Beginning of the Nineties
After the excitement of the Wesley Mission’s new premises being officially opened, everything else seemed tame. The years 1992 onward offered nothing nearly so challenging and it took awhile for Gordon to realize that. Managers and staff were also on an emotional high as they settled into the new premises. What a building! Everything so brand new—carpets, furnishings, offices, lecture halls, class rooms, kitchen facilities—all of them as comfortable and convenient as anyone could wish.
It was little wonder that Gordon sometimes smiled quietly to himself as he thought back to the new “dunnies” they had built at Ararat and the changes that had taken place there. What would he have thought then, if he had been able to see into the future?
As usual when the new year rolled around Gordon made his plans well ahead. His aims, his sermon topics, all the activities that he could foresee were mapped out by the end of January.
These plans included two months long leave in Europe. No need now for baby-sitters and worries about the children left behind. Those four children were now adults and several of them had children of their own.
“I don’t exactly enjoy growing older,” Beverley admitted as she sat on the floor surrounded by piles of clothing that simply had to fit into the suitcase she was packing. “But at least these days we can relax and enjoy ourselves when we travel.”
Gordon nodded absent-mindedly. He was trying to work out how many Travellers’ Cheques they would need.
On the first of July the Moyes boarded SQ222 and flew to Singapore and then on to Istanbul. Their excitement actually began in Turkey when they visited most of the wonders of that ancient land. On previous visits with a film crew Gordon had filmed the archaeological sites but now he wanted Beverley to see it all.
Next came England so that Gordon could attend the Oxford Institute for Theological Studies and after that a brief car trip around Scotland’s lakes district, and Wales. All along the way they renewed acquaintance with many old friends, and it seemed no time before August 22 saw them again soaring above Sydney.
“Soon it will be only a memory,” Beverley observed wistfully.
The first Spring Fair in the new building, caused great excitement and not a little panic when some of the sensitive fire detectors shrieked a warning that brought fire engines clanging down Pitt Street. Too late the organizers realized that one of the most popular stalls, doughnuts fried on the spot by a group of eager young vendors, had been set up almost directly underneath a smoke alarm.
Despite that set-back, Beverley and her loyal bands of helpers raised $320,000, another record. Each year showed a steady increase in profits that gratified the helpers.
A double event of family excitement came on the 7th of November, when baby Jack was born to Peter and Trina on the same day that the Moyes’ youngest son, Andrew, was married to his beloved Rebecca at Kurrajong, with Gordon proudly doing the honours—at the wedding!
Plans and rehearsals for Wesley Mission’s Darling Harbour Christmas had been in progress for months. The spectacular was widely advertised and now it was all stops out to get the December 1992 show on the road. Gordon arranged for a full TV coverage and when the great night came everything went smoothly. Even the camels behaved like gentlemen and their bellies only rumbled when out of microphone range.
Thousands gathered to watch the live show in Darling Harbour. Tens of thousands more saw it on TV.
“Listen to this Bev,” Gordon’s chest appeared to swell a little more when later the newspapers published ratings. “Of all the 1992 Christmas special programmes, Melbourne’s Carols by Candlelight rated 18%. Sydney Domain’s Carols by Candlelight rated 20% and Wesley Mission’s Darling Harbour Christmas scored 32%.
“What do you think of that? Melbourne began this Carols by Candlelight idea in the Myer Bowl decades ago, remember? Now we’ve beaten them.”
“Don’t forget that Melbournians probably didn’t even show Darling Harbour Christmas on their TV,” Beverley retorted.
In 1993 Gordon began the new year’s work by holding his usual all-night prayer vigil with the pastoral staff of WM, at which he invited them to join him in re-dedicating their all to the service of God and their fellow men.
On the 12th of July fire destroyed half of Lodge No 3 in Vision Valley, WM’s Convention Centre. Fortunately the flames were extinguished before they could do further damage and insurance covered the cost of rebuilding. This catastrophe was nothing when compared with what was to come when bushfires struck.
In August Gordon presided over a general meeting of WM that included Officers, Executives, Parish Council and Elders and happily noted the harmony that now existed.
“It’s really great,” he reported to Beverley over the dinner table. “The few difficult and unco-operative people have changed with the passing of time. Today there was no sign of the former unpleasantness we used to have at these meetings. Mind you, some of the exchanges were extremely candid but eventually the issue under discussion was resolved by unanimous decision.”
“What do you think has made the difference? Are you all mellowing in your old age?” Beverley laughed as she put the question.
“I don’t know,” Gordon considered the matter. “I feel it has largely come about because I don’t show favouritism. Friend or foe, manager or cleaner, I treat them all the same.”
Not everyone shared Gordon’s assumption. Some of those detracting his work suggested that a leader surrounding himself with “Yes” men, never has any opposition.
Since the 1980’s Gordon had been involved with the International Boys’ Brigade. Begun in 1883 by William Alexander Smith, secretary of the Sunday School of the Free College Church in Glasgow, the Boys’ Brigade pre-dates Lord Baden Powell’s Boy Scout movement by twenty- five years.
Beginning with thirty boys the movement quickly spread worldwide and in a few years had grown to 250,000. The Boys’ Brigade trains boys aged 11 to 18 in spiritual, physical and social activities. The ultimate aim being to develop well-balanced young men who are ready to take their place in society. Though not as well known as the Boy Scout Movement, their system of earning badges for various activities camps and other programmes, are almost identical.
Gordon’s interest resulted in him spending a lot of time raising money for the Boys’ Brigade and ultimately led to him being elected as New South Wales president from 1988 to 1994. He also supplied the Brigade with numbers of sermons, articles and speeches on themes relevant to the boys.
Rev Moyes also used his association with the International Boys’ Brigade as another means of bringing his work before those in high places. The Governor of New South Wales being patron of the Boys’ Brigade and Rev. Moyes being president, led to the latter being invited to Government House on the occasion of the presentation of the Queen’s Badge, the movement’s highest award.
The Moyes were already acquainted with the Governor and the Governor General, but these formal occasions brought them into a closer personal relationship with these dignitaries.
As time passed Gordon became unofficial chaplain to Government House and the Moyes names appeared on many invitation lists. At these important dinners he was invited to say grace before the meal began. Similarly, at the Australia Club Reverend Moyes was invited to preside over various functions, make speeches and say grace. One such important occasion was the visit of Prince Philip from the United Kingdom.
Never averse to a little “name-dropping,” the Moyes also formed a particular friendship with Bill Hayden and his wife and often discussed religious topics with them. This led him to present the Haydens with his video series on Discovering Jesus.
Although Gordon found these spin-offs from his association with the Boys’ Brigade both pleasant and useful, he felt that it was time for someone else to take over. In 1994 he resigned from his position as New South Wales president though he still maintains a lively interest in all the activities of the Boys’ Brigade.
