The End of the Eighties
The closing years of the eighties saw no easing of Gordon’s programme. His vitality remained on a par with his versatility and involved him in as many undertakings as possible.
Apart from planning the year ahead and making a variety of scheduled addresses he spent most of January at his word processor desperately trying to complete a 75,000 word manuscript before the year’s activities really got under way. The book ‘Discovering the Young Church,’ also provided the basis for a later video.
About this time a key manager at the WCM resigned when it was discovered that he owed a large sum of money to the mission. The stress of this event added to the strain of getting the proposed book finished, took their toll of Gordon in an unexpected way.
“Dad, can you give me a hand with this car?” Middle son David wanted his own `wheels’ and was trying to repair a used car for himself.
“Of course.” If it was humanly possible Gordon acceded to all of his children’s requests.
It didn’t take long to discover that a part must be replaced. While they were searching a car-wrecking yard Gordon suddenly felt dizzy. The jumble of old cars and trucks swung and soared around in amazing fashion, his head felt as if it was about to burst and he broke into a sweat.
Fearing that he was going to faint he slumped onto a pile of useless tyres and tried the old-time remedy of putting his head between his knees. Instead he collapsed.
David’s shout for help brought the owner of the wrecking yard running, and between them they lifted Gordon into the Moyes’ car and David rushed him to a nearby suburban doctor. Waiting patients gaped as the pale-faced `emergency’ staggered into the surgery supported by his sturdy son. The doctor checked Gordon’s blood pressure, found that it was 200/150 and told David to take his father to the Royal North Shore Hospital.
“It’s a stroke. I’m sure it’s a stroke,” Gordon mumbled thickly as the white-coated doctor in RNSH Casualty helped him onto a trolley. A stroke. A stroke. His self-diagnosis beat in his brain like the throbs of a distant drum as the doctor took his blood pressure.
“Not this time.” The doctor set his mind at rest. “But let this be a warning to you. A week of complete bed rest and then we’ll see what happens.”
The cause of the episode proved to be an inner-ear virus but it gave Gordon a fright. He thanked God for a quick and complete recovery and at the doctor’s insistence cancelled many of his present engagements. For a short time he faithfully swallowed the prescribed tablets and endeavoured to follow the doctor’s instructions to reduce his body weight and his work load, but all too soon he was back to his old lifestyle.
A few months later Gordon received an unexpected honour. He had been nominated and was duly elected as a Fellow of the Royal Geographic Society, with the privilege of adding the letters FRGS after his name.
Ordinarily he did not bother using any of his distinctions other than Rev Dr Moyes, but the honours were not despised and he happily took advantage of them when need arose. “Dr Moyes would you compere our Senior Citizens’ Christmas Concert this year?” asked a telephone voice. “Yes, a huge affair in the Sydney Entertainment Centre. No. Old time stuff, there’ll be more than 23,000 aged pensioners there. Oh great, thanks very much. We’ll send you a copy of the programme as soon as it’s finalised.”
This was the type of assignment that Gordon enjoyed and on the appointed afternoon he presented a striking figure in his white suit, with the spotlights playing on him as he announced each item and jollied the seniors into singing along with him. The thanks he received were quite superfluous, he had a ball.
After another address arranged by Celebrity International, Gordon received an enthusiastic letter from Rikki McDonald of BEAUTY FOR ALL SEASONS, it began: “Congratulations! One hundred and ten Consultants and Corporate Personnel were mesmerised by your thoughts, words, and actions…. We were all exhilarated by the Christian theme of your address which contained so much wonderful humour and pathos.”
Heady stuff. Not guaranteed to keep a speaker humble.
Several momentous family events took place in 1987. On the 14th of September Jenny gave birth to Michael Dylan Schepis, the Moyes first grandchild.
Peter and Trina, engaged for nearly twelve months, now announced their wedding date—July 2, 1988, at Carlingford and a honeymoon in Hawaii.
“Hawaii!” Gordon smiled slyly at Beverley and whispered. “How times change.” He squeezed her hand and guessed that she was also remembering their own wedding and their `overseas honeymoon’ fiasco.
With the Moyes’ children being born at regular 2.5 year intervals, they all reached adulthood, chose partners and married with similar regularity. Second son David had been walking on air since the Wesley Mission Easter Camp when Leisl Bagley stole his heart, and none of the family were surprised when they announced their engagement.
During December the Gordon and Beverley did the rounds of WCM’s 35 Christmas parties and Gordon delivered a different address at each one. But such a plethora of feasts did dreadful things to his waistline. As he stepped out of the shower one morning he made a an emphatic announcement:
“I’ve just got to lose some weight.”
Suiting his actions to his words he went on a strict diet, eating only fruit for two of his daily meals. By Christmas Day he had lost nearly 7 kg and proudly told anyone who was interested—and some who weren’t—that he felt trim, taut and terrific.
One of the first fan letters received in 1988 was from a man. “Dear Gordon: You are wonderful! Thank you for your speech to the Capita Field-Force in Queensland. It was the BEST speech that I have ever heard….this is no exaggeration. I have heard the best speakers from around the globe. In my opinion you are the finest speaker that I have ever listened to.” Signed Samuel J Leon of the Capita Financial Group.
Such effusive praise warmed Gordon’s heart and made all the rushing hither and yon worthwhile.
