Photographs relating to the red brick Ballarat South Uniting Church. "This stone from Sebastopol Church was laid by Rev. L.L. Lovell January 20th 1940"ballarat south uniting church, pandemic, uniting church, sebastopol

Two photographs relating to the Ballarat South Uniting Church. .1 The red brick church with information board .2) Information of the closure of the church due to the Covid19 pandemic shutdown due to only 2 peoplebeing able to congregate at one time. "Note: Worship services have been suspended for the time being. We're sorry for any inconvenience. Please get in tourch if your have any questions." "Follow is on Facebook (look for Ballarat South Uniting Curch" for live streamed events and liturgy-at-home resources, and check out website (Ballaratsouth.uniting church.org.au) for more info. If you need anythign (a phone call, some groceries etc) get in touch with our minister Carlynne on 0409 285 182, or [email protected] Be kind to yourseld and others, and stay in touch. God bless you."ballarat south uniting church, corona virus, covid19, pandemic, uniting church

Rev. Thomas Hastie was the first Presbyterian minister in Buninyong, serving for 44 years to 1891. He is buried in the Buninyong Cemetery. The folio includes a family tree, genealogical and historical notes and original booklets from the centenary and 125th anniversary commemorations of the Buninyong Presbyterian Church. The church joined the Uniting Church of Australia in 1977 and is now known as the Ballarat South Uniting Church.rev. thomas hastie, buninyong, buninyong presbyterian church, ballarat south uniting church, religion, presbyterianism, uniting church

In April 2012 former Royal Australian College of General Practitioners president Dr Paul Hemming was appointed the University of Ballarat’s new chancellor. Dr Hemming was a deputy chancellor of the university since 2011 and a member of the university council since 2007, and replaces outgoing chancellor Robert Smith. He was a founding director of Beyondblue and has been president of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners. He was also president of the Australian Medical Association Victoria and has served on numerous federal government medical bodies and tribunals. Chancellors are appointed to chair the university's council (governing body) as the senior office holder of the University. They also confer the academic awards of the university, and represent the university at meetings, functions and ceremonies. At the installation of Dr Hemming as the Fifth Chancellor Of The University Of Ballarat Governor of Victoria Alex Chrnov said: "I join Bonnie Fagan in acknowledging the traditional owners of this land and I pay my respects to their elders past and present. It is my great pleasure, as Governor of Victoria and Visitor to the University of Ballarat, to install Dr Paul Hemming as the fifth Chancellor of this University. I extend to him and his family my warmest congratulations on this appointment and wish him all the best in his new role. I have no doubt that he will be an industrious and wise leader of this University. Although the University of Ballarat is one of Australia’s newest Universities, it is the third oldest Tertiary institution in our country with the School of Mines being established in 1870. It has much to be proud of, and should be recognised for its commitment to being one of our most outstanding regionally focused higher education institutions. It offers on six campuses a diverse, yet suitably targeted, group of learning models that include higher education, TAFE and senior secondary school education, and is one of the few universities in the country that has an associated Technology Park. This University is uniquely placed to provide higher education in Regional Victoria. For example, I understand that by 2020 the population in the Ballarat area will increase by 20% so this University will have the responsibility and opportunity to provide educational opportunities for this growing population. The role of the Governor can be divided into three parts – ceremonial, constitutional and community engagement. It is the third aspect of the role that is most time consuming and, I add, enjoyable. It includes making official visits to Regional areas of Victoria. To date Elizabeth and I have been on 16 such visits and the thing that stands out is that despite the challenges that face Regional communities whether it be through natural disasters, or the economy more broadly – the stoicism, volunteerism and self reliance are always present. Ballarat is an example of such resilience and confidence in its future that can be dated back to this University’s inception. When the School of Mines was established in 1870 on the back of the gold rush era of the 1850s, the local community had vision and faith in its future that is reflected in the building of this institution. It is not dissimilar to Melbourne, where its relatively few citizens established the iconic pillars of our society like the State Library, the University of Melbourne, Parliament Houses and the National Gallery of Victoria. The contribution by the University of Ballarat to Regional Victoria cannot be overstated. Not only does it provide top educational opportunities for students from the Region but its graduates almost invariably end up working in Regional Australia, and often in their own local communities. More specifically, almost three out of every four of the graduates from this University end up finding employment in Regional areas. Such figures highlight the University’s significant contribution to the Regional economy. But its impact is not limited to our Regional areas – it extends to other parts of Australia and overseas. But like so many other higher education institutions in Australia, the University of Ballarat is facing challenges brought about by events such as global uncertainties and the high Australian dollar that impact on the inflow of international students, and dealing with students, more and more of whom come from the lower socio economic sector. It is in those circumstances that the Chancellor must show leadership that involves, amongst others, objectively guiding the Council and supporting the Vice-Chancellor, albeit without becoming involved in the day to day micro management of the University. A strong, trusting and respectful working relationship between the Chancellor and the Vice-Chancellor is, I believe, critical to the sound progress of a University. Before I turn more specifically to Dr Hemming, I would like to reflect briefly on his immediate predecessor, Emeritus Professor Robert Smith. I am sure that Dr Hemming has already found in Professor Smith an invaluable source of assistance. He was a skilled and effective leader not only here, but also in the broader higher education sector. I mention by way of example his instigation and leadership two years ago of the much acclaimed Chancellors’ Conference that was held in Melbourne. There was great diffidence amongst the Chancellors in having it at all. It was a little like herding cats. But Bob Smith spearheaded the organisation of it, with great attention to detail. And it was his hard work and leadership that resulted in the Conference being such a success and of assistance to all Chancellors who attended. It was an illustration of Bob Smith’s skills as a leader in the sector and of this University. And the sector, just as this University remains indebted to him. And I have no doubt that Dr Hemming will similarly lead this University through the challenging, yet exciting, times that lie ahead. He is eminently qualified to do so, in terms of his personal attributes, academic achievements and experience in governance. With his extensive medical career as a General Practitioner, service on a number of Federal Government medical boards and tribunals, and having been a Founding Director of ‘Beyondblue’, President of the Royal Australian College of General Practitioners and President of the Australian Medical Association (Victoria), his list of personal and professional achievements, as well as his strong sense of public and community duty, is impressive. Importantly, Dr Hemming has a long standing connection with the Ballarat community, having moved here with his family from the United Kingdom in 1977. He is now even accepted as a “local” I am told. Given his range of experience to which I have referred and the time he has already spent on the Council and Standing Committees of this University, he is obviously well placed to take part in leading this University. So it is a great pleasure for me to install Dr Hemming as the fifth Chancellor of the University of Ballarat." (http://www.governor.vic.gov.au/victorias-governor/publications/speeches/speech/speech/104) Colour photographS of three men in academic regalia sitting inside the Ballarat Uniting Church, Lydiard Street South. Chancellor Dr Paul Hemming sit in the centre, with Vice-Chancellor Professor david Battersby on the left. Also audience images, academics and a dinner at Craig's Hotel.university of ballarat, federation university, regalia, chancellor, vice chancellor, paul hemming, david battersby, alex chrnov, todd walker, andy smith, craig's hotel, academics

