The accountant who cares

Alumna of the Year a retiree’s friend

The familiar voice you hear when you call the Sustentation Department of the Seventh-day Adventist Church is Margaret Herbert’s. Her official title is payroll/assistant accountant, but at a sensitive transition in their lives she’s gently and pastorally served the denomination’s retired workers for more than 22 years. “It’s been a privilege, an honour and a challenge. Many times, it’s been humbling to be part of their journey.”

Margaret shares something in common with many of her clients: experience as a missionary in Papua New Guinea and Fiji. Initially, though, she didn’t want to go. You can understand why. After the birth of her third child, she stayed in hospital for only half an hour to guard against the risk of infection. She survived being tear gassed during a riot in the markets of Lae. And with husband Ron often away for up to three weeks at a time, she essentially became the primary parent to Donna, Phillip and David. But she became so accustomed to the culture—and a more languid lifestyle—“I didn’t want to leave.”

In truth, Ron is a survivor, too, successfully managing non-Hodgkin lymphoma for the past 10 years. Margaret met “the love of my life” at Avondale—the two have been married 48 years (and seen all the children graduate from their alma mater). “Sometimes it feels like yesterday.”

The memories of campus life are still strong. Getting lost in the Watagans while orienteering and spending the night sleeping under the stars with only one ground sheet between six students. Enjoying the camaraderie of the other girls who lived on the Top Floor of Andre Hall. Learning in Allan Lindsay’s classes more about Jesus. “In everything I try to do my best knowing He will do the rest.”

Avondale Alumni honours Margaret Herbert’s concern for and commitment to the care of Adventist Church retirees.