REPRESENTING THE LARGEST COLLECTION OF 2X2 HISTORICAL DOCUMENTS ON THE INTERNET
Perry, Oklahoma Conv, 1942
Pioneering Workers to Australia & New Zealand
JUST AUSTRALIA...
Australia - A little about the First Workers that went to Australia
Australia, Western Australia - The Work of the Gospel and Conventions in Western Australia
Australia, Queensland - Pioneering Ways of the Gospel in Queensland, Australia
Australia, South Australia - The Bethel Mission, 1910
Australia, South Australia - First Missions
Australia - Clem Geue Speaks About Sam Jones
Australia, New South Wales - Account needed!
Australia, Victoria - Account needed!
Australia, Northern Territory - Account needed!
Australia, Tasmania - Account needed!
NATIONWIDE AUSTRALIA WORKERS' CONVENTIONS:
1928. In January, the first Australian Workers Convention was held in Sydney, NSW, for two days. All the Australian Workers (about 120) attended. Bill Carroll's brother, Jack, from the US, and Edward Cooney were present. Several changes and transfers were made in all states. In the previous year, there had been 23 new Workers.
1954. On February 20-24, a four-day Overseers Meeting was held at Guildford (about three months after Carroll's death). The two Senior Overseers of Australia, John Hardie and Tom Turner, and all the Overseers of Australia and New Zealand met at the Guildford, NSW Convention, eleven Workers total.
Read about it here: www.tellingthetruth.info/workers_articles/guildfordrpt.php
1964. Iin January, Jack Jackson led the third Australian Workers Convention, also in Sydney. Several Worker transfers were made between the states. Robert Barbour was appointed to succeed John Baartz as Overseer of South Australia. Clem Geue assumed the oversight of Western Australia.
2020. On January 17-19, 2020, the fourth Australian Workers’ Convention was held at 180 Days Road, Maroota, NSW, the convention grounds near Sydney. Approximately 160 Workers attended (120 Australian Workers, including some who returned from their foreign fields and about 40 from New Zealand, Canada, South Africa and one from the US, a Sister Worker). It is not known to what extent child sexual abuse and other issues were addressed; the most visible changes following the Convention were appointments and removals of state Overseers.
AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND...
Australia & New Zealand - FIRST Two Workers to go to Australia & NZ
Australia & New Zealand - Gospel Coming to Australia and New Zealand
Australia & New Zealand - Coming of the Gospel to Australia and New Zealand
Australia & New Zealand - Data re The Gospel Coming to Australia and New Zealand
Australia & New Zealand - Adam Hutchison's Arrival
Australia & New Zealand - John Hardie's Account
Australia & New Zealand - Ralph & Rene Beattie, Married Worker Couple
JUST NEW ZEALAND...Accounts of First Missions
New Zealand - First Missions
New Zealand - Brief Summary of the First Days of the Work in New Zealand
New Zealand - First Workers in New Zealand
New Zealand - Early Missions Worked in New Zealand 
New Zealand - Friends Who Lived in the Hutt Valley, 1901-2006
New Zealand - Purakanui Mission, 1909
New Zealand - Pahia – Roundhill Mission, 1917
Australia States:
New South Wales (NSW) Capital: Sydney
Northern Territory (NT) Capital: Darwin
South Australia (SA) Capital: Adelaide
Queensland (QLD) Capital: Brisbane
Victoria (VIC) Capital: Melbourne
Tasmania (TAS) Capital: Hobart
Western Australia (WA) Capital: Perth
Australian Capital Territory (ACT) National Capital: Canberra
New Zealand has no provinces or states. It is divided in Regions in the:
North Island (Nth Is) Capital: Wellington
South Island (Sth Is)
THE FIRST TWO WORKERS TO GO TO AUSTRALIA and NEW ZEALAND
Around 1904-05, John Hardie and another worker* went to Australia. They lived in a tent where they used one half of the tent for their living quarters and the other half for meetings. One day a big storm came and totally ripped their tent to shreds. They then spread newspapers on the ground and slept on them. One day the elder worker woke to find his companion gone with all their money. He never knew where his companion went. Alone in a strange place, he decided to keep spreading the gospel.
A man from another city came to listen. He and a group of others left their old church in search of truth and because they felt the preacher wasn't preaching according to the Bible. So they started their own weekly gatherings. When this man heard John speak, he knew he had finally found the Truth. He spoke to John and asked him to come to his city to share with the others. John said he would like to, but he confessed that he was broke.
