Ian Edgar Hope was born on 5 May 1921 and was the first child of Edgar William Hope and his wife Christina O'Brien, who at the time, were living in Casterton, Western Victoria. After the birth of Lindsay, Ian's brother in 1923, the family moved across the Border to Murray Bridge in South Australia, where Ian's second brother, Ron was born in 1925. From there the family moved to Bordertown for a while, before settling in Adelaide at Black Forest.

However, between 1939 and 1945 Australia was 'at war' on two fronts - Europe and the Pacific. Ian signed up for active service and for a time, he was sent to Borneo with the Australian Army. At the same time as he was there, so too was his brother Ron, who had signed up for the Air Force. They met up as often as they could. It must have been just fabulous to see one another in such an environment.

In 1946 Ian and his brother, Ron, became foundation members of the Black Forest Methodist Cricket Club, playing in the United Church Cricket Association. Although not endowed with the finer attributes of a cricketer,

When Ian or "I Hope" appeared as number 9 batsmen we knew "hope" was fading. When Ron padded up as number 10 as "R Hope" we knew things had taken a decided turn for the worse. But the important point to make is that Ian and Ron were keen to play their part in making the team a success, which it was in later years.

Ian was Club President for a while and his younger brother the Secretary - they obviously worked well together.

Ian and Dulcie met in Western Australia during his service training during WWII. She was a WA-girl and he, an Adelaide man! They dated, married and at some time, they moved to South Australia as a newly wed couple, initially staying with his parents at Black Forest, until they found their forever-home which actually didn't turn out to be their "for-ever home".

Life has its own path we tred and so they moved around the State quite a bit, especially while he was a Lay Preacher with the Methodist Church, before returning to Dulcie's home State of Western Australia. The places they called home included:

• Clovelly Park, Adelaide (unsure of the dates but in 1952 they were living in this southern suburb of Adelaide)
• Whyalla, SA (? - 1958)
• Stansbury, SA (1958-1959)
• Clarendon, SA (1960-1963)
• Nairne, SA (1964-1965)
• York, WA (1966
• Northam, WA (1967-1970)
• East Fremantle & Attadale, Perth (1971-1977)

On 20th October 1964, Ian Edgar Hope was Ordained for The MInistry in the Methodist Church of Australia. The ceremony was held in the Kent Town Methodist Church and was conducted by the President of the Conference Rev V R Secombe. However, he had been a Lay Preacher since 1958, starting in Whyalla and then being moved every 3 years or so, as was the custom in that era.

Prior to his being 'Called into the Ministry', Ian's occupation, or profession, was a Tailor and he ran this business from the family home, both in Clovelly Park and also in Whyalla.

Ian and Dulcie had 5 children.

For a season, Ian was both Minister and part-time family carer while Dulcie returned to her profession of Teacher while the family were living at Clarendon and then again, when they relocated to Western Australia. In WA she taught at Coolbellup Primary for a short time until she began at Methodist Ladies College, Perth.

Ian Hope was discharged from the Australian Military Forces on 26.10.1945, having served with the 2/5 Australian Field Ambulance. He served in the Citizen Military Forces (CMF) from 2.2.1942 to 10.6.1942, then from 11.6.1942 till 26.10.1945 served with the above. He served overseas for 167 days of that time. He was employed during Army Service in the trade group of a Tailor.

Ian died suddenly 8 June 1977 at Perth, Western Australia.

Editor's Note: I find that Eulogies should be written and spoken while we are alive - so many times I've heard a Eulogy of an acquaintence and thought "gee, I'd love to have been his or her close friend" - instead of "just an acquaintence"! Eulogies often say so much about the recently deceased person - give wonderful insights into the person - they let us see things about the person that maybe we didn't see or hear in our interactions; or have the opportunity in real life to see and hear. Eulogies, in hindsight, also give us lots of things we wish we could have said, discussed, laughed about or just shared about with the recently deceased. We sometimes hear things that had not been conveyed to the person face-to-face but maybe should have been; and in hindsight, I would have loved to have known my Uncle Ian so much better than him simply being my Uncle! I would have loved to have known him as a person - for who he was. But alas! He was simply my Uncle Ian - a person I hardly even knew!

Ian Edgar Hope - Eulogy

When talking with Ian Hope, one could usually expect that somewhere in the conversation he might say, “have you heard the one about …”

Or perhaps he would speak of golf or football.

