Leading from the front issuu

DRIVEN TO ANSWER NEEDS
by james barnes
I first met Pat Magill in 1971 when I moved from Gisborne
to Napier to start work at the Engine Rebuilders Parts
Department, which was right next to Magill Carpets on
Taradale Road. So, I have had the privilege of knowing
Pat for almost 50 years and have always seen him as a
mentor. (Jes Magill recently reminded me that the family
still refer to me as Pat’s fourth son!)
I came to Napier with experience in setting up a youth
club that operated out of the Gisborne YMCA. It was because
of this connection that I was introduced to Pat by
Ray Duncan, whose family owned Engine Rebuilders.
And as they say, “the rest is history”. So here is the history
…
Pat and I “clicked” straight away. Pat was president of
the Napier YMCA and had produced a city-wide survey
on youth services which was conducted by CEO Colin
Coates. While Coates produced an excellent study, Pat
was not confident he could implement its main finding
which was that there was a need for a place where under
privileged youth could meet in safety. With my experience
setting up a youth club, Pat asked me if I would
like to head up a team to open up a drop-in centre in
the old city library, upstairs on the corner of Hastings
and Tennyson Street, and so the Downtown Y was born
that year.
It was at the Downtown Y that I met people some
amazing people. I can’t remember all their names but
legends like Chris and Pat Mill, Wally Hunt, Wendy Lee,
Baeden Batt and Doug Fraser, stand out. We were all
volunteers and along with a host of other volunteers
who are all worthy of praise, we got on with each other
to establish a safe place for the youth of Napier to congregate.
The result was that in 1978 The Downtown Y
received a Governor General’s Citation and Pat received
an OBE in that years New Year’s Honours. Wally, Chris
and I used to joke that OBE was short for ‘other buggers
efforts’. I hasten to add that was said in complete
jest because we know how long Pat had campaigned
for the establishment of the Downtown Y and we were
just lucky to be in the right place at the right time to be
a part of it.
During the years that the DTY was situated in the old
library building, my association with Pat caused me a
little bit of grief with my employer, the Department of Social
Welfare. My commitment to Pat’s cause sometimes
irritated senior management and earned me the reputation
of being a maverick. I went to a meeting in Wellington
once and my reputation had preceded me. Pat used
to call me a ‘freak’, in a good way. No matter how much
the Department of Social Welfare tried to intimidate me
to follow the ‘rules’ I didn’t lose focus assisting Pat with
the Downtown Y.
Since those early days, I have kept in touch with Pat
and his family. It has been a privilege to support him with
regular donations in his commitment to establishing
Napier as a Pilot City for youth and Restorative Justice.
Pat came to my 70th birthday celebration a few years
ago in Gisborne which was put on by the YMCA to also
celebrate my 50-year involvement with the association.
And in a small way I have emulated my mentor’s track
record with the Y. We have both been presidents of a
YMCA (me in Wellington), both have been on the national
board and both are life members. I am proud of my
association with Pat because his lifelong commitment to
the causes he believes in, has had a major impact on my
life. His unrelenting drive in the face of many disappointments
is just so inspirational.
Kia kaha Pat, Arohanui
Gerry Gibbs, James Barnes and Pat Magill, at James’ 70th birthday celebration at the YMCA Gisborne.
82
Napier YMCA transformed and the Downtown Y is born