The man paid
his train fare and asked him to come on the following Friday.
So on Friday, the worker arrived. They had quite a gathering waiting, and
they had a meal prepared for his arrival. Sitting down to eat, the first
time in a long time, John was ravenous. He was able to maintain good manners,
and take appropriate portions of food even though he was starving--until
dessert. When he was passed the apple pie, he couldn't keep composed anymore
and proceeded to eat the whole pie. The children around the table watched
in awe and in despair as they saw him devour the whole pie!
Most of the people in that little gathering professed.
They lent him a bicycle to get around. Starting for a neighboring city one
day, he was soon drenched by a sudden rain storm. The rain in Australia turns
into a clay-like substance that is terribly sticky. It kept getting stuck
on his tires, and he had to get off every few yards to knock it off. Finally,
when it got so bad that he couldn't go on, he left his bike by the side of
the road and walked the rest of the way to the next town.
Upon getting there, he went into a store and asked if there was lodging.
The storekeeper laughed and said, "In this small town? No, but there are
some farmers up on the hill that often take people in."
John trudged up the hill where the farmers had been sitting on the porch and had seen him ditch his bike, go into the store and then plod up the hill. They invited him in to stay until the rain stopped. It rained for 6 days. For those six days, he preached the gospel and at the end of the 6 days, all of the farmers professed.
Later, he was sent a companion from England. Later, the two workers went into a town looking for a place to put up their tent. They noticed a nice empty lot beside the blacksmith shop immediately. They went in and asked the blacksmith if they could put up their tent in the lot. The blacksmith wanted to know what they would be using the tent for, so the workers told him it would be for spreading the Gospel. The Blacksmith gave an emphatic, “NO.”
The workers went door to door asking for a
place to pitch their tent. No one was willing to help. Finally, they only
had one house left, and even though they noticed there wasn't room for the
tent, they decided to ask anyway. The man in the last house suggested the
blacksmith. The workers said they had been there first and had been refused.
The man chuckled, and said it was no wonder, since the blacksmith was a staunch
Irish Socialist who was anti-religion.
John, who was Irish, said to his partner to stay where he was, and he would
go talk to the Smithy alone. Off he went, entering the blacksmith shop, stating, "Democracy is the only good government!" Those were fighting words to say
to the Smithy. Pretty soon they were in a heated discussion as to which system
was better. As the hour progressed, John pretended to let the Smithy convince
him of some of the merits of Socialism. Getting ready to take his leave,
the worker said to the Smithy that he was glad that they had had this conversation,
since he had learned about Socialism, and that he had had his mind opened
to other possibilities than just Democracy. As he turned to go, the Smithy
stopped him and told him that he could put up his tent in the vacant lot
beside his shop. The blacksmith professed and a few others, but only
the blacksmith remained faithful.
In another town, two workers were getting ready to start Gospel meetings. One worker went door to door inviting people, and the elder worker went into
the shops to invite people. The elder worker entered one drug store and invited
the owner/pharmacists to the meetings. The owner said that he didn't have
time to go to any Gospel meetings, because his church had services every
evening and twice on Sunday. They talked a little, and then the owner invited
the worker to come to his church. The worker asked if they had services Saturday
evening. "Yes," the owner replied. "O.K.," said the worker, " I'll be there Saturday."
As he turned to leave, the owner said, "Since you are a servant of God, and
I am a godly person, I consider everything on my shelves as godly merchandise.
Whatever you need you can have at no charge, since it is for God." The worker
turned and said to him, "I'm not interested in what you have on your shelves,
I'm only interested in your soul.”
That Saturday night, the two workers entered the church quietly, hoping to
be able to listen unobserved, but the preacher saw them and invited them
to speak. So they did. The congregation was visibly moved. They were asked
to speak the next Saturday also. The elder worker decided that he would speak
more openly, freely and directly. The preacher was extremely mad. He told
them to get out, and let it be known they were not welcome again.
Some of the congregation realized that this was the truth and was the right
way, so they left that church. Soon they professed. A couple who professed
were friendly. All their friends saw the changes in them. The
woman’s friends saw that she had something that they didn’t. Upon discussing
it with their husbands, their husbands mentioned that they had noticed a
difference in the husband too.
A Wednesday night Bible Study had been set up in this couples’ home. One Wednesday night, the others decided to go to this Bible Study and see exactly what their friend had found. As it so happened, the head worker happened to be there that night. They decided to turn it into a Gospel Meeting. By the end of the meeting, everyone professed, taking 1/2 of the congregation away from that other church.
