Ernest Wynne EVANS

EVANS, ERNEST WYNNE (ALSO WYNNE EVANS) (b. Melbourne, Vic, 4 Mar 1905- d. Groote Eylandt, NT, 15 Nov 1933). Anglican missionary clergyman.

After state schooling and a two-year course from 1925 at MBI, Wynne Evans was accepted as a short-term CMS missionary in 1927 to spend 9 months on Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory to enable the resident missionary, H E Warren (q.v.) and his family to go on leave. On his return to Melbourne, he studied for the ministry at Ridley College, and was ordained in 1931. After several years parish experience in Tas and his marriage to Gwendoline A S Frewin, the daughter of the Rev J H Frewin, he and his wife were accepted in full connection with the CMS, and arrived at Groote Eylandt on 14 Sept 1933. He was accidentally killed several months later while trying to scale Central Hill. He was buried in the Old Emerald River Mission Cemetery, a memorial cairn to his memory being dedicated by the Rev R C M Long (q.v.) on 25 Sept 1937. He had been a keen evangelical and enthusiastic for the missionary cause, his promising missionary career ending abruptly after this very short period of service.

Keith Cole, Groote Eylandt Mission (1971); Keith Cole, From Mission to Church: The CMS Mission to the Aborigines of Arnhem Land, 1908-1985 (1985)

KEITH COLE