Abstract of Christopher Rex LEE, 2021
Item — Box: 34
Identifier: H02210002
Abstract
H0221 LEE, Christopher Lex
Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen
Abstractor: Judith Christie
Interview date: 1 September 2014
TRACK ONE
0.0 Interview identification
1.0 Born WHANGEREI in 1957, attended primary school, shifted to HAMILTON and attended secondary school there. Joined POLICE as cadet in Wellington, then went back to Hamilton, had first child, transferred to KAIKOE. Promoted to MASTERTON as Sergeant, then to ROTORUA. Three children, divorced. Promoted to TOKOROA, remarried. Shifted to Tauranga, left Police after 26 years.
2.30 Trained for ministry in Auckland at PENROSE BAPTIST COLLEGE. Called to EASTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH in INVERCARGILL.
3.00 Became Policeman on a whim, after representative from Police came to his school. Policing different then. Traffic policing was not part of policing, so dealt with crime in smaller towns. Involved in youth aid, crime control unit, team policing. Encountered different strata of society. Policing makes you cynical. Life as a minister has meant he treats people differently. Would not recommend policing to anyone, as it makes them cynical and affects their life. Different culture now.
7.15 RATIO OF WOMEN TO MEN IN POLICE in 1974 was starting to increase, and women slowly worked up through the ranks. Police mainly white, but in South Auckland more Maori and Pacifica police.
8.15 Moved to INVERCARGILL 12 years ago. Finished training, and went into a pool so churches looking for pastors could approach them. Came to work in Glengarry, realised it was a perfect match for them. Wife now works for mental health. Both work in the community. Person who brought them down didn’t want to drive them through Glengarry at the start, but they were attracted by a place that looked like Tokoroa.
10.45 Had mentoring as a new pastor, and had further training for two years. BRIAN KENNING from Central Baptist was his mentor. People very supportive.
12.00 Church in Glengarry passionate about community. Church was originally situated in HAWTHORNDALE, called EAST ROAD INTERNATIONAL MISSION. Became HAWTHORNDALE BAPTIST CHURCH but shifted when houses built in Glengarry and became the GLENGARRY BAPTIST CHURCH. At one time 200 kids in the Sunday School. Church became out of touch with community, so changed to meet its needs. Called KEITH HARRINGTON from Tasmania who came to start a new church called EASTSIDE. All resources then went to Eastside. Some congregants have been through all those changes, including GEORGE AND BRENDA HICKS, in their 90s. Keith Harrington moved to North Island, and the Lees then took over.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
0.00 Holistic approach to pastoring. Not just Sundays. DROP IN CENTRE on a Wednesday. Church services provide a sense of belonging and community. CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES running, with 30 children attending. WOMEN’S MINISTRIES, including training mothers for the workforce. Possible ADDICTION SUPPORT GROUP. PRE-SCHOOL GROUPS. JUBILEE BUDGETING use the buildings, along with health and gambling services. Find a place to meet any needs.
4.45 GALA DAYS held which help to reverse negative ideas people have of Glengarry. GLENGARRY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP set up.
5.15 Other role of the church is ADVOCACY – poor people have no voice. Believes that Glengarry is treated less well than more affluent areas of the city. Suburban shops do struggle because of centralisation, but this is starting to improve.
8.00 Glengarry has a lot more confidence since the Lees arrived – more people are choosing to live in Glengarry. Population less transient. TWO STOREYED FORMER STATE HOUSES now owned by absentee landlords who do not take care of them. Was known for gang fights etc. but this is no longer the case. Used a section of burned out former gang house to change into a COMMUNITY GARDEN.
11.00 Glengarry is its own place. People who are up against it more inclined to work together.
13.40 Perception about Glengarry from other Invercargill residents – would like to think it has changed, but not sure that it has. Doing their bit to do so.
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE
0.0 CAROLINE HOLMES and ART MURALS provides an identity for Glengarry.
0.30 Church will continue to reach out to people who are marginalised. Glengarry will continue to be a WORKING CLASS SUBURB, and proud of it. Good shopping centre. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SPCA, SECOND HAND STORES, almost a destination shopping centre.
2.20 When Bupa built NEW OLD PEOPLES HOME nearby, stated SHOPPING CENTRE in the vicinity, and people assumed this was WINDSOR.
4.00 Important to live in the community that you serve.
Interviewer: Rebecca Amundsen
Abstractor: Judith Christie
Interview date: 1 September 2014
TRACK ONE
0.0 Interview identification
1.0 Born WHANGEREI in 1957, attended primary school, shifted to HAMILTON and attended secondary school there. Joined POLICE as cadet in Wellington, then went back to Hamilton, had first child, transferred to KAIKOE. Promoted to MASTERTON as Sergeant, then to ROTORUA. Three children, divorced. Promoted to TOKOROA, remarried. Shifted to Tauranga, left Police after 26 years.
