Alex Kilgour was for many years an active elder and layman in the Presbyterian and then Uniting Church. He was involved in many committees at Synod level for many years. He was a Moderator of the Synod of Victoria of the UCA—one of the first laypeople to take on the role in the early years of the UCA. He was for many years Executive Director of the Resources Commission of the Synod. He worked at Mitchell Brushes (the company owned by Ethel and John Mitchell.B&W photograph. Head and shoulders portrait of Mr Alex Kilgour.Church & Nation 17/10/1984alex kilgour; presbyterian church; uniting church; moderator; resources commission.

Alex Kilgour was for many years an active elder and layman in the Presbyterian and then Uniting Church. He was involved in many committees at Synod level for many years. He was a Moderator of the Synod of Victoria of the UCA—one of the first laypeople to take on the role in the early years of the UCA. He was for many years Executive Director of the Resources Commission of the Synod. He worked at Mitchell Brushes (the company owned by Ethel and John Mitchell.B&W photograph. Alex Kilgour is standing in the pulpit of St Paul's Cathedral, Melbournealex kilgour; presbyterian church; uniting church; moderator; resources commission.

Alex Kilgour was for many years an active elder and layman in the Presbyterian and then Uniting Church. He was involved in many committees at Synod level for many years. He was a Moderator of the Synod of Victoria of the UCA—one of the first laypeople to take on the role in the early years of the UCA. He was for many years Executive Director of the Resources Commission of the Synod. He worked at Mitchell Brushes (the company owned by Ethel and John Mitchell.Head and shoulders photo of Mr Alex Kilgour standing outside of Wesley Church Lonsdale Street Melbourne.Church & Nation 17/10/1984alex kilgour; presbyterian church; uniting church; moderator; resources commission.

Alex Kilgour was for many years an active elder and layman in the Presbyterian and then Uniting Church. He was involved in many committees at Synod level for many years. He was a Moderator of the Synod of Victoria of the UCA—one of the first laypeople to take on the role in the early years of the UCA. He was for many years Executive Director of the Resources Commission of the Synod. He worked at Mitchell Brushes (the company owned by Ethel and John Mitchell.B&W photograph. Alex Kilgour addressing a meeting of Synod. He is standing with Rev Graham McAnally seated on his left and an unidentified person to his right. alex kilgour; presbyterian church; uniting church; moderator; resources commission.

Rev Stuart Murray (left), Ray Hill (centre) and Alex Kilgour (right)Stuart Murray, Ray Hill, Alex Kilgour 1985

