The Mons remembered

wta190614gfmoore01.jpg Midweek. Bill Orange of Masterton - the last founding member of the Monsignor Moore Trust, is stepping down after 43 years' service. WAG 24Jun14 - wta190614gfmoore01 CARET

Bill Orange, of Masterton, is the last founding member of a trust in the name of the Right Reverend Monsignor Nicholas Moore, 1887-1985.

Mr Orange, an accountant, drafted the Monsignor Moore Education trust in 1971, as a way of supporting struggling parents to pay school fees for those who might otherwise struggle to pay them, at Catholic schools including Chanel College.

Now, 43 years later, Mr Orange has resigned as a trustee, although the trust itself continues.

Monsignor Moore, the man for whom the trust was named, served as parish priest in Masterton from 1930 until 1974, and as pastor emeritus until his death in 1985.

Moore contributed from his pension, as did at least one other parishioner, and funds were raised from events including the 40-year celebration of Moore's time in Masterton, in 1970, and the 60th anniversary of his ordination, in 1972.

During the course of the latter, Moore was named a rangatira by local Maori and presented with a feathered cloak.

Before his death, he said the trust was the one thing for which he wanted to be remembered.

Mr Orange has fond memories of "The Mons", as he was known, including seeing him ride around the streets of Masterton on his bicycle, clad for visibility in distinctive white coat and red cap.

The Mons also set up a jam factory in his garage, making the most of available fruit trees and the hardworking Catholic Women's League.

A firm supporter of education, Moore was relentless in raising funds for the founding of a Catholic boys' school in Masterton -- and St Joseph's began life in 1945, amalgamating with St Bride's College to form Chanel College in 1978.

Moore was made a Monsignor in 1960.

Born in Ireland, he was ordained in 1912 at St Kieran's College, Kilkenny, and served in the English cities of Bradford, Leeds and Manchester, before meeting Monsignor John McKenna, parish priest of Masterton on a home visit.

Both men were from the same Irish parish and Moore accompanied McKenna back to New Zealand, where he served around the central North Island before succeeding McKenna in Masterton after the latter's death in 1930.

The trust started with the modest amount of $3585, which has today increased to $144,450.

Besides supporting individual families, the money has been used to support other educational projects, such as classroom teacher aides.

Monsignor Moore was the oldest priest in New Zealand when he died in 1985, at the age of 98.