Church Farewells Rev. R. K. Dobson

Northern Advocate, 23 August 1948, Page 5

Church Farewells Rev. R. K. Dobson

The Rev. R. K. Dobson, who has been assistant curate at Christ Church, Whangarei, for the past 13 months, has received the first chaplain’s appointment yet made under the new military scheme for training cadets for the New Zealand Regular Army. Mr Dobson will leave Whangarei this week to take up his new duties at Trentham Military Camp.

No stranger to the Army, Mr Dobson spent some time as chaplain in the Middle East during the year. Later he was appointed a senior chaplain with J Force before returning to New Zealand. Mr Dobson’s new appointment is for a term of live years, and his rank of Chaplain, fourth closs, will be equivalent to a captaincy. Yesterday afternoon, Whangarei parishioners farewelled Mr Dobson at a function presided over by Archdeacon A. E. Prebble in the Parish Hall, On behalf of Whatitiri residents, Mr C. Norris presented a silver tea tray and a crystal bowl, and h leather wallet was given by Mr G. Draper on behalf of Portland parishioners. PRESENTATIONS The people’s warden (Mr J. T. Small) presented a silver tea service and a cheque as farewell gifts from church members throughout Whangarei and surrounding districts. Mr Small made special reference to Mr Dobson’s excellent work for the parish during his term in Whangarei. He remarked that the parish staff was now reduced to two, but the vacancy caused by Mr Dobson’s departure would not be filled until the end of the year. In making the presentation, all the speakers included Mr Dobson’s fiancee, Miss Eileen Oddy, in their good wishes. Accepting the gifts, Mr Dobson remarked that, although he was looking forward to taking up his chaplaincy, he nevertheless deeply regretted leaving Whangarei.