"One of the Family"

Radio Record, Volume VII, Issue 14, 13 October 1933, Unnumbered Page

"One of the Family"

"Uncle George" Farewelled by 2YA Church | Advisory Committee KNOWN and loved, if only by voice, by thousands of children throughout New Zealand, "Uncle George," of 2YA (Pastor W. G. Carpenter), who has conducted the Sunday evening service for childrén ati 2YA, has been forced to give up this work owing ‘to his approaching departure from: Wellington. At the October meeting of the 2YA Chureh Service Advisory Committee, held on Tuesday, October 3, the members tock the opportunity of farewelling Uncle George, and of voicing their appreciation of the work he has' done in the interests of children listenevs-in.

The station manager, Mr. J. Ball, read the following letter from the: general manager of the Broadcasting Board (Mr. EB. C. Hands) :- My board learns with regret that you will be leaving shortly for Auckland, and that you wish to be relieved of the work of conducting the evening song service at 2YA .,.1 am directed to express my board’s sincere thanks on behalf of listeners for the interest you have shown in the work, and for the trouble you have taken in conducting this service. We feel assured: that your unselfish and voluntary efforts have afforded enjoyment and valuable teaching not only-to children but also io many adults. It is the earnest wish of my board and the management that you enjoy every success in your new sphere, "I desire,’ said Mr Ball, "to associate myself and the officers of 2YA with this expression of appreciation of the service which Pastor Carpenter, in the role of Uncle George, has go long and faithfully-so ably and so sue-cessfully-rendered in connection with our children’s sessions. It has been a labour of love, gladly rendered in the service of Him who placed the children in the forefront of the Kingdom of Heaven. Sunday after Sunday, except on the rare occasions when his clerical duties have called him elsewhere, he has been faithful to hig selfimposed task, Never once hag he

failed his listeners, though there must have been times when the service was conducted only at great personal inconvenience, Yet I am confident that he will be the first to concede that in so freely giving of his best he himself has been greatly blessed. In thousands of homes throughout the length and breadth of this Dominion the name of Uncle George is a household word. Through the wonderful intimacy ofthe radio broadcasting service he has come to be regarded by many of hig listeners as ‘one of the family’-an unseen but much-loved guide, philosopher and friend of children of all ages, From them and from their parents he has received abundant evidence of their gratitude for his ministry, and now that he is about to relinquish his task he will be able to enjoy and cherish the rich reward which only selfless service can achieve-the knowledge that to live in the hearts of those we love is not to die." The chairman of the committee, Mr. C. V. Rooke (Church of England), said that he could do no more than endorse Mr, Ball’s remarks. "We want you," he said, "to take up to Auckland with you our good wishes; and we trust that you will have as happy a time there as you have had here," : The Other members of the committee

also expressed their good wishes, and their hopes that Pastor Carpenter would be successful ‘in his. new work, In reply,,"Uncle George" said: "I have to thank-you very sincerely for your kind expressions of appreciation and goodwill, To mie it has been a joy to do the work of conducting the Sunday children’s session, and your words of appreciation touch me deeply, because they come from my brethren in the ministry who know the work of preparation entailed in a continual service such as this has been. That the listeners have also appreciated it is evidenced by the many letters that have reached me from every part: of New Zealand, the Chatham: Islands, Australia and Tasmania. My correspondents have ranged from 95 years of age to little children just able. to write. It has been truly a labour: of love, and I have the knowledge that young and old have profited by the simple message of the Gospel. One cannot relinquish a work like this without a2 pang of regret, but my departure from Wellington has rendered it inevitable. .I can but hope that, an opportunity will arise for me to give a further contribution, perhaps even a more worthy one than.I have given here, to the cause we all have at heart." wet