LIFE IN THE MANSE - FIFTY YEARS AGO

Rod McMaster arrived in Canberra from Grafton NSW on the October long-weekend in 1952 when his father, Rev. Fred McMaster, became the church's third Minister. He writes of some of his early memories of life in the manse. 

McMaster family c1953

I was 3 years old and I remember sitting on the front steps of the manse watching the men unloading the furniture. I was waiting for my pedal car to be unloaded.  The manse was very cold. We had wood fires, a fuel stove in the kitchen and a fuel copper in the laundry. Most of the backyard was black asphalt or black dirt. Dad put the first lawn down. In later years I obtained a Shetland pony called "Tuppence" and I used to ride him around the backyard.  I still have fond memories of  Mr Harry Knight and Mrs Knight. I used to sit on Mr Knight's knee in

church. We went to their home for a meal on many occasions. I remember our many visits to Mr and Mrs Reg White's home also. 

In the 1950s and 1960s I recall that our church had many sporting teams. Hockey, netball and tennis were all quite popular. We were very involved in all of these sports. Also, Boys' Brigade and Girls' Brigade were thriving at that time. 

In addition to his other duties, dad was involved with teaching Scripture in Schools, hospital visitations and home visits. In 1958 he joined the Army Reserve as a Chaplain. In 1960 he was asked to take a turn as PD Chaplain at Duntroon and he remained in that post until his retirement in 1982. 

Mum was involved with entertaining in the manse. She also organised numerous suppers for the young people after church. I also recall New Year's Eve parties on the front lawn. 

We had church picnics and Sunday School picnics at the Cotter Reserve and Easter camps for the young people at Blackheath, Bundanoon and Fitzroy Falls. 

Many homeless men arrived on the doorstep of the manse over the years - generally on weekends. Dad would never give money. Instead he would organise for them to get a meal in the Kingston Café or mum would make sandwiches for them. On one occasion we found an old chap asleep on the back door mat, so dad took him up to the old kitchen at the back of the church (the area where the Fellowship Room is now located). We supplied rugs and blankets. When dad went up the next morning to see how he was, he found that the old fellow had gone and that he had drunk all of the communion wine (grape juice). 

Rod McMaster