Leading from the front issuu

homelessness. There was also a recognition that many of
the young people in greatest need were Māori.
Pat was a leader in bringing these new societal needs
and challenges to the attention of the national movement.
He spoke emotionally and forcefully at the 1973 conference,
supported by Wendy Lee. Others of us heard the
challenge and responded with interest. Together we envisaged
a new sort of YMCA engagement with communities,
while maintaining the baseline of existing programmes.
But others at the meeting were not convinced, and expressed
concern at the possibility of the revenue base of
their YMCA being eroded substantially if attention was allowed
to drift too far away from the traditional offerings.
The Auckland YMCA was a leader of that perspective.
Nevertheless, the die was cast. The diploma training
programme took root and developed. YMCAs began to
employ its graduates on staff to initiate and develop new
types of community activity. The national YMCA office itself
started to develop innovative ideas such as the RY-
DUM programme using mini motorbikes to attract youth
into structured activity. Detached youth workers became
part of the scene in several YMCAs.
I remained as the chair of the National Executive Committee
until mid-1981, when I left to study in the USA, so
I had a lot to do with Pat over those formative years. He
came to Wellington often to join in at executive meetings,
and also to talk with Peter Darracott and others on the national
staff. Pat had been part of the establishment of the
Downtown Y, a drop-in centre for Napier youth and also
its outreach programmes. He developed strong linkages
with local Māori, but also retained his involvement with
the RSA and often brought the two together. As National
President he was strongly supportive of the new initiatives
that Peter Darracott and others were implementing and
he travelled the country to visit other YMCAs to promote
them to boards and staff for take-up. He ran into resistance
in several places, not just Auckland, and ‘gave as good
as he got’—strongly talking about the societal problems
that needed addressing and promoting innovation and
change, while listening carefully to others’ points of view.
Pat’s contribution to the YMCA movement in New Zealand
has truly been enormous over the years that I was involved
with him. He has been an inspiration to the many people
he met in ‘the Y’, myself included, and I remain in awe of
his dedication and contribution over the years. Of course
his work has extended way beyond the YMCA itself, such
as his contribution to justice reform in New Zealand and
the Napier Pilot City Trust. My impression however is that
it was the Y that gave Pat the base for development of his
ideas and the initial opportunity to put them into practice.
AN UNFORGETTABLE
EXPERIENCE
by rob magill
In January 1972 the Napier YMCA organised a second
walk around Lake Waikaremoana, and because Pat was
involved with the YMCA, I was lucky to be one of the
50 walkers who enjoyed the mostly leisurely three to
four day circuit. Supplies and packs were transported
by boats, and we even had Napier MP Gordon Christie
as one of the cooks. We were a cross-section of people
of all ages, with time to get to know one another as
we walked the great outdoors. When we returned to our
respective homes afterwards, most of us would have
agreed that we’d experienced something very special.
Top: YMCA Hawke’s Bay, resting up before the next big challenge; Below: A breath-taking example of pristine native forest, and not
too far from Napier, is Lake Waikaremoana, in Te Urewera National Park. Pat organised two walks around the lake and many people
still talk about these experiences. They certainly must have been magical. Photo by Anne Johnston.
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Napier YMCA transformed and the Downtown Y is born