When the preacher found out, he was furious. He depended on those people for his livelihood. Now that they were gone, he had to find odd jobs around town. As the years went on, every so often the worker and the preacher would run across each other in town. The worker was always nice, but the preacher wasn't.
One day, eight years later (the worker was in that area for eight years),
the worker was walking down the street when he noticed the preacher painting
the theatre screen. The worker walked in and said hello and asked the preacher
to sit for a while and take a break with him. At first the preacher refused,
then he agreed. After they got started talking, they talked for twelve hours
straight. Soon after, the preacher professed. He said he knew it was the
truth the first time he heard them speak, but refused to believe it because
it was his livelihood, and what would he do to earn a living?
Talking later to the storekeeper after he professed, he also acknowledged
that as soon as the worker left his store, he knew it was the Truth. The
owner kept a diary, and he wrote in his diary after the worker left that
first time, "Today I have seen and heard the Truth, he is a true man of God."
Asked how he knew this, the owner said, "All other supposed men of God, when
offered anything in the store, left with their arms full, and you left with
nothing in the store, but a real concern for my soul.”
The first family that professed had a son. He was rebellious. He went to
Sydney to become a policeman. He became worldly, leaving the Truth behind.
He saw his best friend murdered when they were trying to capture an escaped
criminal. That is when he first started thinking about the truth again. The
day after the shooting, the head police officer called a number in roll.
No answer. He called the number again, louder. No answer. "Oh, ya, he is
the one that was shot yesterday. Scratch his number off the list. I wonder
whose number will be next?''
This young man transferred to another town. He called his mother to tell her. She asked where he would be staying.
"Oh, probably in the pub," he responded. "Oh, no, you can't do that!" She replied, horrified, "Call me before you leave. OK?
As soon as she hung up talking to him, she got on the phone and called all
over to see if there was someone in the area that could put him up of the
Friends. She found a young couple that had been married just two weeks. They
hesitated at first because he didn't profess, but finally agreed.
The mother told her son of this place, and he agreed to go. They were really
nice to him.
One day he came home from work late, and they had already
eaten. That was unusual since they always waited for him. He was angry that
they hadn't waited, so when the woman came in to talk to him, he was surly.
Then the man came and talked to him, and he was still surly. They were trying
to get enough courage up to ask him to the Gospel meeting that night.
Finally, they mentioned it, and he eagerly said, "If I hurry, I can go with
you." So he hurried and they all went together.
Their convention is over Christmas-time, and being a policeman, he couldn't
get the time off, since it is a busy time of year. So he travelled miles
to get a convention. Sitting at the dining table, he looked across the table
and noticed a man. He thought to himself, “That man has seen many years in
prison.” The other man was thinking, “That guy is a cop.” They began
talking. They shook hands, and the ex-prisoner said it was the first time
that he had shaken hands with a policemen.
He then told his story. He and his wife were professional thieves. Every time they were caught, their two daughters had to go stay with the grandmother. The last time this happened, the grandmother had been exposed to the Gospel, and all three of them had professed. When the man and his wife got out of prison and took their daughters back, they noticed a change.
Pretty soon they started going to meetings too, eventually professing. He ended by saying that it was the first time he had ever heard of children being good influence on their parents, since it is supposed to be the other way around. That really spoke to the policeman, and soon after he re-professed. Now he is in the work.
Willie Jamieson had only professed 2 weeks before he went into the Work.
He was baptised the same time as those in his field were. He professed the
same day that he heard the gospel.
People in England sold all of their goods and priceless antiques to pay for
passage for workers to be able to go to Africa, Australia' and America. The
first workers came to America about 1904.
NOTE: The author of this account was not given (unknown)
NOTE: Other sources say the two went to Melbourne, Victoria, Australia in July, 1904. Sandy Alexander was the other worker, according to George Beattie (Secret Sect p. 37, Note 28). Sandy is listed on the 1905 Workers List. Reportedly Sandy Alexander left the group and became a Plymouth Brethren preacher.
