The following are notes from the eulogy delivered by John Hay at Rob Sinclair’s funeral at Knox Presbyterian Church in July 1990.
A great bond unites us this morning as we are gathered together to give tribute to Rob. To thank God for his life and to share with Helen and family our sorrow, our grief and our profound sense of loss.
Today we farewell a friend, a neighbour, a fellow worker and to stand with and beside the one who is parted for a time from her husband and dearest companion. The family who are missing the best Dad there ever was. A mother, a sister, brother in law and family, a mother in law and father in law and relations.
We are also naturally in God’s house, which today is not large enough, in a place of worship to praise God and to give Him thanks for the evidence of God’s presence in Rob’s life and that of his family. To reflect on God’s promises, to pause and consider our own lives and our preparedness to answer God’s call when it comes.
Rob loved the Church, the family of God. He cherished his involvement with fellow Christians, giving and receiving encouragement and he showed to all his personal faith. He believed in God, his heavenly Father; He accepted that Jesus Christ was his Saviour who died for his sins and he acknowledge the presence of the indwelling Holy Spirit who enabled him to witness to his faith and give the glory to God.
Bill has spoken about his very close involvement with Rob and while he said at the beginning that I would also be speaking and that the things we spoke about would be complementary one to the other. As I listened to what Bill said and as I thought when I had prepared what I wanted to say, that there were so many things that I had left out that I was unable to speak about, but Bill has spoken to you and to us of those things. Indeed it is a tremendous privilege that I have been asked to add some things to that.
I think as Bill said of those three young people singing Three Little Girls from School, I was pretty shattered when I was trying to do that and I’m not much better now. Rob had another interest and that was in National Party politics at local division, and. national level. He, offered, himself for selection as National Party Candidate for the Waitaki electorate and was narrowly defeated as candidate for the 1974 election. A possible reason was that he was single.
At this same time there was a special young lady who was the Vice President of the Party. These two unattached people soon found that there were stronger attractions drawing them together than politics. Not only did they love each other but equally they also shared a love of God and a deep Christian commitment. They found each other, they found their other half. The foundation for a commitment to marriage in 1975 and the raising of a family, John, Peter, Michael and Katherine.
Rob continued to give of himself to the full and may be to the detriment of his health. For when John was just 5 and Katherine a baby of 9 months, Rob survived a heart attack that had he not been more than a few minutes from specialist treatment, would have been fatal. That young family would not have known and been able to remember much of their father then. God in his wisdom gave Rob back, the best years were yet to come. Nine very special years, God given time that was not wasted. A time of adjustment, a time to think and meditate and gradually get back into things with the strong support of Helen.
The children were now at school and Rob’s energies and ability were centred on family activities at school or wherever they were involved. In 1985 he was elected to the School Committee and was Chairman since then. Helping guide the school through the recent difficult and important transition period, seeking always the best school for all the children of the district. A strong influence on the Gala committee. Four years as Chairman or chief gaffer. Along with six years on the Scout Committee – always with Helen’s support. Nine very special years. Rob found time to do things for and with his family and though it seemed he knew it may not be for long.
John loved talking with Rob, especially about when Rob was a child and he loved doing things with Dad. Peter loves the outdoors and the activities that he could share with Dad and the things that he taught Peter. Michael loved doing things together with Dad, he loved just being with his father. A special occasion was a trip to Peel Forest and walking through the bush and Rob pointing out the different varieties. For Katherine he was always there. He was always there for her and she loved Daddy reading stories at night, I currently reading Pollyanna and also the Hafferty books. Special to all were the birthday parties. When Rob would hook the trailer they had helped to make on the back of the ute, go out into the paddock, and give the family and their friends rides. Rob organised the treasure hunts, which everyone enjoyed. You are now able to remember him as a loving, caring father, whose influence will stay with you forever.
We want to thank the family for sharing with us these memories.
Those last years were also very difficult years. Rob and Helen’s farming operations were not immune from the ravages of drought and the economic difficulties. Helen and Rob together worked through the difficulties, considered all the options and were now able to see better prospects ahead.
Helen, John, Peter, Michael and Katherine, I believe you will look back on these last nine years as the most cherished of all and nothing will be able to separate you from the love you have for him and the love he had for you founded in God your heavenly Father. You will be aware of the unseen presence of your loved one.
And so you may wonder why, when Rob was keeping and looking so well, when the way ahead in the farming scene was becoming clear, did this happen. Little did anyone who shared a happy evening together last Saturday night imagine that we would be gathered here today and in a way that was Morven’s farewell to Rob. Bill has mentioned the special service of worship on Sunday when the Sinclair family helped to lead the service in the Church that Rob had served so well. We don’t know why Rob was called home. But as we think on these things we are reminded that no person knowth the hour when they will be called to account. Are we prepared? God offers to each one of us the gift of eternal life, which Rob accepted and showed to all.
Helen can be comforted by the knowledge that when Rob died he was happy, he was contented, he had a sense of fulfilment. He travelled through life with his hand firmly in God’s grasp. That same Hand is extended to each of us. It is a gift which is freely given to us. It is over to us to respond to that.
There is an open door at the end of the road
through which each must go alone.
And there in a light we cannot see
Our Father claims His own.
Beyond the door your loved one finds happiness and rest
and there is comfort in the thought that God knows best.
