I am writing to reflect on two significant dates that have been important to me.
Monday 5th November is the anniversary of Gordon Stone and Tuesday 6th November is the anniversary of Fr Les Ring.
Gordon died of cancer forty years ago, Les died in a car accident out on the Undera Road thirty-one years ago. Both men died really quite some time ago but the impact these two have had on my life will stay with me forever.
Gordon was my first and only employer. When I was sixteen he took me on as an apprentice electrician after an interview that lasted five minutes in his driveway. I was one of ten in the firm which was a large number of workers for electrical contractors in the Essendon area.
Over the years the relationship developed to be more father and son than employer and employee. When he bought a boat, I was invited to go skiing with the family for the day. He also took others from the firm out for skiing after work as well.
When he purchased some land at Yarrawonga situated on a lagoon off the Murray, I would go with him in the developing stages of the block and then the house. It wasn’t just me as sometimes he would invite others for a day or weekend.
He took a genuine interest in what I believed as a Catholic, and this was the basis of many a conversation. When it was required that we had to work on a Sunday, he would say you follow us after you have been to church.
When I was twenty-four, and I had decided to enter the Seminary for the priesthood this meant that Gordon had to be told. It was one of the hardest things I have had to do, yet God is good, when I told Gordon that I needed to talk to him and would he drop in at my parents home. He said an amazing thing, “I don’t know what you are going to do but it is something to do with your church.” That made it so easy for me to continue the conversation.
I continued working for Gordon each Christmas for about eight weeks at a time. Each student needed to find some work to earn money to support themselves during the year. I would be in a soutane on the last Friday of term in November and in overalls on the following Monday.
I did some big electrical jobs in the Seminary at Werribee and Gordon would help me out with the purchase of materials and permits etc. Installing heaters in the freezing cold chapel endeared me to all concerned.
He was so proud at my Ordination but this interesting relationship between the priest and the man who professed no religion was soon to take a twist. He had already commenced to ease himself out of the business when the dreaded cancer made it presence. We had long conversations and spoke very deeply about life, God and what was to follow after death?
I was only making the comment to someone today that it can be difficult at times to receive our ‘lot’ when it is dealt to us as it takes great faith. I commented what Gordon said to me one time when I asked his feelings at dying when he was only in his early sixties? He said, ‘Why not.” He may not profess any religion, but he was resolved to accept what was asked of him by God.
Gordon died sooner than anticipated because I was away with Fr Joh Leahy on holidays. The family delayed the funeral until I could arrive home. We had a simple service at the funeral parlour and I led the service, but I was there more as a friend giving a fitting send off to a friend rather than as the priest someone who owed his friend so much.
(Part 2 continued next week)
Fr Michael Morley
9th November 2018
