I was asked to introduce myself and answer questions for a monthly local West Harbour community paper. They have a local personality introduced each month with the same set of questions.
Here was what I sent into them...
Dave grew up in North
East Valley, Dunedin, completing a plumbing apprenticeship with A&T Burt Ltd. Changing careers meant 5 year’s study (4
in Melbourne, Australia) to become a minister in the Associated Churches of Christ. After
a ministry in Palmerston North and as a traveling field worker, he returned to
the Dunedin Church where he served for 27 years. It was late in 1986 with wife
Jean, five children, and goats and hens, he moved into Sawyers Bay and enjoys
the rural aspect and the community feel. Experiences such as running a drop-in
centre, involvement in Habitat for Humanity, 25 Community Christmas Day
dinners, helping to form the Dunedin Night Shelter Trust (still chairman) and
other community orientated programs followed. His passion is helping to create
inclusive caring communities. In 1994 he added working as a Workplace Chaplain
to his ministry and continues to serve Dunedin Fire Fighters, Speights brewery
and St John Ambulance. In retirement he helps out at the Port Chalmers United
Church. He recently facilitated a public meeting working toward forming an Iona
Management Trust, promoting creative community use of the historic Iona Church
building.
Q. If you had a chance
which three people alive or dead would you invite for dinner?
A. Jesus of Nazareth. He
was known as a glutton so he’d enjoy the meal. William Wilberforce was an eccentric
determined politician and Dr Martin Luther King learned from great minds and
had courage and hope.
Q. What are your three
favourite movies?
A. ‘Forrest Gump’, ‘Chocolat,’ and ‘Pay it
forward.’
Q. What was your first
car and if money was no object what car would you buy? A. A 1938 Austin 12. (at
rest under Forrester Park now) I’m a van man, so an electric van of some sort.
Or failing that a completely restored ‘63 Dodge Ambulance.
Q. If you were to face
the guillotine in the morning, what would you choose as your last meal?
A. Lambs fry with
bacon, mushrooms, onion and garden fresh parsnip and carrots mashed together,
with spud.
Q. Which three countries
would you most like to visit?
A. Canada, Brazil and
United Kingdom.
Q. When you were at
school can you remember what you first wanted to be when you grew up?
A. A Farmer.
Q. What do you think
is the most useful invention of all time?
A. I suspect the
Internet will be seen as a very important turning point in history.
Q. What is the best
book you have read?
A. So many? I have two
– Man’s search for meaning by Viktor
Frankl and Meeting Jesus again for the
first time by Marcus Borg.
Q. If you had a time
machine where in the past or future would you go?
A. Late 19th
century NZ.
Q. If you had to spend
1 month on a desert island name three things you would take along?
A. My Swiss army
knife, a pen and paper. It would be a quiet place with no interruptions, for
reflection and writing.
I add some photos for colour...
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| Our family about 1981 when we had a 1963 Dodge ambulance towing a 25ft caravan. |
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| Historic Iona Church which we are going to use creatively for community stuff. |
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| My wife & I are honoured at the Dunedin Night Shelter. |
1 comment:
You have a great blog title, and how fun to hear people call out "here comes JC's helper". I am His follower too, way over here in California.
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