By Anne McCormick, Former NZCMS Mission Partner
Alison McMillan (nee Rowe) passed away on 3rd February 2023 after a short illness. The following details of her early life, including her missionary service with NZCMS, were provided by her younger brother, Rev. Alan Rowe, at the celebration of Alison’s life at St Timothy’s, Burnside, on 8th February. I am also indebted to Pamela Brathwaite, who worked closely with Alison at Middleton Grange School.
Alison was born in Nelson in 1943, the second of four children. Her father was Chaplain to the New Zealand Defence Forces in various locations. The family lived in Rotherham, Richmond (Nelson), where Alison started school and was Head Girl and Dux of primary school. Alison’s secondary schooling started at Nelson College for Girls and was completed at Palmerston North Girls’ High School, where she was a Prefect and Head Girl.
Interesting stories of her life emerged throughout the tribute paid by her brother: When she was a child while isolated due to Measles, her love of classical music started. Alison enjoyed sports, participating keenly in hockey and athletics. She used to cycle 10 km into Palmerston North, play a full hockey game, and then cycle home when the game was over. While competing in the long jump, she injured her knee seriously, after which golf became her main sport.
The indomitable Alison was also seen riding on a Harley Davidson motorbike to celebrate her 50th birthday, and the adventure was repeated when she turned 60!
Alison started university in 1960, achieving a Bachelor of Arts degree. Her first teaching job was at Melville High School in Hamilton. Alison was involved in Crusaders (now Scripture Union) and the League of Youth run by NZCMS. She attended the Bible Training Institute in Auckland (now Laidlaw College). From there, she was invited by NZCMS to go to St Margaret’s Secondary School in Singapore as a missionary. At the school, Alison was responsible for the pastoral care of students, taught religious studies and led devotions three times a week. She resigned from NZCMS when she married Gavin McMillan in 1976 and immediately became stepmother to three children and mother to one more. Sadly, Gavin, Business and Property Supervisor at Middleton Grange School in Christchurch, died in 1985. This left Alison raising four children alone while also teaching at Middleton Grange, which was demanding, but she took it in her stride.
During Alison’s time at Middleton Grange, where she served faithfully from 1985 to 2008, our paths crossed as I was Libraries Manager, and Alison was appointed Teacher with Library Responsibility. As with everything Alison undertook, she was diligent, thorough, and unassuming in the role. Teachers in the English Department benefitted greatly from the resources she wrote and shared so freely, and she was also a mentor to younger teachers. In her “retirement”, she worked part-time shelving books in the library at the University of Canterbury. She trained as a proofreader, assuming responsibility for the Middleton Grange school magazine.
Alison was a devoted wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, friend, and a respected member of her church family. She is remembered for her love of family, quiet service, and deep faith which she demonstrated in her work and relationships. Her colleagues at Middleton Grange described her as a valued friend, a Godly role model, and a humble hero: intelligent, compassionate, competent, and dedicated with an understated wit and a constant desire to help and support others.
Alison enriched the lives of all who knew and loved her and well deserved the scriptural exhortation, “Well done, good and faithful servant”.
As a student at Melville High School I was blessed in my senior years by her leadership of Crusaders. When she left for Bible College I was interested to follow her journey. Alison was the first person who inspired my interest in overseas mission and the first missionary I ever prayed for. I extremely thankful for her example.