PADRE CARRIES A GUITAR

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31118, 22 July 1966, Page 3

PADRE CARRIES A GUITAR

(Special Correspondent N.Z.P.A.)

BA RIA, July 21. A guitar-strumming churchman who has a parish extending over miles of rubber plantations, paddy fields and bamboo belts is the New Zealand

padre in South Vietnam, the Rev. A. S. McKenzie, of Papakura. The Christchurch High School old boy, who was based with the Army at Waiouru and Papakura before joining the New Zealand battery in South Vietnam, travels through his parish by utility

vehicle, armoured carrier and helicopter.

He goes on patrols with New Zealanders, Australians and Americans with his guitar slung over his back and a jungle hat perched at a rakish angle on his head. His parish has ranged from the far south of South Vietnam to near the Cambodian border.

“it’s a great experience and I’m thoroughly enjoying it,” he said. Relaxing on a pile of sandbags during a brief visit to the New Zealand camp today, he patted his guitar: ‘This is worth its weight in gold. I’d be the most unpopular man in the task force if it was broken.”

He has asked the R.S.A. for a small organ for the All Saints’ Chapel, a converted shed at the task force area at Ba Ria.

Until the organ arrives the guitar will serve instead. the padre has become known to the battery, and even wider afield, as Ringo. “On some patrols I've strummed up a light number on Sunday mornings and the heads appear at tent entrances like rabbits in a warren. “I don’t give heavy hymns, just a light Peter, Paul and Mary number or something similar.

‘They really pile out of the tents. It does you good to see it.

“The Americans surprised me, they’re avid churchgoers, only too keen for singsong tunes.”

On some patrols though the padre has gone deep in Viet Cong country where loud singing could attract bullets or a mortar shell.

“We’ve had the sing-along banned a few times and once we were told to sing in whispers,” he. said.

Mr McKenzie moves between units in the task force area, swapping with Australian padres. He is the task force padre for Protestant denominations and he covers the area with the Australian Roman Catholic and two Church of England padres.