The photo was taken before the Ballarat School of Mines built the M.B. John Building and the Hillman Recreation Centre. Since this photo has been taken most of the Ballarat Gaol and the Ballarat Brewery have been demolished.Black and white aerial photograph of central Lydiard Street south in Ballarat, including the Ballarat School of Mines. The photo shows the former Ballarat Gaol, former Ballarat Courthouse, Ballarat Club, Uniting Church, White Flat, Ballarat Brewery; and was taken before the building of Corbould Hall and the M.B. John Building. White broken lines show the Ballarat School of Mines campusballarat gaol, ballarat courthouse, ballarat club, ballarat townscape, uniting church, ballarat brewery, old plumbing building, flecknoe, administration building, flecknoe building, lydiard street south, ballarat, white flat, ballarat school of mines botanical garden

This aerial photograph was taken before the E.J. Tippett library on the Ballarat School of Mines campus was built. Aerial photograph of the Ballarat School of Mines block bounded by Albert Street Dana Street, Lydiard Street South and Grant Street. Buildings shown include the Uniting Church, Flecknoe Building, Corbould Hall, Old Chemistry Building, Former Wesleyan Church, Administration Building, former Ballarat Gaol Gates (gaol demolished), Amenities Building, Ballarat Brewery, St Johns'.ballarat uniting church, flecknoe, flecknoe building, corbould hall, old chemistry building, former ballarat wesleyan church, administration building, former ballarat gaol gates (gaol demolished), aerial, amenities building, ballarat brewery, st johns' cathedral, albert street, lydiard street south, grant street, dana street, white flat