NOTE: According to The Secret Sect, "Similar hostility and opposition in other districts motivated preachers to travel overseas, one being John Hardie, whose wooden mission hall was burned down by Roman Catholics in Kilkenny. He was said to have used the money awarded by the court for damages to pay his passage to Australia, instead of putting it into the common purse. He pioneered the movement in New South Wales." (Secret Sect by Doug & Helen Parker, p. 31)
John Hardie and his companion sailed from England early in this century. They left England on a ship that had a diesel engine as well as sails. The engine was used when there was no wind. When they arrived in Australia, they did not waste any time but put up their tent for meetings and they had their living quarters in a corner. Then they went to invite the people to come to the gospel meetings. They were not aware of the violent, tropical storms that come on so quickly and were far from their tent when a storm arose. By the time they made their way back to the tent, soaked to the skin, they found the tent in shreds and their possession scattered and useless.
They knew it would be months before they could receive help from England and the little money they had must be saved for food. The only place they found to sleep was in a park, spreading newspapers over the grass.
One morning John woke to find his companion had left him and taken all the money they had. He never saw or heard of him again. You can imagine John’s predicament.
Sitting on a bench in the park, a strange man came up to him and they started chatting. Finally, the man asked John what kind of work he did. John told him he was a preacher of the gospel. This man became excited and he told John that 30 of the members had broken away from the church he attended because they were disappointed and he asked John if he would come and speak to them. This must have been music to John’s ears. He asked the man where he lived and was told it was in a village a few stops away, along the railway line. John told him that he would be delighted to go but there was one difficulty – he had no money. The man told him he would be pleased to give him his fare if he would just come. He said he must come the following Friday, and that he was welcome to stay with him and his wife as long as he was there to help them.
Now he had no money in his pocket but he dare not spend a cent – so he went hungry another couple of days. On Friday he made his way to the man’s home, he was invited in and finally supper was served. When he was eating, the food was just enough to tantalise his hunger and it was unbearable. When he was handed an apple pie, cut into portions for the whole family, he could not control himself and ate the whole pie. The children’s eyes got bigger as they saw their share disappear.
This was the beginning of a wonderful mission. I think that 25 of those folk received the truth. Later he was told about someone in another town who was waiting for the True gospel. They loaned him a bicycle but they did not tell him that during the rainy season the mud clings to the wheels so badly that every few yards he had to clean them. Finally, at the top of yet another hill, seeing a village in the valley, he lay down the bicycle and walked down. He met a man and asked him if he knew where he could find shelter for the night. He had to get out of his wet clothes. The man showed him a house, half up the next hill and said, “Those people will take you in, they are kind to strangers." He walked on.
As he neared the farm house there was a man on the verandah who, stood up and welcomed him. He remarked, “I knew you would be coming, I saw you lay down your bike on the other hill and I knew someone would send you on here. Come on in and I’ll give you some dry clothes to put on. In fact I think you should stop here until the rain stops.” Well, it rained for another ten days and John talked to the farmer and his wife every day. At the end of the ten days, both the man and his wife expressed their desire to serve God and walk in the Truth.
In due time John’s new companion arrived and brought another tent for him. They decided to try having meetings in a certain village and look for a place to put up their tent. Just next to a blacksmith’s shop was an ideal place so they went in to get permission. Immediately John spoke to the man, he knew he was Irish, like himself *. Having enquired if they could put up the tent the man asked why? And John said, “We want to have some gospel meetings”. The blacksmith became angry and he said "See that door? Get out. I’ll have nothing to do with religion." They continued looking and finally when they got to the other side of the village, they asked permission again. The man said “why don’t you boys try the blacksmith, he has a nice piece of ground?” “Well” said John,” we already asked him and he chased us away.” “Oh yes I forgot, he’s a socialist and does not believe in God.”
John told his companion to wait for him there and he went back to the blacksmith’s shop, walked in, raised his hand and said “Democracy is the best form of government.” The two Irishmen* had a heated argument for the next hour then John said, “I’m so glad you have taken time to explain these things to me, you see, I was under the impression that there was no good at all in socialism, but now you have shown me that there is.” They spoke for another few minutes then the blacksmith said to him, “man go and put your tent up.” The only two who were helped in that mission were the blacksmith and his wife.
NOTE: It is not clear if these missions took place in New Zealand or Australia...
THE COMING OF THE GOSPEL TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND.
IN PART, AS RELAYED BY DEL SHEPHERD, 1978:
John Hardie came to Melbourne, Victoria in 1904 and held meetings in a tent at Oakleigh. His companion, S. Alexander left him and John went to New Zealand.
