The Reverend Winston D'Arcy O'Reilly | |
---|---|
Born | 24 April 1913 |
Died | 16 January 2000 86) | (aged
Occupation | UCA minister |
Spouses |
|
Children | Elizabeth Walker, Robert O'Reilly, Geoffrey O'Reilly |
Parent(s) | Henry D'Arcy O’Reilly (merchant) and Lillian Edith O’Reilly (nee Brasnett) |
Relatives | A. Harold Wood (uncle), H. D'Arcy Wood (cousin) |
Winston D'Arcy O'Reilly OBE was a Methodist and then Uniting Church in Australia (UCA) minister and the second President of the UCA Assembly.
O'Reilly went to North Sydney Boys High School, [1] leaving at 14 years of age. Returning to Sydney after a trip to Europe, he studied for the Leaving Certificate at night school. He attended Wesley College, University of Sydney, and received a BA (1935) and MA (1937), before training for the Methodist ministry at Leigh College. He later completed a Master of Arts in Christian Education (1962) and MEd (1963). [2]
At 14, O'Reilly started training as carpenter and at 16 travelled to England as companion and carer to a man with a disability. [2] [3] After his ordination he was the minister at a number of Methodist churches throughout New South Wales, later taking positions with the Methodist Conference and Methodist schools and higher education (including Vice Principal of Leigh College, 1949–1959; Principal of Methodist Ladies' College, Burwood, 1960–1965; [3] Connexional Secretary, 1964–1974; Secretary of Conference, 1968; President of Conference, 1969; Secretary General, 1972–1974; President-General, 1975–1977. [2]
O'Reilly played a key role in planning for the formation of the Uniting Church in Australia as Planning Officer for Union of Congregational, Methodist and Presbyterian Churches (1974-1977), then became the first General Secretary of the Uniting Church in Australia (1977-1979) and second President of the Assembly (1979-1982). [2] [3]
Internationally he was a Member of Presidium, World Methodist Council, 1975–1980. [2]
Through discussions with Labor's attorney-general, Lionel Murphy, about reform of the divorce laws he had considerable influence on the Family Law Act 1975. [3]
He was founding member of the NSW Council of Social Service and one of the founders of the Australian Council of Social Service (ACOSS, he later became ACOSS's chairman). [3]
He was married twice, on 23 March 1939 at Roseville, New South Wales to Doreen 'Dorn' Doyle (died 2 December 1974) with three children and in 1976 to Nancye Ruth Haines (died 23 November 2011). [2]
O'Reilly's parents were Henry D'Arcy O’Reilly (merchant, he was a haberdasher near Chatswood Station [3] } and Lillian Edith O’Reilly (née Brasnett). His father was the brother-in-law of A. Harold Wood, whose son, D'Arcy Wood, was the sixth President of the Uniting Church in Australia Assembly.
A daughter and a grandson are Uniting Church ministers. [3]
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