Ronald MALPASS Obituary

We have very fond memories of our days spent together in Samoa, in the seventies.I was privileged to work with Ron ( in a part time capacity) and remember the times Kay and I spent at the beach in Apia with Tanya, Amanda and Leigh. Although we lost touch we were so interested to read of all his lifetime achievements! Ron always thought of others .. a caring and kind friend. Val

Thinking and praying for you, Kay and whanau. Ron was a treasure AND you supporting him. God bless you all. Jon Boyes. John McCaul

Below is the official Minute recording the ICHC's appreciation for Ron when he retired from the National Executive Officer role in October 2013.
"Minute to record the contribution of Mr Ronald William Malpass JP as National Executive Officer of the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy in New Zealand

Motion: That we record our thanks and appreciation of Mr Ronald William Malpass JP for thirteen years of service as National Executive Office of the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy in New Zealand.

When Ron Malpass was appointed to the role of Executive Officer for the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy in the year 2000 he brought with him a wealth of experience in the charitable sector and in the public service. Below is a summary of that experience and up to the present including his time with ICHC:

o 1965 - 1990 (25 years) in NZ Public Service

1965 -1972 worked in various branches of the Department of Labour
1973-76 Second Secretary-Immigration Attache, NZ High Commission, Apia, Samoa also covering Tonga.
1976-77 Private Secretary to Minister of Health and Immigration, Hon Frank Gill MP
1978-1980 Assistant Director of Immigration, Department of Labour Head Office
1981-82. First Secretary-Chief Migration Officer, NZ High Commission, London, United Kingdom, managing the Government´s "Think Big" specialist recruitment programmes
1983-1987 Assistant Director of Immigration, (Special Duties)
1977-1987 continued working closely with the UN High Commission for Refugees visiting camps in South East Asia for short periods over 11 years and arranging international travel for refugees
1987-1990 Manager of Permanent Migration and Refugee Services in the restructured NZ Immigration Service. Also a member of the Interdepartmental and UNHCR Committee considering applications for the grant of Refugee Status.

o 1990- 2013 ( 23 years) in Non-Government Agencies

1990 to 2000 Director of the Wellington branch of the Open Home Foundation of NZ Inc. a Christian Child and Family support service. Served on the Boards of several social service agencies and was an on-call traumatic incident counsellor for several secondary schools in the Wellington region. Served on an Advisory committee chaired by the Commissioner for Children, Laurie O´Reilly. Worked closely with the Family Court providing foster care and social work support for children and their families.

2000-2013 National Executive Officer, for the Interchurch Council for Hospital Chaplaincy Trust Board, which provides chaplaincy services for the NZ Government in 49 public hospitals across the country, through 90 qualified chaplains and 310 volunteer Chaplaincy Assistants.

o Other activities

1969-1975 NZ Territorial Army, NCO in 2 Comm-zone Signal Squadron
1983 to 1999 together with my wife Kay and two daughters we fostered many children
1997 appointed a Justice of the Peace
1998-2001 Methodist Church representative on the Board and Executive of the Refugee and Migrant Service and also became a foundation Trustee of the "Refugees as Survivors Trust" which served former refugees who were victims of torture and abuse.
1999 to 2002 President of the NZ Lay Preachers Association
2004-05 served as President of the NZ Methodist Church-Te Haahi Weteriana o Aotearoa.
2012 - present a member of the Council of Elders of the Methodist Church.

When younger Ron played and refereed both cricket and rugby and enjoyed tramping and continues to enjoy walking and watching a range of sports. Ron has a love of NZ History and a considerable library of NZ History and Church History Books currently serving as the Wellington representative of the Wesley Historical Society of NZ.

During his time as Executive Officer Ron has guided the ICHC through many rounds of negotiation with the Ministry of Health at the National Government level and with local Health Boards. There have been many changes of structure in Health Administration including Regional Health Authorities, Crown Health Enterprises, the Health Funding Authority and now District Health Boards. There have been times of real challenge and constraint with ICHC funding shifting from an annual contract and population based, and to the current situation with longer term funding contracts but without CPI adjustments. During all this time and with the different bodies and situations faced, Ron has been an effective advocate for Hospital Chaplaincy.

There have been many comings and goings as new Chaplains have been appointed and long serving Chaplains have retired or moved on. The oversight of personnel changes for an organisation like the ICHC is hugely challenging, with Chaplaincy services operating from Whangarei to Invercargill. Ron has had an involvement in virtually every one of those personnel movements and his guidance and wisdom has been much appreciated by the Local Support Committees involved.

The Executive and the wider Board of Trustees have appreciated the way Ron has served as the team leader and visible expression of the ICHC at Head Office and for many people and organisations up and down the country. We are happy to acknowledge and honour him for all he has contributed to this significance expression of Ecumenical ministry of the Christian Churches in New Zealand. Thank you Ron, and well done good and faithful servant.

Moved: Alex Czerwonka, Chairman ICHC
October 2013"

We are sorry to hear of Ron's passing. Our thoughts are with you all.

It´s never been easy to say goodbye to one so loved and now is no exception. To know he is safe in the arms of his Lord warms my heart like nothing else. Kay, Tania and Rochelle you are the loves of his life and through your (and our) memories he will live on. Sending bigs hugs as you learn to navigate this new season.

Goodbye Ron, dear friend

Great memories of a fun loving guy at Taranaki St Methodist Youth Group many years ago-may he be at peace-thoughts and love are with Rons family.

Ron was a special man to so many. We have many special memories of Ron and the wider family during our years at Wesley Centre. From fun times at Bible Class camps to the shows Ron was in for Youth group. He was an avid supporter of us all in Girls Brigade and I can see him standing up in Church promoting Chocolate Almonds and telling everyone they had to buy them. In later years Ron was an amazing support to Kay and Lynn B in their work with Girls Brigade. We would like to pass on our love to Kay, Tanya, Rochelle and families. Love the Edser family.

To Kaye and family,
My memories of Ron are strong as are yours. What a good life he led and it is a parting of your ways and so much of Ron will still carry on. He will be safe and ahppy where he is now and no more illness which will be such a relief for him. May you journey on with the strength of 'God with you' till you meet again.

Sorry to hear of Ron´s passing. Our thoughts are with you all.

So sorry to hear of Ron´s passing.
Death leaves a heartache no one can heal, love leaves a memory no one can steel.
Thinking of you all at this sad time.
Jenny & Craig Newport (née McLean).

Sorry to learn of Ron's passing. Many memories of Woolston days. Sincere condolences to Kay & family.

Very sad to read of Ron's passing. The Jamieson family sympathies to Kay and family.