During 1905 – 1906 twenty workers came to Australia and New Zealand. Tom Turner, Jim McCreight, Laura Falkiner and Aggie Hughes landed in Western Australia. John Sullivan and J. Little along with Polly Hodgins and Lizzie Sargent went to Queensland. Those who went on to New Zealand were…Adam Huchison, Joe Williamson, John Fraser and Jim Hodgins. Also Annie Smith, Fannie Carroll, Maggie McDougall, and Frances Hodgins. All had a good year making a nice little convention possible.
1906 eight workers left Liverpool 10th November…Willie Hughes, Charlie Dubman, Dick McClure, Duncan McLachlan, George Harvey, Jim Cororan. Ida Davis and Sarah Kelly.
Mr & Mrs William Carroll arrived in Melbourne from the old country in the year 1913.
It was in the year 1908 that Adam Huchison and Jimmie Valance had their first mission in South Australia in Woodside. It was in this mission that Mr & Mrs Wuttke professed. “Papa & Mama,” Also Mrs Correll, Mrs Knuckey and two or three others who did not continue. The same year they had a mission in Forest Range pitching their tent on the property of Lottie and Lilly Collins on November 2 nd. This being the post office, Forest Range. Both sisters professed, also their sister Mrs Mary Mason, and brother Sam Collins with his children…Evelyn, Oscar and Stella. Also Mr and Mrs Fuston who had a young family of whom most in due course professed and continued faithfully. Likewise, Mrs Mason’s family professed.
In March 1909, the first convention in South Australia was held at Woodside, Workers present were Sam Jones, Syd Maynard, Tom Turner, Adam Huchison, Jim Valance, Willie Hughes, Laura Falkiner and Mr and Mrs Wilson McClung. Note - this convention was broken up by the local larrikins ere it had progressed very far.
In October 1909, Adam Huchison and Jim Valance held Gospel meetings in Harrogate, not far from Mt Torrens. Mr & Mrs Horace Collins, Mr & Mrs Tom Dixon, Mr & Mrs Will Collins, Mrs Fendler (and family of three who did not continue,) Mrs Wray and daughter Kitty Pearson, Mr & Mrs David Wilson and their children, Bob, Jack and Elizabeth, also May & Daisy. Mr & Mrs Peter Shepherd and their daughters Ruby and Del. Mr & Mrs Jim Shepherd and children Roy, Olive, Alan and Tom who lives in West Australia. Mrs Grace Shepherd senr. who was over 80 years of age being the mother of Peter and Jim Shepherd and of Mary Wilson. Mr David Wilson had held a prominent place in the local church. But after he and his wife and family professed, the church gradually came to a finish. During the latter part of this mission, Syd. Maynard joined Adam.
In 1909, the first Christmas Meeting was held in South Australia at Wattle Hill, Harrogate, under the sheoak and wattle trees outside the home of David and Mary Wilson.
In 1911 Oscar Collins, Jack Wilson and Stella Collins went into the work of the Gospel being the first to do so in South Australia. Aggie Huchison came out from Scotland to join Stella Collins. Ruby Shepherd and Florrie Thring went forth to preach in 1912. Stella and Elerrie went to Victoria and Ruby Shepherd joined Aggie Huchison in South Australia.
The first church to be established in South Australia was at Mr & Mrs Wuttke’s at Western Branch, Woodside. First Church in the suburbs of Adelaide was at Mrs Ben Wray’s home 71 Calton Avenue, Magill. The second church in the country was at Lottie and Lily Collins, Forest Range. The third church was at Mr & Mrs Horace Collins home, Tunkilla, S.Aust.
When Adam Huchison and Jim McCreight arrived in Nairn from Pt. Adelaide in 1908, they did not know just where to commence meetings. As they thought over this problem a piece of paper was blown by the wind near to where they were. On retrieving the paper they found it to contain a picture of a little girl presenting a bouquet of flowers to the Church of England Minister of Woodside. She was Mollie Correll, aged about 10 years. She was later on to become Mollie Wesley. Adam and companion were thus moved to go to Woodside and secured a cottage close by to Mrs Correll’s home. Each day Mrs Correll observed Adam and Jim carrying their firewood – so she offered them the use of the wheelbarrow. On each occasion when they returned the barrow they would invite Mrs Corell to the meeting. It was about this time that Jim McCreight gave up and Jimmie Valance came from New Zealand and joined Adam in his stead. Folks who were attending the mission dropped off, so then Mrs Correll went along and professed. Her daughter Mollie professed a few years later. Mollie’s daughter Aileen, “Mrs Colin Chapman,” also professed in due time.
