Lawrence Arthur MOYSE [4847]

  General Notes:

1913 Birth 910/88 MOYSE Lawrence Arthur William Arthur Ryder MOYSE Elsie Phyllis WHITE, Barossa
Lawrence Arthur Moyse
Director, YMCA & United Nations Social Services
Born; Gawler, May 6th 1913
Died; Walkerville, December 27th 2006

Lawrence Moyse's life took him around the world and into roles that changed and shaped global society, but his heart never left South Australia and it was here in the place he always called home that he spent the final years of his full and remarkable life.

The fourth of seven children of William and Elsie Moyse, Lawrence's early ambition was to follow his father into a career in book-keeping. Gaining his accounting qualifications in 1934, Lawrence started a career with the YMCA in Adelaide that was to see him live and work around the world. Going on to study Social Sciences at the University of Adelaide, Lawrence won a scholarship to Springfield College im Massachusetts USA, where he gained his Bachelor of Science, majoring in Group Work and Psychology.

Graduating from College in 1941, Lawrence gained work with the YMCA in Canada and eventually became their Director of War Services. Following the Second World War he went to the World Alliance of YMCAs in Geneva as their Director of World YMCA Services for Refugees, a role that gave him field responsibility for assisting migrants and refugees in eleven countries on four continents. From 1958 he was located in Italy to assist with the reconstruction of the YMCA there, during which time he held various directorship roles. In 1966, Lawrence took his skills to the United Nations World Food Programme, where as Chief Adviser he assisted governments in Jordan, Nigera, Gabon, Turkey, Indonesia, India and Bhutan with the implementation of food assistance programmes.

Sport was a passion for Lawrence. Throughout his retirement he played golf twice-weekly with his brothers and in his last game of golf with his great-nephews at North Adelaide, he scored a hole in one. He was part of the introduction of professional basketball to South Australia when in 1933 he hosted a visit by a YMCA coach from Salt Lake City.

Despite all his travel, Lawrence always found time for regular trips home to Adelaide, where family and friends would gather at the airport and a large welcome home party would ensue. During these trips he loved nothing more than to get into the bushland of the Adelaide Hills to enjoy the peace and tranquility he missed when overseas.

In 1945 he married Lucia, an Italian whom he had met when working with the YMCA in Rome and in 1948 their son Andrew was born. He retired to his home beside Lake Geneva in Switzerland in 1976, yet his desire to spend his final years in Adelaide was very strong and he returned here the following year. Although Lucia remained in Geneva, their love for each other never diminished and they spoke regularly on the telephone until just before his death. With a sharp mind until the end, Lawrence provided marvellous company to his family and friends.

With Lawrence's passing, a generation of the Moyse family came to an end, with all of his siblings pre-deceasing him. His role in outstanding social and food aid programme leadership, especially during the turbulent post war period is his legacy. (written by Mark Clemow)

The Advertiser Friday 29 December
Death Notice:
MOYSE, Lawrence Arthur. - Passed away on December 27, 2006 at Walkerville Residential Care. Aged 93 years. Much loved by his family and staff at ECH. Wonderful Man - Wonderful Life. Now at rest. Privately Cremated. Ivan Butler Funerals Accredited Member Australian Funeral Directors Association Klemzig 82618211.

  Research Notes:

Image courtesy of R W Scrase

Laurie married Lucia CISERI [5265] [MRIN: 1761], daughter of Vincenzo CISERI [6474] and Maria SINI [6475], in Florence, Italy. (Lucia CISERI [5265] was born on 19 Mar 1918 in Florence, Italy.)