A Pacific principal

Class honours lifelong learner for educational leadership

Allen Sonter grew up at Avondale—his father managed the orchard and poultry farm. With most of his primary and all of his high schooling completed on campus, “I naturally wanted to study at the college.” His best friend planned to become a teacher, so Allen did, too. He graduated in 1952 and, while still a teenager, received his first call: as sole teacher of the Seventh-day Adventist school in Wanganui, New Zealand. Allen headed the primary school at Balmoral in Auckland before a big change. The church recognised his potential and invited he and new wife Margaret to foster the ministry of teaching in the Pacific islands.

Over almost 40 years, Allen would serve in many leadership roles. As principal of secondary schools in Kiribati, Samoa, Tonga and Fiji. As director of education for the church in the Central Pacific. And in administration at what is now Fulton Adventist University College (head of primary education and principal) and Pacific Adventist University (academic dean and principal). He even made time to further his own education, completing bachelor, master and doctoral degrees. Memories from the births of children Betty and Wendy in Kiribati and Bob and Carolyn in Tonga are still strong. As are those of confronting a knife-wielding man on campus and meeting Prince Philip and boarding the HMY Britannia in Kiribati.

After returning to Australia, Allen acted as director of education for the church in southern Queensland and northern Australia then project managed the first stage of the development of Darling Downs Christian School on its new site in Toowoomba. In retirement, he has devoted time to diverse interests: developing and distributing therapeutic skincare products and writing, publishing three books. He played cornet and trumpet for many years.

“As a student at Avondale, I believed I could make the world a better place, and I still try to do that,” says Allen, “although all achievements are God’s, not mine.” He is particularly proud of “fighting against unjust policies wherever I found them.”

The Class of 1952 honours lifelong learner Allen Sonter for his servant leadership in Seventh-day Adventist education.