I am unique, made by God and I have adopted apostle Paul concept of mission of walking side by side with people through the high and lows of life.
What can I say, as I dig into my family history, Winter, McCarthy, Davy and Dunbar branches from the New England environment of Glen Innes with a rural ingredient of a grazier/farmer. Mainly of the Presbyterian/Catholic stock.
My father was a Presbyterian and he grew up out on 'Beaufort' Glen Innes where his parents John & Alice (nee Davy) Winter lived.
My mother a Roman Catholic and lived in Grey St with my grandparent Hollingsworth & Jessie (nee Dunbar) McCarthy. My parents were married in the Catholic Church Glen Innes.
I was born at Royal Shore Hospital, St Leonards, a leap year child and my parents home was Dee Why Pde, Dee Why - near the beach end where the units are now.
All I can remember, because of my mother illness I spent my time going from one chiildren home to the next in the light that I will be provided with education and care. Prior to 1962, we were living at Burren St, Eskineville NSW and I attended Eskineville Primary School.
In 1962 I become a resident at Burnside Presbyterian Homes for Children until 1966. I also had twin sister Joan and Jessie, whom I have not seen as they were either forster or adopted out in the Tamworth district according to my cousin. During the August 1966 school holiday, while social worker visit to my parent's home discover my brother and I were residing with them. We were collected and placed into Royleston, Glebe and attended the Church of England Church.
Our case went before the children's court at Minda and were consequently made ward of the state and placed into care of the NSW Child Welfare Department. From Glebe, we moved onto Yarra Bay Home to begin our new adventure in residential care and schooling. This where I completed my primary schooling and as I needed to start High School in 1969. The department move my brother Robert who is a year younger with me to Weerona at Wordford in the Blue Mountains.
My brother completed his primary at Hazelbrook Public and the following year commenced High School at Springwood High. I completed Form 1 & 2 at Springwood High (Year 7 & 8).
While in the welfare homes, on Sunday attended at first Woodford Anglican then Lawson Anglican for church. During this time I keep in touch with my grandmother on my mother side, who lived in Glen Innes through letters.
Towards the end of 1970, movement was at foot, which saw my brother and I were placed into forster care. I was 14 going onto 15. My forster parents Gwen and Jim Wardlaw, who lived at Miranda in the Sutherland shire. They were both blue collar workers, who have two daughters (Carol McGreachie & Valerie Calderwood) of their own but they offered their home to forster children.
I attended Port Hacking High where I took up music as my elective, sang in the combined high school choir as a bass singer. As part of the learning process of singing, I learnt the where the notes were on the piano through instruction from a Sunday School teacher with Miranda Congregational Church. Participated in the High School production of Jesus Christ Superstar, Marriage of Figaro. I joined Sutherland Shire Brass Band where I played the trumpet. This was part of supplementing my music elective. I still enjoyed music. I have dapple with bass and rythym guitar in my young adult life playing AC/DC music. This is mine musical acheivement and yes I can say that I have sang in Sydney Town Hall and the Opera House, also organising musical events, hosting a young rock band to perform at a function from Arncliffe to cater for the young people of the district. Also a musical evening at Kogarah Central Baptist Church of the various types of music that God uses to reach and influence people with the message of salvation.
Music was not my only activity, I played in the U15 for Port Hacking District Ruby League with training held at oval down from Gymea Baptist.
The timing of events from residential care to family and community living was trigger by God. Gwen and Jim Wardlaw were God fearing people and had a relationship with God. I foreever remember whenever we went on holidays travelling that Jim upon noticing a verse of scripture being displayed would have a conversation about that verse, aiming a connection with the person of Jesus and his work of salvation. You see Jim was evangelist at heart, he was envolved with OAC, Jim Duffy, Frank McInnes. Little did I know that I decided to go to Miranda Congregational Church as my spiritual home, joined the youth group, become engage in the Scout Group, began Sunday School teaching and the minister asked if he could make a home visit. I organised the home visit and when Pastor Best arrived, I did not need to introduced them as they had known each other. I eventually beome aware that Jim was a Lay-Pastor at Brighton Congregation fellowship earlier.
Upon completed the School Certicate in 1972, I enter into an apprenticeship Fitter and Turner in a refrigeration and air-condition company Wildridge and Sinclair at Alexanderia.
