Winston O'Reilly
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.
The Reverend Winston D'Arcy O'Reilly | |
|---|---|
| Born | 24 April 1913 |
| Died | 16 January 2000 (aged 86) |
| 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) |
Education
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]
Career
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]
Family
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]
References
- Who's Who in Australia 1980 p. 651
- Eric G. Clancy (September 2002). "Methodist Leaders: The Presidents General Of The General Conference Of The Methodist Church Of Australasia, 1902-1977" (PDF). Church Heritage, 12, 4. pp. 224–242. Retrieved 7 December 2015.
- Wood, D'Arcy (3 February 2000). "Winston O'Reilly: Church leader 1913 - 2000". The Sydney Morning Herald. Sydney: Fairfax. p. 29. Retrieved 15 January 2013.