The legacy of learning and living in Christian community continues to bear fruit fifty years on.
Reunions can often arouse a mixed bag of emotions. The anticipation of seeing people you may not have seen for years. Will they remember me? Will I remember them? Our College alumni reunions always bring great joy and excitement for the year group attendees but also for faculty, students, and the wider College community. It is noticeable, though, that rarely are there any concerns amongst the cohorts about people remembering each other. This is because the skills and benefits of Christian community learned at Moore are applied beyond the College campus. This was most apparent at our recent fifty year alumni reunion.
The Class of 1970 has maintained connection and invested in each other’s lives through ups and downs over the past fifty years. This cohort has continued to encourage one another at annual retreats and regular catch ups at Church Missionary Society (CMS) Summer School since graduating from College just over fifty years ago. They have shared a lifetime of memories and a legacy of living in community which continues to bear fruit around Australia and beyond.
It was a great blessing and privilege to be assigned this cohort as my very first reunion event after starting my new role at Moore College as the Alumni and Fundraising Officer earlier this year.
Twenty-two guests arrived for a day of fellowship, encouragement, and memory sharing. Starting with morning tea in the TC Hammond Room and a welcome from the Principal and faculty, the day continued with a guided tour of the College led by Vice Principal Simon Gillham, lunch in the Dining Hall with current students and an afternoon of storytelling, reflection, an abundance of laughter, and thanksgiving for their time at College. One of the main highlights of the day was story sharing after lunch, which included hearing about the extraordinary pastoral care of Broughton Knox, and the ways in which that has had a profound impact on the cohort. Alumnus and former Rector at Jannali Anglican Church, Bruce Ballantine-Jones, proclaimed: “Our generation were the most privileged group of any era that has ever been part of this process.”
Reunion attendees gasped in amazement at the modern facilities in the new building on 1 King Street, which many had prayed for but had previously not seen. Jovial comparisons were made regarding the limited resources they had to endure “back in our day”. All were greatly encouraged to see where students now live and learn at College. They were especially encouraged to see the Donald Robinson Library, where they enjoyed perusing memorabilia from their time at College in the late 1960s and early 1970s.
It was inspiring to hear stories throughout the day of the rich history of family connections to College. Former Vice Principal Michael Hill and his wife Wendy reflected on their memories. Michael shared stories about his time at College with his wife Christine, who sadly passed away in 1992. His children grew up at College, he met his wife Wendy and they continued at College until the end of 2006. Wendy’s history at College goes back quite a long way with her father, John ‘Jack’ Dahl, studying at Moore and being ordained in the Sydney Diocese. Beryl (née Ferguson), Wendy’s mother, worked as Secretary to TC Hammond in his time as Principal of the College. Her sister, Patsy, studied through Deaconess House and was ordained Deacon in the Sydney Diocese. Wendy also worked as the Principal’s Secretary and Assistant Registrar at College in more recent years. Wendy kindly wrote to us after the reunion, “Michael and I want to thank you and all the team for the wonderful 50th Reunion on 21st of April. We really enjoyed catching up with friends, the tour around the College, morning tea, lunch and time to reminisce. Thank you all so much for your warm welcome and generosity.” Similarly, Deryck and Glenda Howell commented, “thank you very much for organizing for the College to so generously host our reunion, for the attention to detail and for making it as easy as possible for us!”
After listening to the myriad of encouraging stories unfold as the day progressed, I realised that I had been a benefactor of the College’s learning and living in community from members of this cohort. Glenda and Deryck Howell and Helen and Philip Jensen were leaders at St Matthias Anglican Church in Paddington, just before I become a Christian there at age thirty-one. I was also taught by Christine Jensen in my women’s Bible study group. She was one of only three women who graduated from College in 1970. I remember feeling incredibly cared for by the entire congregation as a brand-new Christian and first time mum. I was engulfed by a spirit-filled, other-person-centred community of Christians. I remember feeling totally perplexed as to why people would offer to mind my baby in crèche so I could listen to God’s word without the stress of caring for a newborn. Why would women turn up on my doorstep with hot meals when I was sick, visit my home to read the Bible to me and pray for me? Their practical, Christ-centred outworking of loving others in community fundamentally helped me to grow as a Christian woman. This legacy of living and learning in community continues to bear fruit today. Twenty years after my conversion, my mother became a Christian at age seventy-one after observing Christian women (some of whom had also been taught under the leadership of this same 50-year reunion cohort) care practically and lovingly for others in the household of faith.
Please join us in giving thanks to God for these faithful men and women who have served the Lord over many years. Pray that they will continue to be an example and encouragement to current and future students, showing the next generation the blessing of studying in Christian community to be equipped for a lifetime of gospel ministry.
Moore College is keen to host reunions at College in five year intervals, and we would like to hear about your annual retreats. If you are thinking of organising a significant year reunion or if you would like some resources to take to your next annual cohort retreat, we’d love to hear from you. Please contact me at alumni@moore.edu.au
Originally published in Moore Matters Winter 2021
