Peter R Robinson (Staff)
Peter joined the Matamata College Technical Department in 1966 after training in Christchurch and topping NZ results in his Trade Certificate in Carpentry and Joinery.
For 15 years he was on the staff with T2 being his workshop shared with Arnold Phillips who led the Technical Drawing Department based in T3. Head of Department was the cheery Scotsman Hugh Grant and for much of that time Nigel Hawke headed up the Engineering Workshop.
They were called on regularly for preparing sets for the College stage productions.
Peter’s extra-curricular activities included coaching the 3rd Eleven Hockey team, with Peter Dibble the 1st and 2nd 11s.
When a decision was made to have speakers in all classrooms Peter organised the laying of cables to each classroom and mapped out their location.
Derek Chambers was leading the lunchtime Christian group called Crusaders when he when he was taken ill suddenly with Acute Leukaemia. Peter stepped in to lead and this usually included a winter snow trip to Mt Ruapehu.
Night school classes for the community, were always popular, as folk learnt new skills or developed existing interests with good display nights to share the outcomes. Peter later became Night School Supervisor, finding and organising tutors on a range of subjects over the years.
Peter and his capable wife Lois were involved in Christian ministry in Christchurch and then in Matamata so when in 1980 he was invited to step into the role of Pastor for the growing Matamata Bible Church it was an easy decision to leave the wood teaching he loved and continue with his love for Bible teaching. He continued this for 25 years with pastoral visiting, counselling and parenting seminars. Serving as a team Peter and Lois arranged Marriage Enrichment Seminars locally and throughout NZ to strengthen marriages and family units. Also they have had close links with the Totara Springs Camp complex from its beginnings in its building and special camps.
Travel has given them many special experiences, attending seminars in USA, visits to mission workers in France, Italy, Turkey and Israel. Also to their family of four serving in PNG, Hong Kong and Australia. Another great joy are their 13 grandchildren and now 3 great grandies.