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The Anglican Church in Tasmania Search |
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a healthy church...transformingLIFE |
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October 2006 |
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Unique ministryNote on the retirement of Neville Newett In a few words, it seems an impossible task to adequately describe the life and ministry of Neville Newett, who has served his generation well and left behind an impact for the Gospel on the lives of many people all over Tasmania. Born at Queenstown, the seventh and youngest child of Cyril and Elsie Newett, he grew up appreciating and enjoying family and friends. After National Service Training at Brighton, he moved to Hobart in 1957. During the 1959 Graham Crusade, he was converted to Christ and worshipped at St James, New Town where he helped start a junior youth group. 1960 saw a further change, in a move to Burnie, working at the APPM. Neville was fully involved in the life of St George's Church under Canon Keith Kay, where he served as Sunday School Treasurer, teacher, superintendent, lay reader and vestryman. Always a keen sportsman, Neville played A Grade cricket for Burnie and umpired senior football on the NW Coast. As an umpire, and wanting to familiarise himself with the rules, Neville would read the Rules of Football every day. This principle was well applied also to his Christian life. One fellow-clergyman said, 'His love for the Scriptures was always evident to me as he would often learn passages by heart and take cards wherever he went to remind him of some newly discovered biblical or practical truth.' Another clergyman, who followed him at St John's New Town remembers him as 'always stressing the centrality of the Gospel, and in that church left his mark'. Through the ministry of Keswick Convention in Melbourne, he re-committed his life, understanding that God had both purpose and plan for his life. This resulted in two years of study at Melbourne Bible Institute, followed by two years at Moore College. His studies were completed, after acceptance by the Rt Rev. Robert Davies as an ordination candidate, at Ridley College. Ordination followed in 1972, Curacy at Invermay, Curacy and then PIC of Circular Head. At this time he met and married Meryl Beattie from Forest and they have joyfully shared their lives and ministry ever since. They were blessed with two daughters, Gracelyn and Joy. These years were followed by three years as Rector of Queenstown, with Zeehan and Rosebery thrown in at times. St John's, New Town followed in 1979 with an exceedingly heavy workload including 540 funerals, 66 weddings and 105 baptisms in three years. The present minister said, 'His ministry at funerals is still remembered'. Twenty five years at Ulverstone can tell yet another story. Neville's enthusiasm for youth has gradually transferred with his own increasing years to a unique and powerful caring ministry for the aged, the sick and suffering and bereaved. We, who have known him well, have admired him for so many things. A mutual friend said recently, 'Neville has always been a very strong and forthright character with a heart of gold. A very generous pastor with a very real love for the Lord. Neville was a born evangelist.' Part of his generosity has been demonstrated in the large quantity of literature he has given away. His support and generosity towards missions is well known and speaking from personal experience, he was one of the very few who gave support during my own missionary career and return. I, along with countless others, have every reason to thank God for Neville and Meryl's faithful service. We wish them well for a well deserved, happy and fruitful retirement.
Peter R. Atkins has retired to Barnes Bay, Bruny Island. |
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