In the mysterious and untimely death of Edward ‘Ted’ McGaveston, we base our Memorial of Ted on a well-written newspaper report of the time. It was a major report and is reproduced here in full. Others who knew of events at the time have contributed their comments and these are shown inserted as appropriate.

The original title is missing from the cutting in our archives. It was “in huge letters and spanned two pages”:

Cast Out to ‘Walk the Paths of Hell’

NZ Truth,
October 18th, 1977
pages 4 and 5

The Exclusive Brethren forced Dad over the edge…

“As far as I am concerned he took his own life and the Brethren drove him to it.”

“They wrecked him and his life, just as they split and shattered homes and families of others who got out of line.”

Motueka farmer Dave McGaveston, 26, spat out the words with conviction.

“Dad was a sick man,” he said.

“He’d been a semi-invalid for many years with heart trouble, and his wife had become dependent on local leaders for support, therefore another case of divided loyalties! I’m sure she loved her husband, but bowed to brethren pressure to punish him by separating / ostracising.”

“I’m vague about what he was being punished for, but pretty sure it was an historicial “sin”. I don’t know how long the punishment went on for, but certainly several months, and I remember having the feeling that he’d decided to exit this life on a vicarious basis - it would free his wife and children to return to the bosom of the brethren.”

“They drove him out of the church and hounded mum and the family.” Now Dad’s gone and I know who to blame… the Brethren.”

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