Our long-serving and loved volunteer Jim Neilan died on Sunday afternoon 19 January 2020.

Jim Neilan had ongoing treatment for years but his health declined some months ago and he decided to cease further treatment and live the remainder of his life free of chemotherapy. Last year Jim became too weak to continue volunteering at Tui Motu but he continued to send witty messages of encouragement each time a new issue reached him.

Jim supported the Tui Motu endeavour from the early days. He wrote articles and reviews and contributed photographs — some made the cover. When he retired from paid employment he arrived each month to pack the magazines in readiness for posting. He often brought his camera with him and recorded many of the Tui Motu celebrations over the years — during Michael Hill's editorship, Kevin Toomey's and in these last years. It is thanks to Jim's foresight that we were able to put together a photographic story of the history of Tui Motu for our 20-year anniversary in 2017.

We loved having Jim among us each month. He and Brian Rea, who died last year, packed magazines in our front office and kept up lively conversations as they worked which they continued with us all over morning tea. He kept us laughing and we often had one of his jokes pinned on our notice board.

We will miss our Jim — priest and pastor, then husband to Judy, and always a good friend — all parts of a rich life well-lived. We let you go now Jim to enjoy the mystery of life after death.

Please join us, too, in praying for Judy's recovery from injuries sustained in a car accident she had just before Jim's death.