During the first Harrogate mission Adam Huchison and Jim Valance slept in a haystack. The workers would not stay any longer than three weeks in one place. Two workers stayed in once place for six weeks and Adam asked if they were making their abode there. Adam and Jim would walk a seven-mile radius in order to invite people to the mission, and some of the folk walked seven miles to attend the meetings.
Peter Shepherd was given the choice when still a very young boy to do one of two things by this Father ... to be a doctor or to go to the back country to look after sheep. He chose to look after sheep. He went out and the only company he had were the blacks and his dog. He could neither read nor write, but took a New Testament with him and taught himself to read. He came to know the 10 th. Chpt. of Matthew and knew that Church Ministers of the day were not living in accordance to that which was written there. When eventually the truth came, even in the first meeting that Jim Valance and Adam Huchison had he felt quite sure that they were God’s true preachers speaking forth and revealing the way of God. Mrs Peter Shepherd asked Adam if there were any other people in the world that belonged to this faith and he said, “Yes, me and my companion,” She also asked “What are we going to do when you leave us,” Adam replied, “You know when a little lamb is born it cannot stand on its own feet, but it struggles about and has many falls, and it soon learns to stand on its own feet.”
Of all the people who professed in 1908, Del Shepherd, Mrs Horace Collins of South Aust. and Tom Shepherd of Western Aust. are the only one still living. The others have all passed away.
When Jim Valance fist joined Adam Huchison he said that he could not do much but he could give out the hymn books. He was a very humble man. When Adam and Jim Valance were at Woodside in 1908 a registered letter came for them. Adam could not pay the six pence due to receive the letters. Adam chopped some wood for the postmaster who then delivered the letter to Adam. Adam knew that the letter contained money and told the postmaster so, but never the less he had to chop the wood first in order to pay the fee owing on the letter.
AS RELAYED BY MOLLIE WESLEY, nee Correll, 25th January 1971:
Adam Huchison and Jim McCreight were the first workers to come to South Australia with the Gospel. On their arrival at Port Adelaide in 1908 from New Zealand, they walked up to Nairn in the Adelaide Hills. On their arriving in Nairn they were non-plussed as to where they should seek an opening for meetings. As they pondered over the problem, a piece of newspaper was blown by the wind in their vicinity. On retrieving this piece of paper, they found it contained a picture of a little girl with curls “Mollie Correll,” presenting a bouquet of flowers to the Church of England Minister of Woodside. This gave them the idea to go to Woodside, concluding that the people there must be very religious. They did not attempt to make immediate contact with the Corrells, but commenced meeting in the town. However, because of the hardships they began to suffer Jim McCreight gave up, and from that time nothing more is heard of him.
Jimmie Valance now appears as Adam’s companion. Adam had no money, but at that time a letter came to the Post Office for Adam. However, Adam was unable to pay the fee in order to receive the letter. Adam told the post Master that he was sure there was money in the letter. The Post Master informed Adam that he could not hand over the letter without first receiving payment of the fee. Adam chopped wood for the Post Master and earned the money needed. On opening the letter there was money enclosed.
Jimmie Valance used to borrow Mrs Correll’s wheelbarrow to cart wood. Each time that he returned the barrow Jimmie would invite Mrs Correll to the meetings. As a result of that mission, Papa & Mama Wuttke, their sons Harry and Willie and Mrs Correll professed, they being the first fruits unto God in South Australia. They now lie buried side by side in the Woodside Cemetery.
AS RELAYED BY MRS FRED PAYNE “Maggie”:
While in conversation with Joe Williamson during the 1958 Western Australian Convention, Joe told us, Nelson and I, that he came out to New Zealand from Scotland when he was just 21 years old. (No year given). Adam Huchison was his first companion. Joe’s words about Adam were… “Adam was a great man, I wish that I was as good”. Adam told me that when he came to South Australia from Victoria his companion was Bob McCrates. [Note: evidently his companion was Jim McCreight, Bob and Jim being the same person.] There was some doubt about Jim McCreight, so Adam said, “I will take the boy in hand and find him out,” Adam did so and Jim disappears from the scene.
Adam sent for Jimmy Valance to come from New Zealand and he and Jim worked the mission at Woodside. The first open home to come into being was Papa and Mama Wuttke’s. In November 1908 the same year Adam and Jimmie went to Forest Range and had a fruitful mission.