John (Jock) Corben Lavender Jock was born in Ivanhoe, but spent most of his youth in Northcote where his father was a bank manager, and where he attended primary school, high school and the Methodist church in High Street which became a central point in his life. He took his first job in the dispatch office at McPhersons nut and bolt factory in North Richmond in 1935. After a short time at McPhersons he moved to the Trustees Executors and Agency Company in 1936. While working at the Trustees Jock developed the conviction that his vocation lay with the church. This necessitated studying Matriculation at night school for two years as well as working and studying to become a Local Preacher. The minister at Northcote at the time was the Rev.F.T.Cleverdon who helped him prepare to apply as a candidate for Ordination. Before going to university and Queen’s for his arts degree and theological training, Mr Cleverdon, who was now the minister at Neil Street, Ballarat, offered Jock the opportunity to minister to the small congregation at Brown Hill, Ballarat, which was in his Circuit, and to live with the Cleverdons. He spent a year in Ballarat under the tutelage of Rev.F.T Cleverdon in 1939. Jock was accepted by the 1940 Victorian Methodist Conference as a Candidate for the Ministry and started his studies for his theological training and an arts degree at Melbourne University that year. Because of a shortage of ministers, due to the war, Jock was taken out of Queen’s in 1943 to take charge of two fairly small churches in Caulfield - Hawthorn Road and Bambra Road. Jock was ordained in 1945 & married two days later to Elsie Chipperfield, with whom he had worked at the Trustees Executors and Agency. He had joined the RAAF as a chaplain and was sent to Borneo. Returning to Australia in early 1946, he was then appointed to Orbost for a year, Bracknell in Tasmania in 1948, followed by Reid in Canberra, 1951. The next move was to Portland in 1954. Unfortunately not long after this, Elsie was diagnosed with breast cancer. This necessitated a move back to Melbourne - to Mitcham in 1957. Elsie died in December 1957. This period was a very hard time as Jock had four young daughters but his mother helped out by living in for most of the week until Jock was married to Peg in 1959 and their son was born in 1961. In 1964 Jock was moved to Launceston, his first city church. These years were challenging for Jock as he felt compelled to speak out around social issues, such as the Vietnam War & Aboriginal rights, although many did not agree with his view. In 1969 Jock was moved to Horsham to take up the role of Separated Chairman of the North-Western District responsible for Circuits, ministers and families for policy issues and pastoral concerns over an area from the South Australian border, up to the Murray and over it to Wentworth and Dareton, up river to Swan Hill and south to Ballarat and Daylesford. It was a demanding job but richly rewarding in the relationships made with ministers and their families. In 1971 Jock was elected Secretary of the Methodist Conference and in 1972 was voted President of the Conference. He felt it an honour and a vote of confidence by clergy and lay people The final move was to Geelong in 1976 where Jock was the minister at Wesley until 1983.Jock found Geelong a very satisfying parish in which to finish his active ministry. It was while he was Minister of Wesley Church, Geelong, that the Uniting Church came into being and Jock became the first Chairman of the Barwon Presbytery. There were now two ministers at Wesley – Jock and Alex Peerman, whose joint congregation of St. Giles (Pres) and City Congregational now joined with Wesley to become the City Parish. Jock was very surprised to be elected as the third Moderator of the Uniting Church in Victoria, to take office in 1979/1980 1983 saw retirement to Portarlington several months’ locum in both Canada & Kununurra. When the property at Portarlington became too large to maintain, they moved in 1994 into the current house in Belmont & returned to the Wesley Church here. In the words of Rev. Prof. Norman Young and Rev. Peter Gador-Whyte at Jock’s funeral service: “We are here today to give thanks to God for Jock Lavender; a gentle man of great compassion, humour and humility. We gather to remember the love he shared so generously the faith he lived so graciously, and the hope he expressed both in his preaching and in his presence. As President of the Methodist Conference and Moderator of the Uniting Church Jock held significant leadership roles within the church and did so with great dignity and grace never lording it over people but leading by example with an inner strength and faith that won respect and trust. There was something really special about him that is hard to put your finger on. We have all been blessed by God through Jock. Mr Alexander Kilgour Alex Kilgour was for many years an active elder and layman in the Presbyterian and then Uniting Church. He was involved in many committees at Synod level for many years. He was a Moderator of the Synod of Victoria of the UCA—one of the first laypeople to take on the role in the early years of the UCA. He was for many years Executive Director of the Resources Commission of the Synod. He worked at Mitchell Brushes (the company owned by Ethel and John Mitchell. B&W photograph. The Rev. John C (Jock) Lavender and Mr Alex Kilgour, dressed in shirts, are standing shoulder to shoulder, facing the camera.C&N 19/3/1986rev. jock lavender; mr alex kilgour; methodist, presbyterian, uniting church; synod appointments; moderator

Opening of Prahran Mission House, Chapel Street, Prahran on 12 October 1985.Brown and brass rectangular plaque with upper case text and a hole in each corner.prahran mission house, hon brian howe mp, alex kilgour, moderator victorian synod uniting church in australia

.1 .A poster advertising the production of Kiss Me Kate proudly sponsored by The University of Ballarat Arts Academy performed by the Graduating Performers of the Third Year Music Theatre students of the University of Ballarat to be held at The Princess Theatre from 24th November - 3rd December 2006. Directed by Kim Durban; Choreography and Staging by David Wymen, Musical Direction by Andrew Patterson. Music and Lyrics by Col Porter. Book by Sam and Bella Spewak. Tickets were available through Ticketek 1300 795 012, or premier.ticketek.com.au or www.kissmekate.ballarat.eu.au .2 The program includes messages from Professor David Battersby, Vice Chancello and Professor Peter Matthews, Head Arts Academy;. Directors Notes (Kim Durban); Notes About the Play; Cast; Songs; Orchestra; Creative Team; Performing Arts Staff; Visiting Artists; Administrative Staff; Actor's Biographies; Creative Team's Biographies and Sponsors. Cast: Claire George, Joshua Piterman, Graham Foote, Kate Cusworth, James Chapel, Luke Rice, Ed Howard, Jo O'Callaghan, Jennifer Stirk, Paul Bebbington, Spike Levy, Adam Stafford, Penelope Bruce, Zoe Wood and Vicki Doak. Featured Dance Ensemble: Eliza Brian, Deeon Clark, Kat Frain, and Tara Minton. Company: Denise Ververakis, Jennifer Stirk, Vicki Doak and Zoe Wood Chorus: Adam Kirk, Alex Cheatley, Amanda Remfrey, Andrew R Jenkings, Ashley Craven, Belinda Howe, Carla Trolano, Cassie McIvor, Chantel Bui Viet, Cristina D'Agostino, Elise Brennan, Hayley Nissen, Hayley Ramfrey, Jenny Byrne, Jim Cocks, Lara Thew, Liam Kilgour, Luke Hales, Mark Booth, Melanie Harris, Sue Luderman, Sarah Power, Zac Gower and Zoe Thomas. .1 Original Poster .2 Program