LOCKE, Peter George, Rev (1925-2017)
Assembly memorial minute, 2017
Rev Peter George Locke was born in 1925 in Moonee Ponds, the third child of George and Doris Locke. He attended Essendon Primary School and then Essendon Technical School before being sent to Caulfield Grammar School. It was a shift in schools that he disliked initially, but which was to have a profound effect on his young life. We love to hear how conversion
comes to the heart: when Peter was fifteen, he attended a Crusader Camp, and with Revelation 3:20 before him, under the guidance of evangelist Rev Harrie Scott Simmons, he invited Jesus into his life. Throughout his 63 years of ministry with the Presbyterian Church of Australia, Revelation 3:20 was
always Peter Locke’s favourite verse of Scripture.
Along with his entire generation, Peter’s childhood was spent through the years of the Great Depression and his teenage years through the Second World War. When eligible he signed up to the RAAF. He was a trainee fighter pilot in Canada when the war ended. He returned to Melbourne University with the post war surge of ex-servicemen and women where he was active in the Evangelical Union. The late Anglican Bishop John Reid traces his conversion to a camp that Peter encouraged him to attend. Peter completed degrees in accounting and divinity, and was ordained to the Christian ministry in 1953.
Peter Locke’s first parish was Foster in South Gippsland where he served for three years with three services each Sunday morning. He then moved to Dromana where he again served multiple congregations: Rosebud, Red Hill and Flinders.
While he was at Dromana he met his wife Bennie and, by 1962, they were married – a marriage lasting 55 years. During the Dromana / Rosebud years they were blessed with the births of Stephen and David. On account of Stephen’s deafness the family moved in 1968 to St Margaret’s Balaclava. This enabled Stephen to attend the Victorian School for Deaf Children. A
third son, Andrew was born during the Balaclava ministry in Melbourne in 1969.
Peter Locke’s Balaclava ministry lasted 20 years until Peter ‘retired’ aged 65, to serve in part-time positions in Brighton, Ashburton and then finally Blackburn. Eventually, aged 88 he ceased pulpit ministry.
We fondly remember Peter Locke. It was said at his funeral service that his ministry was marked by four qualities: Peter was faithful to Jesus Christ and the gospel; that he loved the church; that he was dedicated and untiring in his labours; and that he performed all ministry with an unbounded cheerfulness.
We would do well to follow in such steps: faithfulness, love, dedication and cheerfulness.
Gender
- Male