To speak ABOUT Ian Hope today then, we would be wrong to forget these unique and lively facets of his life that endeared him so much to us all. But it would be equally as wrong to let those things sum up his life. Because Ian was a small man, a rather quiet man, one who listened and rarely spoke in great companies and conferences, he was apt to be overlooked and even misjudged. In his own circuit and congregations HE WAS A TRUE AND EFFECTIVE MINISTER OF THE WORD. WE CELEBRATE HIS LIFE TODAY, EVEN AS WE MOURN HIS DEATH.

It has been said of Ian Hope that he did not display all his best goods in the shop window. Those of you who know him best will recognise the truth of these words. He was even prone to under-value his own ministry and sense of worth.

Ian’s was a people ministry. He had a strong sense of what the team was all about. Perhaps because of his nature, but more because he saw the very corporate nature of the Church. Ian was one for consultation, for thinking through with others. In this he received inspiration and encouragement. In this also he gave these very things.

Just a week or two ago he said to me, “Lot’s of fellows get hung up on the things they can’t do in the ministry. But I simply get on with the things that I recognise as my strengths and I do those to the best of my ability.”

HERE WAS A RECOGNITION OF GIFTS - GIFTS OF THE SPIRIT.

Who will forget his preaching which was Biblical, simple and very much in touch with the sort of issues and feelings that people face?

Who will forget his pastoral care which stemmed not from techniques but from a heart and mind which was big to love and to understand? So many of you here, particularly in the Circuit, will remember him for this because of the many crises in your families.

Who will forget his prayers and the way he drew people into that praying so that they know a presence and a power that was real to them?

Who will forget the way in which he could inject some note of wisdom or humour into a debate or conversation at an opportune time that helped to clear the tension, the tiredness or the confusion?

Ian Hope came to this State to commence his ministry in 1966 and at York, Northam and the Melville Circuit, and far beyond it, he has been a minister for God to us all.

But we also honour him today as a husband and a father. If you have ever had the Hope family stay with you, or have spent time with them, you know they are a family indeed - full of energy, activity, life and love.

Because of his strong convictions and firm faith, shared with the family, God has been at the very centre of things. It is that strong faith in God which unites us today as one family of the Christian Church.

All his life, I guess, Ian had to live with the puns that were made upon his name - I HOPE. When some people say “I hope” it is with a sense of fear, of doubt and uncertainty of the future. I HOPE was not only Ian’s signature, it was his confession of faith, the driving force of his ministry, the basis of his trust in the God who gives cause for us to hope.

See Paul’s words in Roman’s 15: 1ff.

Romans 15:1-4 (NIV)

1 We who are strong ought to bear with the failings of the weak and not to please ourselves. 2 Each of us should please our neighbors for their good, to build them up. 3 For even Christ did not please himself but, as it is written: “The insults of those who insult you have fallen on me.” 4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.

They seem to me to sum up Ian’s ministry and speak of his faith, his life, his God.

(authors unknown)

CHURCH LOSS ON VERGE OF UNION

Ian Hope was minister of the Melville Circuit having been minister at Northam and York after coming from South Australia in 1966.

For many Ian was a man who talked about golf or football and engaged people in much laughter by his store of ready jokes.

But who will forget his preaching with its down to earth applications? Who will forget his pastoral care arising from a heart that was big in love and understanding? Who will forget the way he drew people into the presence and the power of God! Who will forget the way he used his wisdom and ready wit to ease tension and confusion.

(Source: IMPACT WA, July 1977)

Maggie's Memories of Ian and Dulcie

Note: this section will be added to from time to time, as one memory is written down which might free up headspace for others to come to the fore:

• I remember Uncle Ian decided he wanted to buy a TV, not long after they became generally available - but no cash to do so! Anyway, he did his sums and gave up smoking - he calculated that in 'x' period of time the savings from not smoking would see him purchase his TV. And he did! However, as soon as he bought the TV, he resumed smoking until his next item to purchase and again, he gave them up for a good cause. It was nothing to do with his health - that had yet to be public knowledge. Back in the day, it was fashionable to smoke.

LINK to Home Page (Preamble)

Thomas Hope (great grandfather)

Richmond Hope (grandfather)

Edgar Hope (father)

Lindsay Hope (brother)

Ron Hope (brother)