From Forest Range Adam and Jimmie went to Tungkilla for some relatives of Horace and Edith Collins. Edith’s mother, Mrs Wray decided, also Peter Shepherd and family, Tom Dison and his wife, Mrs Fendler, Jasper and Mabel, Mr Wilson and family. “Jasper and Mabel did not continue.” Late in 1909 they crossed over the River to tell Fulstons the Gospel. That is to tell it to some of them, but there was no response, so Adam & Jim recrossed the river. In January Adam and Syd. Maynard came to Rhine Villa now called Cambrai, and so the story of our salvation begins there. They only held one meeting in the local hall and were warned to get out. January 1910.
AS RELAYED BY NELSON RETCHFORD, April 1978:
The first convention to be held in South Australia was at Woodside in March 1909. The local people were very hostile and the convention was broken up. Rotten eggs were thrown at those who were attending. Baff Fulston who was but a babe in his mothers’ arms was struck by one of these missiles. It could have been worse, but a small boy to avoid a beating from his mother, “Mrs Correll,” revealed that hanging under the verandah of the next door was a basket of rotten eggs all ready for use that evening. Workers present at the Convention were Willie Hughes, Syd. Maynard, Tom Turner, Laura Falkiner and Mr & Mrs Wilson McClung. Willie Hughes stole out and quietly removed the basket of rotten eggs from the verandah. Later on in January 1910 the Cambrai mission was in like manner broken up. This after one meeting.
DATA RE THE GOSPEL COMING TO AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND
1904 John Hardie came to Melbourne in Victoria, and had meetings in a tent at Oakleigh. His companion, S. Alexander left him and John went to New Zealand. 1905 Workers came to Queensland - John Sullivan, J. Little, Polly Hodgins and Lizzie Sargent.
Workers to Western Australia - Tom Turner, Jim McCreight, Laura Falkiner and Aggie Hughes.
Workers to New Zealand - Adam Huchison and Joe Williamson ( Christchurch), Annie Smith and Fanny Carroll (Dunedin), Maggie McDougall and Frances Hodgins ( Christchurch). All these had a good year making a nice little convention possible.
1906 On the 10 th November eight workers left Liverpool. Willie Hughes, Charlie Dubman, Dick McClure, Duncan McLachlan, George Harvey, Jim Cororan, Ida Davis and Sarah Kelly. These held meetings in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney while the boat was in port. They arrived in Auckland, New Zealand, February 1907. They went to Wellington for Conventions.
1907 February, Convention in Wellington. Jim Hodgins died of TB that year.
After the Wellington convention John Hardie and Dick McClure came to Sydney, New South Wales. First fruits in NSW were Ruth and Ethel Harrison.
On March 14th Willie Hughes, Charlie Dubman, Adam Huchison and Archie Murray arrived in Melbourne. They lived in Footscray, Warrandyte.
September several professed at Warrandyte and Deer Park. A mission in a tent, Ballarat Street, Brunswick where Mrs McClure professed. Sandy Hines (sic Hinds), Sam McMullen, Bob Bashford and Sam Jones came to Melbourne helping in a tent mission in Brunswick. In Western Australia Syd. Maynard and Mrs Burgess professed…About six persons professed in Queensland.
1908 First convention in Australia at Northcote, Melbourne. Twenty-six workers were at this convention gathered from four Australian states and from New Zealand. Annie Smith & Fanny Carroll who came from New Zealand went with the first workers to Tasmania. Adam Huchison and Jim McCreight were the first to go to South Australia. Willie Hughes worked missions in Gippsland, Officer, Tooradin, Cranbourne and Springvale. A mission was worked in Tasmania by Annie Smith and Janet Kerr in Evandale and the Pattisons professed. In 1909 Jack, George, Maude, Mrs Patterson and Mrs Barker.
Missions at Sandy Creek and Stuart Mill - Wingfields and Harveys professed. Alice Begbie and Ida Davis worked these missions. In missions held by Laura Falkiner, Aggie Hughes, and Ada Cousins, Triggs and Holthams professed. Lizzie Sargent and Cis Taylor held a mission at Joyce’s Creek in which Camerson, Jirebners, McDonalds, Hawses, Jack Annand, Cissy Mount (Mrs Kirby) and Louie Mancy professed…Laura Falkiner and Aggie Hughes together. Edie Saddlier and Amy Patterson together. A Mission at Gnotuck where Crawfords Professed. Adam Huchison and Jim Valance held missions at Woodside and Forest Range, South Australia.
