Norman Skelton POWYS

POWYS, NORMAN SKELTON (b. Waverley NSW, 10 Nov 1918; d. Sydney, NSW, 29 April 1957.) Medical missionary in Tanganyika. Norman Powys was a son of Canon Harry Norman Powys, an Anglican clergyman in Sydney. After primary education at Penrith Powys attended Barker College, Hornsby 1930-6. He had responded to the love of God as a child and possessed a clear commitment to Christ. He won an exhibition to the University of Sydney to study medicine, planning to serve as a missionary in East Africa. He was active in the EU during an exciting era of campus evangelism. Powys graduated MB BS in 1942, and served in the RAAMC April 1943 - June 1946. He then departed for Tanganyika on 26 November as a CMS missionary, and was stationed at Mvumi Hospital in the Diocese of Central Tanganyika.

There he learnt Swahili and the local language, Cigogo. He was medical superintendent and surgeon, assisted with the training of nurses and dressers, had oversight of building construction and the bore water pump, and encouraged the development of a local shop to assist the villagers. Dr Powys was also diocesan district superintendent, supporting the local African pastor and evangelists, in church services and on safari, as well as the Mvumi Girls' Secondary School where his ability and willingness to 'fix things' was appreciated. During the famines of 1952 and 1955 he helped distribute relief grain and milk powder, bringing those needing care back to the hospital.

Norman Powys married Mary Bolitho, the diocesan accountant, and a CMS missionary from Melbourne, in May 1953. There were three children, David, Malcolm and Ruth. As more doctors came to Mvumi, Dr Powys was able to go to Murgwanza Hospital, in the far west of Tanganyika in late 1955 as the first doctor. He was again involved in hospital building and worked closely with the local African church, as well as undertaking many medical safaris. He quickly built up a reputation for good, particularly with his skill as an eye surgeon.

The Powys family returned to Australia for furlough in September 1956. Norman Powys became involved in a vigorous schedule of deputations and also commenced a postgraduate course in tropical medicine, but died suddenly of a coronary occlusion on 29 April 1957.

Alfred Stanway(q.v.) (bishop of Central Tanganyika) wrote of his devotion to duty, his sense of stewardship, his personal kindness, and his abiding loyalty to evangelical principles, 'his life was only 38 years, that is all there was of it, but what there was of it he gave for his Master's service'. CMS London Executive Committee recorded 'He was extremely active, mentally and physically, with great capacity for sustained work—indeed he never seemed to rest—and his death leaves a serious gap in the field of medicine in East Africa'.

Dr Powys had the characteristics of a great missionary and a committed Christian: he loved God, cared for others and was humble and hard-working. He had a close relationship with the African people. As one African said at the memorial service at Mvumi 'He was one of us'. No job was too big and no-one was too small for him to help. He was thorough in his medical work, sensitive to the spiritual and physical needs of others, and was aware of the wider economic issues in which the Church was witnessing. He had been appointed as an honorary canon of the Cathedral in Dodoma and was an elected member of the Diocesan Synod. A new children's ward at Mvumi Hospital was dedicated to his memory.

MARY SHILTON