Yesterday I (Rob) went to Sydney for the funeral of Boak Jobbins. Boak was the rector of St Mark’s Anglican church in Darling Point when I was a student minister there in 2008 & 2009. It came
as a real shock when we learned of his sudden death last Saturday.
Boak was a man both Di and I deeply respected and admired. Even though I didn’t spend enormous amounts of time with him, Boak’s influece on my life and thinking was significant.
I benefitted greatly from his wisdom – he helped me make some important life direction decisions. Boak changed the way I speak publicly, correcting my intonation. Boak taught us to appreciate and embrace the great traditions and liturgy of the church. Boak’s preaching was poetic, passionate, rich and inspiring. I still get goose bumps thinking about some of the vivid imagery he evoked in his sermons. I learned much from Boak.
I found Boak somewhat intimidating, but I also appreciated his humility – he even used some of my illustrations in his own preaching.
We were delighted that he also baptised our daughter Aoife.
It was a privilege to have been a student minister under Boak and I was glad I could make it to Sydney to say farewell. Our thoughts and prayers are now with Di and her family. We feel the world is now a poorer place after his passing.