1909 Convention at Malvern, Woodside S. Aus. and Evandale Tasmania. Wilson McClung and Willie Hughes went to Woodside convention. However this convention was broken up by larrikins. Ada Cousins and Janet Kerr went to Tasmania. Annie Smith and Ada Cousins worked missions in Springfield, (Scotsdale) and Ralph, Rene and Oliver Beattie along with Briggs, Lesters, and Kingstons Professed. Ada Cousins and Lily Chelton worked a mission in Ryndaston, the Wooldridges, Mrs Brown and the Zantucks helped. Sam Jones and Bob Bashford went to West Australia. Tom Turner and Willie Hughes at Heidelberg where Mrs Fealey professed.
The Gospel Coming to Australia and New Zealand
1904: J. Hardie came to Melbourne, Victoria, had Meetings in tent in Oakleigh.
Companion, S. Alexander left him and John went to New Zealand.
1905: Workers came to Queensland – John Sullivan, J. Little. Sisters – Polly Hodgins and L. Sargent.
Workers to Western Australia – Tom Turner, and Jim McCreight, Laura Falkiner and Aggie Hughes.
To New Zealand - Adam Hutchison and Joe Williamson (Christchurch)
John Fraser and Jim Hodgins (Christchurch). Maggie McDougall and Frances Hodgins (Christchurch). Annie Smith and Fanny Carroll (Dunedin).
All had a good year making nice little Conventions possible.
1906: Eight Workers left Liverpool 10th Nov. Willie Hughes, Charlie Dubman, Dick McClure, Duncan McLachlan, George Harvey, Jim Corcoran, Ida Davis, and Sarah Kelly. These had Meetings in Adelaide, Melbourne and Sydney while the boat was in port. Arrived in Auckland N.Z. February, 1907.
Went to Wellington for Convention.
1907: February Convention at Wellington. Jim Hodgins died of T.B. that year.
After the Wellington Con. John Hardie and Dick McClure came to Sydney (N.S.W.).
First fruits in N.S.W. were Ruth and Ethel Harrison.
March 14th, Willie Hughes and Charlie Dubman, Adam Hutchison and Archie Murray arrived in Melbourne. These lived in Fitzroy.
Mission in Deer Park where Ada Cousins decided (First to decide in Australia), Ethel Cousins later. Missions at Footscay, Warrandyte (Sept). Several decided at Warrandyte and Deer Park.
Mission in tent in Ballarat Street, Brunswick where Mrs. McClure decided.
Sandy Hines (sic Hinds), Sam McMullen, Bob Bashford and Sam Jones came to Melbourne helping in a tent Mission in Brunswick.
Syd Maynard and Mrs. Burgess decided in West Aust. About six decided in Queensland.
1908: First Convention in Aust. at Northcote, Melb. There we 26 Workers at this Con. gathered from four Aust. States and N.Z.
Annie Smith and Fanny Carroll who came from N.Z. went with first Workers to Tasmania.
Adam Hutchison and Jim McCreight were the first to S.A.
Willie Hughes worked Missions in Gippsland, Officer, Tooradim, Cranbourne and Springvale.
In Tasmania, a Mission held at Evandale, worked by Annie Smith and Janet Kerr – the Patterson's decided. Jack, George, Amy, Maude, Mrs. Patterson and Mrs. Barker (1909).
Missions at Sandy Creek and Stuart Hill. Wingfields and Harveys decided.
Alice Begbie and Ida David worked these Missions.
Missions held by Laura Falkiner, Aggie Hughes, and Ada Cousins. Triggs and Holthams decided.
Mission at Joyce’s Creek held by Lizzie Sergent and Cis Taylor in which Camerons, Brebners, McDonalds Hawses, Jack Annand, Cissy Mount (Mrs. Kirby) and Louis Mancy decided.
Mission at Onetuck where Crawfords decided. Laura Falkiner and Aggie Hughes together and Eddie Saddlier and Amy Patterson together.
1909: Convention at Malvern, Woodside (South Aust) and Evandale, Tasmania.
Wilson McClung and Willie Hughes went to Woodside Con.
Ada Cousins and Janet Kerr to Tasmania.
Missions at Springfield (Scottsdale). Annie Smith and Ada Cousins worked the Mission. Briggs, Lesters, Kingstons, Beatties decided (Ralph, Rene and Oliver Beattie).
Ada Cousins and Lily Chelton also worked a Mission at Ryndaston – the Wooldridges, Mrs. Brown and the Zantucks helped.
Sam Jones and Bob Bashford to West. Australia.
Tom Turner and Willie Hughes at Heidelberg, where Mrs. Feeley decided.