A large proportion of his addresses were not delivered for monetary gain. One particularly memorable speech was made purely for sentimental reasons. The Bible College where he studied needed help and Gordon gladly agreed to launch the “Old Boy” fund-raising appeal.
In his invitation, Dean Hamilton, State Minister for the Churches of Christ in South Australia, and a former classmate from the Glen Iris College, reminded Gordon that their old college was re- locating to Mulgrave and suggested that each former graduating class present a Key Gift of $1000 toward the expected $1,000,000 cost of the new campus.
“Our graduating class was 1958/59 and there are only seven of us left,” he wrote. “Please send your contribution directly to me and I will arrange a tax deductible receipt.”
Gordon’s lecture and personal pledge covered for his classmates.
Immediately after that engagement Gordon made one of his whirlwind trips to the other side of the world to fulfil the National Religious Broadcasters’ speaking invitation. That was not the only speech he gave while in the U S. During his long years of service Reverend Moyes had met many American VIPs and had gradually built up a network of persons and Associations who eagerly took advantage of his presence in their country.
As soon as he returned to Australia he plunged into the thick of work and appointments again and in his diary of personal achievements he noted that he had been made a Fellow of the Australian Institute of Management and now had the authority to add F.A.M.I. to the list of letters after his name. `I have also been invited to go to USA in May ‘89 to receive a Doctor of Laws and Literature from Milligan College.’
Despite a few qualms, these recognitions gave Rev Moyes a lot of satisfaction. He felt that it was God making up to him for long ago relinquishing his cherished dreams of further study and a degree in America.
Gordon Moyes possessed a remarkable memory and the rare ability of being at ease in any company. He could discourse on equal terms with professionals in almost any subject, or hold senior citizens enthralled with his nostalgic reminiscences. He could talk man-to- man with miners and street-sweepers or captivate an audience of female volunteers. He was long past the TEEN-WEEK age but he could still hold the fickle attention of teen-agers and children.
In mid-year 1988 he spoke at a Knox Grammar School service. The letter of thanks from Dr Ian Patterson, CAS General Committee, said in part:
“I thank you most sincerely for a stimulating, heart-stopping, historical sermon. My son Cameron, (a university student to boot) remarked, `It was the best sermon I’ve ever heard.’ Many other youngsters felt similarly moved on an occasion which could so easily have been `dead’ compulsory time for them”
In June Gordon flew to Melbourne to attend an important meeting, and stayed overnight with his mother and Joe Vial. May had almost lost her memory. Gordon felt as though someone was twisting a knife in his heart when she did not recognize him. Several times during the night she came into his room, switched on the light and asked him who he was and why he was staying there.
A few weeks later she had become so confused that she needed private hospital care, and when Gordon visited her again some nine months later he sadly observed that her mind had no recall whatever.
Careful as he was, Gordon occasionally made rash statements when he became carried away with his own eloquence or the infallibility of his ideas. The NSW Jewish Board of Deputies wrote to him relative to “comments attributed to you on August 16, 1988 on the front page of the Sydney Morning Herald, concerning the production of the film, `The Last Temptation of Christ.’
“At the outset I would advise that my Board is certainly sensitive to the fact that the contents of this film may be offensive to the Christian Community in Australia. However, this in no way can justify the description of those who may be responsible for the film as `Jewish financiers.’ This remark caused considerable anguish and distress to the Sydney Jewish Community and resulted in numerous complaints being made to our office.
“For many years considerable efforts have been made to establish goodwill and a working relationship between Christians and Jews and sadly such a remark can only impede this progress. I trust that the impression conveyed by the article was not intended by you and would request your response so that it can be conveyed to our community.” It was signed by the acting president.
Such a letter is a masterpiece of restraint and Gordon could not easily ignore the subtle undertones it contained.
Wesley Mission’s humanitarian projects went from strength to strength, thanks to all the workers pulling together, but Gordon was not satisfied. He had one great idea that had not yet been launched.
He wanted an institution that would train workers for Wesley Mission, but one of the difficulties would be the bestowal of degrees on his proposed students.
Eventually he contacted Dr W S McBirnie, of USA and explained the problem to him. In his reply Dr McBirnie wrote:
“We would be glad to have you do your own training of ministers and I suggest an inter-denominational faculty of men who have additional degrees.
“By your affiliation with us and by the payment of part of the tuition of each student that enrolls, we can issue the degrees (Masters and Doctors) as authorized by the State Board of Education.
“Your students can graduate at your own graduation ceremony, with our degree. Or they can come to our graduation here….”
This encouraged Gordon to pursue his idea which years later came to fruition.
By this time Rev Moyes had been at the Wesley Centre for almost ten years and established a fine rapport with his associate workers
People coming in contact with Gordon quickly realized that he was not someone they could be neutral about, he excited strong passions. If the mission employees loved him they enjoyed their work and stayed on. If not, they left.
Gordon set high standards for himself and others. He epitomised one of the cardinal requirements for successful leadership, he knew where he was going and pointed the way for his followers. He inspired faith in his employees and sometimes solely on the strength of his charisma they followed him. This was not to say that they were blind to his faults, `kind’ would be a better word.
“Oh yes, Gordon has a bit of an “I” problem. He likes to have a big share of the limelight,” a good-natured shrug, “but that’s the way he is.”
It would be hard to shake the loyalty of employees such as that.
