InAugustof1973,aged18, Iattended
my first fireside, unaware of what
I was going to hear. After the brief
presentationIdeclared,mylifeforever
changedas I followedmyheart.
GregParkerwasoneoftheyouthattendingthe
firesides I thenwent to,mostoften theOlsen’s
on Friday nights in South Perth. I could not
understandwhyGregdidn’tget it!He justkept
askingquestions.Week afterweek. Itwas as if
he was determined to prove this Baha’i Faith
was wrong, and his churchwas right. Then -
somesixmonths laterhe ‘got it’! Anddeclared.
Greg and I were often together in youth
teaching teams that went south or north in
thoseearlyyearsofourBaha’i lives.Greg,Kevin
Croft andmy thenhusband Johnwereall keen
fishermen, and together regularly went in
searchof that big catchon aweekend. My cat
wasoften thehappy recipientof their catch.
Greg’s loving actions often have lasting
influences on people of all ages. One day
Greg gavemy daughter Jessica a small tree - a
Eucalyptus Caesia, commonly called a Silver
Princess. Jess (about 9 years old), planted and
watered that little tree, which grew to be a
verybig,weeping treeon the front lawn,under
the power lines. In the garden of every house
lived in since then, Jessicahas planted a Silver
Princess - including her current garden in
Hobart, Tasmania. AlwayswithUncleGreg in
mind. I think he told her she alsowas a little
princess...
And then there was the choir! Yes - Greg
welcomed everyone to the New Era Choir. I
neverheardadisparagingorcriticalword from
Gregregardingmysinging.Heencouragedand
guided, andwhen emotion from the spiritual
unity of the choir’s purpose closedmy throat,
he still encouraged. In 1991, this choir, my
other family, sang atmywedding in the park,
withGreg especially composing themusic for
my favouriteweddingprayer . . .
While service took me overseas for several
years, the Parker family and mine came
together again in Albany. Again, Greg and I
were serving together, this time on a Spiritual
Assembly, and its committees. Our life
journeys are entwined - firmlyor loosely - the
threadsnever completely separating.
MargaretMangan