In 1975 I needed to leave my apprenticeship due to constantly getting sick from the metal dust with upper respiratory tract infection. I eventually was employed by Public Transport Commission of NSW in the operation division. I have worked at Sydney Terminal, Town Hall, shunter at Enfield marshalling yards, Goods Guard of Freight Train at Enfiled, Safeworking Station Assitant at Narrabri, Signalperson at West Wallerawang Box, Chullora Junction Box, Relief Assistant Station Master on the South line, Broken Hill and Botany spanning nearly 29 years. Last 4 years I have been working on projects as a Business Analyst. In March 2011 saw a placement with Plant Hire Service as an Allocation Officer.
I have always maintain a strong church connection where I have served in the following compacities; Boys Brigade Section 1 Leader (Kogarah),Church delegate to District Assocation(Baptist), District Assn representative on the Dept of Mission (ABMS), ABMS Deputation Speaker, Church Delegate to General Council & Asseblies (Baptist), Small Group Leader, Uniting Church Elder (Narrabri), Uniting Church representative to NSW Synod, Uniting Church Representative to NSW Ecumenical Council.
The churches I have been in fellowship with are Miranda Congregational Church (1971 - 1974) Kogarah Central Baptist (1975 - 1981) Petersham Baptist (1982 - 1984), Narrabri Uniting (1984 - 1987), Lithgow Baptist (1987 - 1989), Chester Hill Baptist (1989), Cabramatta Baptist (1989 - 1992), Broken Hill Uniting & Christian Revival Crusade (1993) Minto Baptist (1994 - 2002), Carlton-Kogarah Baptist (2002 - 2003) Hurstville Uniting (2003), Bardwell Park Uniting & Revesby Uniting (2004 - 2006), Harbourside Christian AOG (1906), Earlwood Anglican (2007 - 2008 Rector Marshall Ballantine-Jones) Wesley Mission (1982 - )
Since relocating to Campbelltown, we be listening to discover God's will for in worshipping & fellowshipping but have not settle into any church that we could call home. Campbelltown Baptist, Sherwood Hill Baptist, C3 Church Mount Annan have help us with reestablishing our finances through CAPs, Campbelltown Uniting Church. St Peters Anglican Church, Campbelltown (2012 Senior Minister Nigel Fortescue)
In the community with Scout movement as Assistant Scout Leader (Rockdale & Narrabri), Scout Leader (Kogarah), Venturer Leader (Hurstville), Group Scout Leader (Endensor Park) and District Leader for Training (Broken Hill)
I have been involved in the train union movement as Sub-Branch Secretary (Narrabri), Branch Councillor, Joint Consultative Committee member.
In 2003 state election, I stood in the seat of Rockdale as a candidate for the Christian Democratic Party.
I got to know my wife Maria while living at Petersham Baptist Church - Flo Harris Hostel around the 1980s. In 1983 I was moved to Narrabri with work and I put my engagement with Maria on hold. When I was settle in Narrabri, I began looking for Maria again and brought her to Narrabri. On the 6th October 1986 we were married at Narrabri Uniting Church and the young people provided the wedding reception. It was a church family wedding.
During the 1990, I experience studying part-time in the morning at Morling College. This gave me a taste for biblical studies and served as a check as how I would handle this kind studies.
One of the location we lived at was Broken Hill in 1993. It was here that we meet up with Pro Hart and family. We attended the same church - CRC Broken Hill under leadership of Pastor Doug Lee.
Now Maria was greek Kalliope Psyha (correct spelling is Psychas) and she an uncle living in Montreal, Emmanuel Psychas. We were manage to get in touch with him at the begining of this year. Apparently Maria's father was Lucio Udovitch, whom she does not know. Her family heritage is from one of the island of Greece, Samos.
My latest endeavours have been undertaking Biblical and Theological studies through Adelaide College of Divinity - Cert IV in Christian Life & Ministry by distance education. I have completed the following units, Introduction to Old Testament, Introduction to New Testament and Theology - UC Perspective.
Maria and I are representing TEAR through promotional activity at St Nicholas Anglican Church, Coogee at thier annual fete for a number of years. We have a door of opportunity in sharing how aid & development opportunity can help people and communities in discovering God. We also belon to the Southern Group in Illawong, which meets on the third Monday evening of each month at 7.45pm. Maria & I are looking forming a Macarthur group in the near future as a connect group.
Maria & I are now facing life without a car after a recent accident and adjusting to public transport.
I have made a conscience decision, not to rely on other people to attend church to worship God but be self reliant with the resources that God has given to us. This is hard at present as Maria had undergone an ankle replacement which required taxi transport everywhere.
Since March 2011, I have developed a degenerative neck & right shoulder and for the past 11 months off work on leave.
After entertaining my cousin Malcolm & Ellen Purvis plus Matthew & Lachlan over one Saturday this year. We have decided to seek fellowship with Campbelltown Anglican Church and participate in the life of the Church.
