Archie Crow .. Farewell
Our great fellow Rotarian Archie Crow died last Saturday after a wonderful and fascinating life. Just reviewing his story (see below) makes one feel small.
Following the Age's notice Richard Bainbridge advised that some clarification is needed on the details. There is a private service at 10.45 am at Springvale. We Rotarians have been invited to attend the main service at 2.30pm on Friday 31st at Deepdene Uniting Church, 958 Burke Road, Deepdene .
Jill Weeks provided this synopsis of an interview with which she was involved with Arch some years back. Captured within that are some of Arch's thoughts and life experiences.
Immediately prior to retirement.
I was Chaplain of Scotch College Hawthorn (an independent boys' school) from 1967 to 1985. I then had a part-time appointment as Associate Minister of the Paton Uniting Church Deepdene from 1986 to 1996. These positions represented a major career changes from the Australian Defence Department to the Church – a complete reorientation but with no regrets.
Enjoying work before retiring?
Very much so. Extremely demanding but very rewarding. At Scotch I helped to prepare several generations of boys for a rapidly changing future. It was a full teaching load; and I introduced the Indonesian language to the school curriculum. There were social issues too, like the drugs and permissive sex. Add to that: Chapel services, sports supervision, weddings and conducting school groups to Southeast Asia.
At Paton Church I had a contract to share the pastoral work and worship services
What was the highlight of your career?
I had two highlights in my career. One was visiting the sacred island of Iona in Scotland,during my Defence days in London; and feeling a call to change my profession to the Ministry of the Church. The focal point in the historic Abbey cloisters was a striking bronze sculpture designed by a world- renowned Jewish artist and entitled, "Descent of the Spirit."
Incited in French are these words: "I Jacob Lipshitz, faithful to the religion of my ancestors, have made this Virgin for the benefit of all mankind, that the Spirit may reign." A prototype stands in a beautiful Roman Catholic church in Mante Savoie in France; another in the Cultural Centre of Los Angeles. Religion and secular, Protestant and Catholic, New World and Old are thus drawn together by the beneficent Spirit of God.
The other highlight was to become founding President of the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers Association; and help to develop good Asian - Australian relations.
What is a typical day or week for you?
On a day to day basis, I rise early, at about 6 a.m. or earlier. I walk before breakfast, I read Bible notes, reflect without interruptions and get through books that I haven't had the opportunity of doing so. The Paton Church takes up a fair amount of time - visiting people, people having accidents, births, deaths and marriages, people needing counselling, and helping young parents. I also still have an association with Scotch College.
I have been involved in a number of activities since retiring. I went on a Clergy visit to Egypt and Israel, led by Rabbi John Levi in1986. In 1988 I went on a Goodwill visit to China, where I took part in English conversation practice for students at universities and other tertiary education centres in Jiangsu Province. Whilst in China I gave a lecture in English to students of a medical faculty at a Chinese university on Youth Developments in the Western world.
I've also tried to get an exhibition in Australia for a leading Chinese artist and to get a university place for a brilliant Chinese student in the U.S.A.
To help cultivate better relations between Jews and Christians, Judaism and Christianity, I became a member of the Council of Christians and Jews. I'm also on the Council of Christians working party on Christians and Jews. I am also on the Uniting Church in Australia Working Group in Christians and Jews. I've done a one man project on attitudes to Jew and Judaism by the whole Uniting Church in Australia.
As founding President of the Victorian Indonesian Language Teachers' Association (VILTA) and first Honorary Member in 1969, I have continued my interest in Australia's cultivation of Asian Languages and Culture.
Other groups and activities I'm involved in include; being President of the 18th Australian Infantry Brigade Association 7th Division (AIF) of Victoria, Rotary, a Alzheimer and dementia council, a golf club, Melbourne Cricket Club and I've been a wartime officer of the Victorian Scottish Regiment: 200th Anniversary of the Gordon Highlanders, Aberdeen.
I'm also Chairperson of the Uniting Church Lodge Program (Alzheimer's Hostels), I celebrate communion for one of those hostels. I also help fundraise for Scotch College.
For relaxation I go to the cricket and football, read, listen to music, watch films, plays and go on picnics.
Retirement to mean involves:
Active service to the church, family, friends and community; and the leisure to do something or nothing.
As a child what did you want to do?
I didn't want to do anything specific, but I wanted to help people in some way. My parents took me to a Vocational Guidance expert who proposed: Law, Medicine or the Church. After one year of Medicine, some years in the Army, a short time in business, and eleven years in Defence, I turned to the Church.
Do you have a motto for retirement?
Yes. Life is for living. Live it to the full.
What are your future goals?
To keep on enjoying music and people.