Remembering Pastor M Wheeler
Pastor M Wheeler (Panangka) was born on 16 October 1947 at Ntaria/Hermannsburg. He was baptised ten days later at Hermannsburg by Pastor FW Albrecht.
Pastor Wheeler was confirmed on 6 December 1964 by Pastor C Raberaba at Hermannsburg, along with 27 other students who were also confirmed on that day. He was married to Betty Namatjira on 26 December the following year at Hermannsburg by Pastor D J Radke. The witnesses to the marriage were H. Leditschke and C. Raberaba. He and Betty were blessed with 4 children: Denise, Martha and two younger children, who are deceased.
Pastor Wheeler was a good communicator, fluent in at least 5 languages including Eastern and Western Arrarnta, Pitjantjatjara/Yankuntjatjara, Pintupi/Luritja, and English. He had the ability to read a Bible story and give the story some life, and he often engaged with congregation members in this way.
His natural ability at language and his strong involvement in traditional cultural activities meant that he was often chosen to organise and manage major sporting and music activities in his community and beyond. He was coach and manager of the Ntaria football team for many years, helping organise and managing football carnivals at Hermannsburg/Ntaria and other places in Central Australia.
Pastor Wheeler was a good singer and guitar player. He often wrote Gospel songs, sometimes with his wife, Betty. He organised and participated in countless gospel singalongs and concerts in his community and others throughout central Australia.
Pastor Wheeler was ordained as a pastor of the Lutheran Church of Australia on 25 November 2007 at Hermannsburg, by President Michael Semmler. He would have been ordained much earlier, but he struggled to balance both cultural activities and church responsibilities. Nevertheless, he gave almost 14 years of faithful service as a pastor in his later years, and many years as an evangelist before that.
He retired on Sunday 24 March 2024.
Pastor Wheeler will be lovingly remembered by wife Betty, daughters Denise and Martha, and many grandchildren and great grandchildren.
Pastor Robert Borgas, Angaston, South Australia. Biographical notes by David Roennfeldt from the original Hermannsburg congregation records.
