Diverse past of Army chaplain

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 7, Issue 337, 29 May 1990, Page 6

Diverse past of Army chaplain

BY

CLARE

FENN

Ron Cotton, the Waiouru Anglican Army Chaplain, has packed more into his 50 years than most people would in a lifetime.

Born in Nelson, Ron left school to pursue an amazing variety of jobs. He became a messenger boy, timber worker and butcher's assistant to garage assistant and cement worker. At the age of twenty - seven Ron underwent a "radical conversion" which lead him to seven years of study at Bible College. After a number of years as curate and vicar in various parishes he joined the

army as a chaplain. At present Ron is in his third year of a five year contract with the Army. He divides his time between commitments to army personnel and his civilian parish. As Anglican chaplain, Ron primarily tries to be "a man of God". He is called upon to do personal and marriage counselling, pastoral visiting of both units and the parish and to eonduct services in the field and at St James Church. Ron organises the music for Children's Hour which is run on Mondays after school, baptisms and also grief counselling. A great deal of his time is spent on teaching programmes with army personnel. Character guidance is taught to R.F. and T.F. cadets and O.C.S. He takes the Padre's hour where he teaches basics on how to develop their own values. Ron said he is sometimes used as a sounding board on personnel matters by officers who may require a second opinion. As an ambassador for the army Ron attends archdeaconry meetings and the bi-annual Anglican Synod. Ron attends Clergy School

once a year for continuing training and the army requires him to do courses about alcohol and drug abuse counselling , computers and moral leadership. A major role for an army chaplain is to be 'encouraging', so Ron's own morale must be seen to be high at all times. Apart from all this Ron writes articles for the army paper and parish newsletter, and conducts graduation services. Overall Ron says that he has learnt a lot and that it's an excellent job. "But because of my age I think my five year term in the Army will be enough. I've had great opportunities that ordinary priests wouldn't normaliy have. It's a privilege to be in touch with the young people of New Zealand." What will Ron Cotton be doing when he leaves the army? "only the good Lord knows," says Ron.