Memorial Minute for Margaret Sangster
Margaret Sangster came to Clinical Pastoral Education in midlife with a wealth of experience as an artist, teacher and mother, interested in philosophy, politics, social interactions, and people and their needs. Having completed CPE units under the supervision of the Rev Drew Lelean, Margaret’s vocation to pastoral care and chaplaincy continued through part time chaplaincy in the Pain Clinic at Peter MacCallum, where she also began her training as a Pastoral Supervisor in the CPE program there under the supervision of the Rev David Stark. She successfully presented for accreditation in 1991. Continuing her Supervisory practice in both Full and Part time CPE programs, Margaret became involved in grief counselling through NALAG, and was soon in demand for her sensitivity, wry sense of humour, her kindness, and her passion for kindness in ministry and also her forthrightness, all qualities which her students came to appreciate and value. Margaret also completed studies in Family Therapy and her insight into systemic dynamics offered added dimensions to the CPE supervision of both individuals and group work. In 1992, Margaret became a member of the Pastoral Care Department at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, and during the hospitalisation of the Director in 1994, worked with the Rev Drew Lelean, the Rev Roy Bradley, Ms Wendy McKay and other staff to enable programs to be accredited for the students of both Full and Part time units. With the closure of the Christian Care Inc. CPE Centre in 1995, Repatriation Centre Director David Stark kindly invited Jenni Wegener to conduct her first unit as Acting Clinical Supervisor with a group of students who had been intending to begin their unit at Christian Care. Jenni invited Margaret to supervise with her. Margaret continued to work as a Pastoral Supervisor with Jenni, first at the Repatriation Centre in 1995-1996 and then returning to work in several units at the Royal Melbourne Hospital Centre during the early 2000’s, until her retirement. It is a measure of Margaret’s graciousness, humility and respect for her colleagues that she could so seamlessly work with a former CPE student as her course co-ordinator and Centre Director. Margaret’s contribution to the formation of pastoral carers and at least two future supervisors, was characterized by her deeply intuitive, quietly compassionate rigour and patience. She sought to ground experience in clinical evidence and saw deeply into the wounds that supervisees both long to have healed and often seek to hide, gently enabling them to see who they were and could be. As a colleague she offered affirmation, delight, wisdom honed from much reflection, and an expansive understanding of the manifestation of our humanity. In recent years, Margaret was hampered by significant ill health and was lovingly cared for by her two daughters Kirsty and Alex and their families in Kirsty’s home until her death. Always delighted to hear from her colleagues and those whose lives had travelled with her for a time, Margaret retained her interest in them and the ministry of pastoral care to which she had given so much. Margaret’s life was remembered and celebrated with much love in a funeral service at St Andrews Uniting Church, Fairfield on Thursday December 7th, 2017. The Association salutes your memory Margaret and records the appreciation of Supervisory colleagues and students for the inspiration of your gifts and life.
(David Stark and Jenni Wegener January 2018)
Margaret Sangster came to Clinical Pastoral Education in midlife with a wealth of experience as an artist, teacher and mother, interested in philosophy, politics, social interactions, and people and their needs. Having completed CPE units under the supervision of the Rev Drew Lelean, Margaret’s vocation to pastoral care and chaplaincy continued through part time chaplaincy in the Pain Clinic at Peter MacCallum, where she also began her training as a Pastoral Supervisor in the CPE program there under the supervision of the Rev David Stark. She successfully presented for accreditation in 1991. Continuing her Supervisory practice in both Full and Part time CPE programs, Margaret became involved in grief counselling through NALAG, and was soon in demand for her sensitivity, wry sense of humour, her kindness, and her passion for kindness in ministry and also her forthrightness, all qualities which her students came to appreciate and value. Margaret also completed studies in Family Therapy and her insight into systemic dynamics offered added dimensions to the CPE supervision of both individuals and group work. In 1992, Margaret became a member of the Pastoral Care Department at the Heidelberg Repatriation Hospital, and during the hospitalisation of the Director in 1994, worked with the Rev Drew Lelean, the Rev Roy Bradley, Ms Wendy McKay and other staff to enable programs to be accredited for the students of both Full and Part time units. With the closure of the Christian Care Inc. CPE Centre in 1995, Repatriation Centre Director David Stark kindly invited Jenni Wegener to conduct her first unit as Acting Clinical Supervisor with a group of students who had been intending to begin their unit at Christian Care. Jenni invited Margaret to supervise with her. Margaret continued to work as a Pastoral Supervisor with Jenni, first at the Repatriation Centre in 1995-1996 and then returning to work in several units at the Royal Melbourne Hospital Centre during the early 2000’s, until her retirement. It is a measure of Margaret’s graciousness, humility and respect for her colleagues that she could so seamlessly work with a former CPE student as her course co-ordinator and Centre Director. Margaret’s contribution to the formation of pastoral carers and at least two future supervisors, was characterized by her deeply intuitive, quietly compassionate rigour and patience. She sought to ground experience in clinical evidence and saw deeply into the wounds that supervisees both long to have healed and often seek to hide, gently enabling them to see who they were and could be. As a colleague she offered affirmation, delight, wisdom honed from much reflection, and an expansive understanding of the manifestation of our humanity. In recent years, Margaret was hampered by significant ill health and was lovingly cared for by her two daughters Kirsty and Alex and their families in Kirsty’s home until her death. Always delighted to hear from her colleagues and those whose lives had travelled with her for a time, Margaret retained her interest in them and the ministry of pastoral care to which she had given so much. Margaret’s life was remembered and celebrated with much love in a funeral service at St Andrews Uniting Church, Fairfield on Thursday December 7th, 2017. The Association salutes your memory Margaret and records the appreciation of Supervisory colleagues and students for the inspiration of your gifts and life.
(David Stark and Jenni Wegener January 2018)