2.30 Trained for ministry in Auckland at PENROSE BAPTIST COLLEGE. Called to EASTSIDE BAPTIST CHURCH in INVERCARGILL.
3.00 Became Policeman on a whim, after representative from Police came to his school. Policing different then. Traffic policing was not part of policing, so dealt with crime in smaller towns. Involved in youth aid, crime control unit, team policing. Encountered different strata of society. Policing makes you cynical. Life as a minister has meant he treats people differently. Would not recommend policing to anyone, as it makes them cynical and affects their life. Different culture now.
7.15 RATIO OF WOMEN TO MEN IN POLICE in 1974 was starting to increase, and women slowly worked up through the ranks. Police mainly white, but in South Auckland more Maori and Pacifica police.
8.15 Moved to INVERCARGILL 12 years ago. Finished training, and went into a pool so churches looking for pastors could approach them. Came to work in Glengarry, realised it was a perfect match for them. Wife now works for mental health. Both work in the community. Person who brought them down didn’t want to drive them through Glengarry at the start, but they were attracted by a place that looked like Tokoroa.
10.45 Had mentoring as a new pastor, and had further training for two years. BRIAN KENNING from Central Baptist was his mentor. People very supportive.
12.00 Church in Glengarry passionate about community. Church was originally situated in HAWTHORNDALE, called EAST ROAD INTERNATIONAL MISSION. Became HAWTHORNDALE BAPTIST CHURCH but shifted when houses built in Glengarry and became the GLENGARRY BAPTIST CHURCH. At one time 200 kids in the Sunday School. Church became out of touch with community, so changed to meet its needs. Called KEITH HARRINGTON from Tasmania who came to start a new church called EASTSIDE. All resources then went to Eastside. Some congregants have been through all those changes, including GEORGE AND BRENDA HICKS, in their 90s. Keith Harrington moved to North Island, and the Lees then took over.
End of Track One
TRACK TWO
0.00 Holistic approach to pastoring. Not just Sundays. DROP IN CENTRE on a Wednesday. Church services provide a sense of belonging and community. CHILDREN’S PROGRAMMES running, with 30 children attending. WOMEN’S MINISTRIES, including training mothers for the workforce. Possible ADDICTION SUPPORT GROUP. PRE-SCHOOL GROUPS. JUBILEE BUDGETING use the buildings, along with health and gambling services. Find a place to meet any needs.
4.45 GALA DAYS held which help to reverse negative ideas people have of Glengarry. GLENGARRY COMMUNITY ACTION GROUP set up.
5.15 Other role of the church is ADVOCACY – poor people have no voice. Believes that Glengarry is treated less well than more affluent areas of the city. Suburban shops do struggle because of centralisation, but this is starting to improve.
8.00 Glengarry has a lot more confidence since the Lees arrived – more people are choosing to live in Glengarry. Population less transient. TWO STOREYED FORMER STATE HOUSES now owned by absentee landlords who do not take care of them. Was known for gang fights etc. but this is no longer the case. Used a section of burned out former gang house to change into a COMMUNITY GARDEN.
11.00 Glengarry is its own place. People who are up against it more inclined to work together.
13.40 Perception about Glengarry from other Invercargill residents – would like to think it has changed, but not sure that it has. Doing their bit to do so.
End of Track Two
TRACK THREE
0.0 CAROLINE HOLMES and ART MURALS provides an identity for Glengarry.
0.30 Church will continue to reach out to people who are marginalised. Glengarry will continue to be a WORKING CLASS SUBURB, and proud of it. Good shopping centre. HABITAT FOR HUMANITY, SPCA, SECOND HAND STORES, almost a destination shopping centre.
2.20 When Bupa built NEW OLD PEOPLES HOME nearby, stated SHOPPING CENTRE in the vicinity, and people assumed this was WINDSOR.
4.00 Important to live in the community that you serve.
Dates
- 2021
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The contents of Southland Oral History Project collections are subject to the conditions of the Copyright Act 1994. Please note that in accordance with agreements held with interviewees additional conditions regarding the reproduction [copying] and use of items in the Southland Oral History Project collections may apply. Please contact the Southland Oral History Project Coordinator for further information at sohp@ilibrary.co.nz.
Extent
From the Record Group: 1 folder(s)
Language of Materials
From the Record Group: English
Creator
- From the Record Group: Amundsen, Rebecca (Interviewer, Person)
Repository Details
Part of the Southland Oral History Project Repository
