TRIBUTE- Adrian Pearce

We were saddened to hear of the death of Adrian on 12th April and remember his and Bev’s long and significant association with St. Margaret’s Congregation.

Adrian and Bev were received as members of St. Margaret’s on 6th June 1971. They would have attended at least for some months before requesting membership.

At that stage we were St. Margaret’s Presbyterian Church and our church was the small building we now call the Chapel which held about 100 if there were chairs down the aisle and all regulations such as apply today for Occupational Health and Safety were ignored.. Mooroolbark was growing quickly as estates were opening and new homes were being built all over town. Our church hall was filled to overflowing with children attending Sunday school.

Historical records show that by September 1971 Adrian had been Ordained and Inducted as an Elder of the Presbyterian Church and he has remained an Elder throughout his life although he has been inactive for some years. One of the privileges granted to Presbyterian Elders at the time of church union in 1977 was that Elders, if they chose, retained their Eldership in the new Uniting Church.

Adrian took his role as Elder very seriously and his main contribution for well over fifteen years was caring for young families wishing to present their children for Baptism. Adrian would visit the parents, explain the nature of Baptism and the Baptism service and seek an undertaking that parents were prepqred to give their children a Christian upbringing. At this stage there were so many families seeking Baptism and so little space available, that even with two morning services, Baptisms were usually held on Sunday afternoons when several families, their families and friends would fill the church. There was at least one of these Baptism services each month. Adrian was always there to assist in the service and introduce the parents. What a great contribution he made to St. Margaret’s in this role. Separate Baptism services were far from an ideal situation as members of the congregation rarely got to meet the parents and their children.

Since the 1940’s St. Margaret’s held an Annual Fete with the proceeds going towards debt reduction. This situation continued into the 21st century before the various building loans were at last paid. Adrian was very involved in the fete for many years. He started with the secon hand stall at that time called Stephoe, after the popular English comedy of the time “Steptoe and Son “. He then graduated to the secondhand book stall which he organized in great detail and he held this job for many years.

Adrian was also involved in the School Holiday Program that ran for several years and he described his role as one of “cleaning up at the end of the day,” though for a couple of years he told of being in charge of a group of older children visiting the local bowling rink which was located where the gym is now. Adrian wrote “This was somewhat concerning as the youngsters were naturally, somewhat boisterous.” Perhaps we should read between the lines here! However, he confessed to enjoying the experience.

In 1986 this new worship centre was built to contain the ever growing congregation. Building took nearly a year. Weekly working bees were held particularly before the actual building began, as the site needed to be prepared. Adrian was always there. He was a very knowledgeable, skilled and practical person. Of course, these large working bees needed feeding and Bev was there too, helping with the catering. Towards the end of the building program due to the tremendous price increase we had not been expecting, which also coincided with the rise in interest rates to 16 and 18 per cent that was needed to service the loan ( unheard of in today’s financial climate!), we took on as many of the finishing tasks as was possible. Working bees to paint and to concrete as well as other tasks filled every weekend. Adrian, ever dependable was always there.

In 1994 Adrian and I attended a Presbytery meeting for folk interested in establishing a local church magazine. We were enthused following the meeting and took our ideas back to Church Council. The result was St. Margaret’s News, which was prepared and published bi monthly by a small committee for some years, before changing its name to “The Link” following St. Margaret’s linking with Croydon North congregation for about ten years. That magazine is now in its 28th year of publication so our idea has stood the test of time. Adrian’s role was to computerise the scraps of paper on which contributions were written so that they were ready for publication. At this stage Adrian was one of the few computer literate folk in the congregation. He participated on the Link Committee for some years and did a great job preparing all the copy ready for the layout of the magazine.

In the 1990’s as the men of the congregation reached retirement age they joined Dad’s Army, again named after a British comedy series about the Home Guard. This group met fortnightly on a Tuesday, morning and still does. Adrian was a regular member of Dad’s Army until he entered the Walmsley Hostel to live. This group has done the vast majority of maintenance on the property since its inception and it is only now that we need to employ contractors for some of those tasks considered too dangerous for those of mature age.

Another role Adrian undertook for many years was being a member of the sound desk team making sure we had the microphones ready to provide sound for Sunday worship. His interest and knowledge here was a real blessing.

St.Margaret’s answered a need within our local school communities during an Australia wide downturn in the economy to provide some children with breakfast before school. We did this for some time at Mooroolbark primary until that school closed and then we continued the program at Croydon High School. Adrian was a member of the team here and breakfasts of cereal, toast and pancakes with time for good conversation was a regular Monday event.

Then of course there were a number of weekly rosters for cleaning the church and halls. Bev and Adrian helped on all those rosters for many years. Bev also was a valued member of the flower roster.

Adrian’s practical contribution to St. Margaret’s along with attending Elders meetings, Parish Council, then later Church Council meetings and being part of the decision

making within the congregation for at least 40 years has set a wonderful example for us all, and we can truly say of Adrian as we acknowledge his example and a lifetime of service.

“Well done good and faithful servant.”

Marj Hookey