TV program written by Avondale academic now goes international
An episode about chaplains in the Great War written by an Avondale academic aired on New Zealand’s national broadcaster TV One on Anzac Day.
Dr Daniel Reynaud originally wrote Kiwi Chaplains as one of six Anzac-themed episodes for the Christian television program It is Written Oceania. He appears on camera with speaker and director Pr Gary Kent in the episode, which It Is Written Oceania filmed, in part, on Gallipoli. Kent says Reynaud’s authority as an Anzac and war historian—he is an associate professor of history at Avondale College of Higher Education—“made the location come alive.”
Kiwi Chaplains focuses on the contribution of six New Zealand chaplains—Charles Dobson (Anglican), Patrick Dore (Catholic), William Grant (Presbyterian), Alfred Green (Salvation Army), John Luxford (Methodist) and Henere Wepiha Te Wainohu (Anglican)—all of who served on Gallipoli.
“Good chaplains were always respected for their courage in helping the wounded, their care in burying the dead and their capacity to make religion relevant and helpful to fighting men,” says Reynaud. Despite their dedication, the chaplains are marginalised, adds Reynaud, “as being non-combat and stuffily religious.”
Kent says the airing of the episode on TV One is an important achievement for It Is Written Oceania because it increases the program’s reach. “It adds credibility to our program and to our ministry.”
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