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Harold M. Wheller

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Harold Manuel Wheller OBE (26 January 1882[1] – 17 November 1979) was a Methodist minister in Queensland, remembered as Superintendent of Brisbane's Central Methodist Mission and minister of the Albert Street Methodist Church.

History

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Wheller was born in Tarlee, South Australia, a son of Mary Jane, née Gullidge (died 1939)[2] and James Manuel Wheller (died 1906), a blacksmith.[3] He was educated at Stanley Grammar School, Watervale, and worked for a while in Norwood, Adelaide.[1]

In 1904 he preached at Kangaroo Point, Queensland[4] and applied as a candidate for the ministry.[5] In 1905 he was sent by the Methodist synod in Brisbane to Queen's College, University of Melbourne.[6] At the 1906 synod meeting his probation was advanced one step,[7] and in 1907 was appointed assistant pastor of the Paddington Methodist Church.[8] He mostly served in the Kennedy Terrace Church, in the Ithaca circuit.[9]

In 1909 he was posted to the Cairns Church,[10] and was given a rousing farewell two years later.[11]

His next posting was to the North Ipswich church, where despite his health being affected by the hot weather, he had a successful ministry.[12] His next post was to Stanthorpe, who played host to the Downs Synod in 1915.[13]

In 1917 he was next sent by the Stationing Committee to Wooloowin,[14] and in 1921 to the Ellenborough Street church, Ipswich.[15] Sometime around 1925 he was called to the Albert Street, Brisbane, church, where he remained.

At the 18th general conference in May 1941 Wheller was appointed President-General of the Methodist Conference, which covers the whole of Australasia.[16] William Henry Jones, as secretary-general, would have progressed to president-general, but died in July 1939.[17] J. W. Burton was confirmed as secretary-general.

In 1936 the experimental Garden Settlement, Queensland's first aged care community, largely sponsored by George Marchant at Chermside was opened. It provided board and lodging for around 70 old people, charging 14/6d ($1.45 before inflation) per head per week.[18]

Brisbane Council of Churches

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Wheller acted president in 1935 during the absence of Norman Millar.[19] Millar and Wheller were accused of contempt of court when they wrote a letter to the Courier-mail, criticising a judge of the Supreme Court for a joke he made against the institution of marriage.[20] Both men, and the publisher of the Courier-mail, were dealt hefty fines by Justice Macrossan,[21] but reversed on appeal to the Full Bench.[22] Both were vigorous critics of all forms of gambling but reserved their harshest condemnation for the government-run Golden Casket, a lottery with prize of £25,000.[23] He led protests against the introduction of Bingo.[24] He was still president in 1943.[25]

Publication

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Wheller, H. M (1933) Our Quest for God (collected sermons).

Recognition

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In 1953 Wheller was invested with the Order (OBE).[26]

The Garden Settlement, Chermside, was renamed Wheller Gardens.[1]

Family

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Wheller married Edith Mary Stack on 10 May 1910.[27]

  • John Manuel Wheller (23 March 1913 – 11 July 1976) married Ruby.
  • Dorothy Wheller
  • (Howard) Douglas Wheller (13 November 1922 – 29 March 1944) was killed in an aviation accident[28] A window, by A. C. Handel, of the Albert Street church was dedicated to him and another RAAF officer.[29]

John trained as a broadcast radio technician with PMG's Dept. In May 1941 he was Pilot Officer with RAAF, gained a local reputation as an inventor.[30] Dorothy taught elocution at Ipswich Girls' Grammar School and Douglas was trainee draftsman with Brisbane Council's electricity supply company. Mrs Wheller was involved with Red Cross wartime work and was associated with the Albert Street church – the Ladies' Guild and the garden settlement at Chermside. They had a home at 29 Birdwood Terrace, Auchenflower.[18]