Black and white aerial photograph of the Ballarat School of Mines, White Flat Oval, Ballarat Gaol, Ballarat Brewery, Ballarat Club, Uniting Church, John Valves (Lydiard Street), Ballarat Girls' Technical School and Ballarat ballarat gaol, white flat, ballarat uniting church, ballarat girls' technical school, armstrong street south, lydiard street south, yarrowee channel, humffray street south, m.b. john, john valves, former ballarat gaol, ballarat brewery, dana street, grant street, lydiards street south, white flat oval, aerial photograph

Aerial Photograph of the Ballarat School of Mines bounded by Armstrong Street South, Grant Street, Albert Street and Dana Street. Buildings depicted include the Ballarat Brewery, Ballarat Gaol, White Flat Ovalballarat school of mines, ballarat brewery, ballarat club, ballarat uniting church, ballarat school of mines model mine, ballarat school of mines mining workshop, ballarat girls' techncial school, albert street, white flat oval, grant street, lydiard sreet, mining laboratory, model mine, armstrong street south, james oddie's bank

This honour board is thought to have been made to a design by a student of the Ballarat Technical Art School, a division of the Ballarat School of Mines. "Honor Boards. — During the past few months very many honor boards have been manufactured by Messrs R. Tunbridge and Sons, and their handsome design and workmanship have given complete satisfaction to purchasers. Some time ago, the firm gave five guineas, for prizes to the architectural class at the School of Mines for the best honor board designs, and some magnificent suggestions were submitted by the competitors. Messrs Tunbridge and Sons, in adopting this plan, gave encouragement to the students to develop along the lines of originality in architecture, and at the same time secure a very fine collection of designs. The whole of the honor boards turned out by the firm are of local manufacture and only the very choicest of Australian timbers are used. As Tunbridge and Sons have made the manufacture of honor boards a speciality they are employing a couple of first-class cabinetmakers on the work of making honor hoards only, and the lettering is also done by a local firm. An honor board which has just been completed by Tunbridge and Sons is at present on view in the firm's window facing Sturt street. It is for Holy Trinity Church, Stawell, is manufactured from Queensland maple, beautifully grained, and is of handsome gothic design. This honor Board is 8 feet in height, and measures 5 feet 6 inches across, and it contains 142 names, including 10 heroes who have won distinctions, and 37 soldiers who have made the supreme sacrifice. Tunbridge and Sons have manufactured honor boards for Miners' Rest:, Weatherboard, Scotchman's Lead, Durham lead, the Buninyong Methodist Church, Ballarat Shire south riding, St. Arnaud High School, Knox Sunday School, and Bungaree Shire Council, and there are boards for the Watchem South State School, and Springdallah in hand. People are realising that there is no need to go to Melbourne for honor boards, which are manufactured by Tunbridge and Sons of superior material, and are better finished and their prices are much below metropolitan rates." (Ballarat Star, 27 April 1918) Geoffrey Blainey's father was the pastor at the Burnbank Methodist church. Geoffrey Blainey became the first Chancellor of the University of Ballarat, a predecessor of Federation University Australia. The Honour Board was removed from the Wendouree Uniting Church when it was closed on August November 2019. Timber honour board for the Burnbank Methodist Church in Ballarat.burnbank street methodist sunday school honor board, world war one, honour board, honor board, wendouree uniting church

The Ballarat School of Mines was estabished in 1870, making it the first site of technical education in Australia. Ballarat School of Mines from Lydiard Street South. From left to right - the Ballarat Uniting Church, School of Mines Museum (Former Wesleyan Church), New Classrooms and Administration Building, Ballarat Technical Art School, Gaol Governor's residence.ballarat school of mines, ballarat school of mines museum, former wesleyan church, lydiard street south, ballarat technical art school, governor's residence

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

JOHN CORBEN LAVENDER (Jock) 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. Deceased c.2015. Rev. John (Jock) Lavender is pictured standing at a microphone, wearing clerical clothingRev. J C Lavenderrev. john (jock) lavender; methodist minister; uniting church minister;

JOHN CORBEN LAVENDER (Jock) 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 Geelong.Head and shoulders portrait of the Rev. John (Jock) Lavender, wearing suit and tie.Jock Lavenderrev. john (jock) lavender; methodist minister; uniting church minister;

JOHN CORBEN LAVENDER (Jock) 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 Geelong.Upper body photo of Rev. John (Jock) Lavender (Geelong) speaking at a lectern.Church & Nation 23/5/79, p. 5; Rev. Lavenderrev. john (jock) lavender; methodist minister; uniting church minister;