Bob the builder

Class honours legacy of this man’s manual labour

Bob Walker helped build the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Papua New Guinea (PNG). Literally. Count the projects: a women’s residence and School of Health Science on Pacific Adventist University (PAU)’s Koiari Park campus; the Building Department on the Sonoma campus; the church at Kabiufa Adventist High School, and; the Warangoi Swing Bridge in East New Britain Province. He also ran the building course at Kambubu Adventist Secondary School then Sonoma and came out of retirement to manage development projects—including the 1350-seat chapel—at PAU.

Coming to Avondale with a certificate in architectural drafting from his New Zealand Army service, Bob completed the first of his education degrees and the matrimonial course, marrying Bev Everett in 1972. After a stint teaching at Avondale School, he and Bev accepted their first mission call, raising sons Carl, Clinton and Chad in PNG. They returned to Australia a decade later, adding another son, Casey, to the tribe. Bob taught in Roma, Gayndah and Brisbane before early retirement in 2001. “I’ve taught for 32 years and the values I learnt at Avondale have stayed with me,” he says. The value he mentions in particular: the integration of work and study.

A private pilot licence holder, Bob enjoys flying and, when on the ground, spending time with family, including six grandchildren. And he continues to build, completing the Burpengary church in December this past year. “A small group of believers had been saving for the building for 20 years.”

This example of dedication is characteristic of Bob’s ministry. “We’re called to serve God,” he says. “In my experience, He’s always brought good out of bad situations.”

The Class of 1971 honours the enduring legacy of Bob Walker’s manual labour.