-66Gympie, 1967-72 Balmoral, rg73-79 Maryborough, 19g0-g6 pittsworth,1986-91 Beaudesert, lggl retired to Caloundra.

Edgar Almond Wells (Balmoral lgTl\

Parish life

Roy Ralph Ktein BD (Batmorat1962_1966)

Parishes: 1955-56 cairns, 1956-57 clermont, 1957-60 King,s college,1960-61 Gatton, 196l-62 Bowen prosperpin e, 1962-66 Balmoral, 1967_71Indooroopilly, 1972-76 Townsville west, lg77 -gl Dalby, 1 9g 1 -g9 StanleyRiver, 1989-94 manager and chaplain at Kamp Stacey, 1994 retired, toMaroochydore.

Parish life 35

D. Bruce Gutley (Balmoral 1973-1981)

Parishes: 1959-62 Gympie, 1962-64 Redlands, 1965-67 Bundaberg,

1968-72 Gayndah, 1973-81 Balmoral, 1982-86 Southern Gold Coast,

1987-92 Hervey Bay, 1992 retired. Presently cricket chaplain to the

Bulls, Queensland.

Rosemary P. Lane, BA BD DipEd DipRE (Balmoral 1974-1977)

Parishes: 1974-77 Balmoral, 1978-1980 Soutþort, 1981-82 Exchange,

Glasgow, Scotland, 1990-91 Mt Gravatt, 1992-97 Chaplain

Toowoomba Garden Settlement, 1998 Gympie (supply), 1999- Charters

Roy Thomas \ilakeling, DipDiv (Balmoral 1977-1979) 1961- Industrial

Chaplain, 1974- RSL chaplain, 1986-93 Aged Care Chaplain, Logan

uniting, 1987- TPI Chaplain. Parishes: 1948 Norman Park/Bulimba/

Coorparoo, 1949-50 WamurarVWoodford, l95l-52 Tugun/Palm Beach,

1953-56 Cairns, 1957-59 Vy'ondai, 1960-65 Peterborough, SA, 1966 The

Grange, SA 1967-70 MinlatorVYorketown, SA 1971-72 Tatragindi, 1973-

76 Special Ministries, 1977-79 Balmoral, 1980-87 Special Ministries, 1987

retired, 1995 St Mark's, Mt Gravatt, 1997 Holland Park.Parishes: 1930-3r yeppoon and Emu park, r931-33 Training, 1933-36 Enoggera, 1936-39 camooweal Inland Mission, 1939-40woodford' 1940-42 Hermit park, Townsville, r942-43lngham, rg43-44YM'A RAAF, r944-4g Norrh Rockhampton, r94g-49èrows Nest,1949-61 Milingimbi, 196r-62 coolangatta, 1962-70 yirrkala, r97rBalmoral, 1972- Redcliffe. Deceased.

Janice Liltian Chalmers (Balmoral 1978-1985)

Parishes: 1978-85 Balmoral, 1986-93 Coopers Plains, 1993- Chaplain

Blue Nursing Services, Brisbanetr'rederick Samuel James Buchholz (Balmoralin 1913 at Mytletown, which has disappearedAirport development.

1972-1976) was bombeneath the Brisbane

Parishes: 1937-38 Eumundi, r93g-39 proston and Dawson valley,1939-4r sarina, rg4l-47 coolangatt a, 7947-5r chinchilla, rg51-57Boonah' 1957-6r Surface Hill, Gymp ie, 1962-65 paddington , 1966-71Holland Park, 1972-76 Balmoral, 1977_7g Redlands.

Rev. Buchholz died in 19g9.

Geoffrey Stanton Crouch, BA, BEd (Balmoral 1981)

Parishes: 1933-38 Fiii, 1939-42 Casþrton, Victoria, 1942-46 Military

chaplain, 1954-60 Papua New Guinea (Education Department), 196l-67

without settlement, Victoria, 1968-69 Atatat, Victoria, 1970-71

Brunswick, Victoria, 1972-73 Sheffreld, Tasmania, 1974-75 Valley New

Farm Mission, Queensland, 1976 retired.

Rev. Crouch died in Melbourne, in 1999.

36

c. Neil Jones LTh, DipTheor (Barmorar 19g6-1991) was born in r931.

Parishes: 1956 Picton, New south v/ales, 1957 oatley, 196r-62 Lakecargelligo, 1963-67 Batlow, 1967 curcaim, 196g-72 stuarts point,1972-76 Bellinger River, rg77-79 Mascot, 19g0-g5 Dulwich Hill, l9g6_1991 Balmoru| 1992-94 Glasshouse country, 1995 retired.

Parish life 37Parish life

Antony Klauzes Telegenhof (Balmoral lgg2-lgS4)

Parishes: 1963-67 st Albans-North Sunshine, victoria, 1967-75 Ascotvale, 1975-76 Port Adelaide, South Australia, 1976-79 Northcote_Thornbury, victoria, 1980-81 Ipswich central, eueensland, r9g2-g4Balmoral, 1985 retired to Sinnamon park, Brisbane.

Herman B. M. Ruyters BA (Hons) (Balmoral 1993-1998)

Parishes: 1985-87 Inala, Queensland, 1988-92 Mt Isa, 1993-98 Balmoral,

I 998 Tingalpa, 1999 Rangeville, Toowoomba.

Tony Andrew Telford-Sharp (Balmoral1994-1997) born in Brisbane in

1965.

Parishes: 1989-90 World Mission in Samoa, 1994-95 Trinity theological

student and worked with Bulimba and Balmoral, 1995-97 Balmoral, 1998

St Mary's Anglican church, Kangaroo Point, 1999-200 Gympie, 2001

Fiospital chaplain, Buderim, 2002- Christ Church, St George.

Josephine Margaret Joan Mills BA (Balmoral 19g6- lgg2)Parishes: 1986-92 Balmoral, rgg3-9g chaprain springwood BlueNursing service, 2000 retire d,,2000- Minister in Assocìatio=n, Logurr.

Peter James Blackburn BA BD (Hons) (NT) (Balmoral 1980-1989)

Parishes: 1961 Enoggera, 1965-68 Raff Street, Toowoomba, 1969-73

Isis-Howard, 1974-79 Stanthorpe, 1980-89 Balmoral, 1990-99

Maroochy-Buderim, 2000- Burdekin.

Desmond John Neil, BA BD DippastStud GradDip'dGradDipl2Teaching ThM DMin (Balmoral lgg2-lgg S)

1960-81 Presbyterian church of Korea, Seoul, rgg2-glsouthside Innercity, 1987-89 seoul presb¡erian Seminary, Korea, 1990-95 Balmoral,1997-99 St Paul's Angrican Roma (Hon), lggg- st oswald,s AnglicanBanyo (Hon)

Michael O. Veary (Balmoral 1999-current) was born in Salisbury,

Southern Rhodesia. His ministerial training was at Cliff College in

Claver, near Sheffield, England in 1956-58. He furthered his training at

Didsbury Theological College (now Wesley College), Bristol, in 1958-

62.

Parishes: 1963-64 Chibero Mission Methodist, Rhodesia, 1964-66

Kwenda Mission Methodist, Rhodesia, 1966-71 Bulawayo Methodist,

Rhodesia, 1971-81 Trinity Presbyterian, Gwelo, Rhodesia, 1981-85

Shepparton, Victoria, 1985-91 Leopold, Victoria, l99l-97 St Paul's

S tafford, I 9 9 7 -B almor al.

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