References

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  1. ^ a b c Jennifer Noble (2002). Australian Dictionary of Biography: 'Wheller, Harold Manuel (1882–1979). National Centre of Biography, Australian National University. Retrieved 15 February 2025.
  2. ^ "Family Notices". The Chronicle (Adelaide). Vol. LXXXI, no. 4, 670. South Australia. 22 June 1939. p. 25. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ^ "Obituary". Burra Record. Vol. VX, no. 752. South Australia. 19 December 1906. p. 3. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  4. ^ "Advertising". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 9, 829. Queensland, Australia. 21 May 1904. p. 15. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "Methodist Synods". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 9965. Queensland, Australia. 27 October 1904. p. 3. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ "Pastoral Session". The Week (Brisbane). Vol. LIX, no. 1, 524. Queensland, Australia. 10 March 1905. p. 26. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  7. ^ "Methodist District Synod". The Week (Brisbane). Vol. LXII, no. 1, 609. Queensland, Australia. 26 October 1906. p. 17. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  8. ^ "Paddington Metodists". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 10, 934. Queensland, Australia. 3 December 1907. p. 5. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  9. ^ "Farewells to Rev. H. M. Wheller". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 11, 354. Queensland, Australia. 8 April 1909. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  10. ^ "Methodist Church". Townsville Daily Bulletin. Vol. XXVI, no. 8244. Queensland, Australia. 15 March 1909. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  11. ^ "The Methodist Synod". The Cairns Post. Vol. XXV, no. 1158. Queensland, Australia. 7 November 1911. p. 8. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  12. ^ "Farewell". Queensland Times. Vol. LVI, no. 8995. Queensland, Australia. 18 April 1914. p. 14. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  13. ^ "Downs Methodists". Warwick Examiner and Times. No. 4782. Queensland, Australia. 30 October 1915. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  14. ^ "Methodist Conference". The Telegraph (Brisbane). No. 13, 818. Queensland, Australia. 7 March 1917. p. 3. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  15. ^ "Ministers Commence Service". Queensland Times. Vol. LXII, no. 10, 959. Queensland, Australia. 18 April 1921. p. 4. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  16. ^ "Rev. Wheller 40 Years a Minister". The Courier-mail. No. 3233. Queensland, Australia. 17 January 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  17. ^ "Methodists Lose Their Secretary-General". The Courier-mail. No. 1822. Queensland, Australia. 5 July 1939. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  18. ^ a b "Wife of New President-General Likes Red Cross and Church Work". The Telegraph (Brisbane). Queensland, Australia. 24 May 1941. p. 4. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  19. ^ "Personal". The Courier-mail. No. 668. Queensland, Australia. 19 October 1935. p. 15. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  20. ^ "A Judge's Jest on Marriage". The Courier-mail. No. 923. Queensland, Australia. 14 August 1936. p. 14. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  21. ^ "Alleged Contempt of Court". The Telegraph (Brisbane). Queensland, Australia. 28 August 1936. p. 1. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  22. ^ "Appeal Won". Brisbane Truth. No. 1937. Queensland, Australia. 9 May 1937. p. 27. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  23. ^ "Golden Casket — Council of Churches Protest". The Week (Brisbane). Vol. CXII, no. 2, 995. Queensland, Australia. 17 May 1933. p. 36. Retrieved 17 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  24. ^ ""Down with Bingo" Say Churches". Daily Mercury. Vol. 73, no. 302. Queensland, Australia. 20 December 1939. p. 8. Retrieved 19 August 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  25. ^ "Archbishop Halse's Enthronement". Narandera Argus and Riverina Advertiser. Vol. 66, no. 91. New South Wales, Australia. 16 November 1943. p. 2. Retrieved 23 December 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  26. ^ "Investiture by Governor". The Central Queensland Herald. Vol. 22, no. 1205. Queensland, Australia. 26 February 1953. p. 22. Retrieved 13 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  27. ^ "Wedding". The Brisbane Courier. No. 16, 330. Queensland, Australia. 14 May 1910. p. 7. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  28. ^ "Rev. Wheller's Airman Son Dies in Accident". The Courier-mail. No. 3296. Queensland, Australia. 30 March 1944. p. 3. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  29. ^ "Two Windows at Church Unveiled". The Courier-mail. No. 3240. Queensland, Australia. 14 April 1947. p. 6. Retrieved 14 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
  30. ^ "Cleaner Big Aid to Choir". Brisbane Telegraph. Queensland, Australia. 10 March 1951. p. 9. Retrieved 15 February 2025 – via National Library of Australia.
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