Harry Griffiths (1895 – 1987) was a

Reverend The Reverend is an style (manner of address), honorific style most often placed before the names of Christian clergy and Minister of religion, ministers. There are sometimes differences in the way the style is used in different countries and c ...

who worked for the Methodist Inland Mission in

Alice Springs Alice Springs ( aer, Mparntwe) is the third-largest town in the Northern Territory of Australia. Known as Stuart until 31 August 1933, the name Alice Springs was given by surveyor William Whitfield Mills after Alice, Lady Todd (''née'' Al ...

;

Northern Territory The Northern Territory (commonly abbreviated as NT; formally the Northern Territory of Australia) is an states and territories of Australia, Australian territory in the central and central northern regions of Australia. The Northern Territory ...

and is best remembered for establishing Griffiths House as well as designing and opening the

ANZAC Hill ANZAC Hill, at 608 meters (1995 feet), is located in Alice Springs, in the Northern Territory of Australia. The Arrernte name of ANZAC Hill have been recorded as both Untyeyetwelye and Atnelkentyarliweke. A popular walk in Alice Springs is along ...

memorial.

Early life

English born Griffiths married his wife, Dorothy, after he was 'invalided out' of the British Army for injuries received as a medical orderly; serving in

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

during

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. Griffiths was advised to move to a warmer climate and, not qualifying for assistance, he and Dorothy saved for the fares and initially settled in

Melbourne Melbourne ( ; Boonwurrung/Woiwurrung: ''Narrm'' or ''Naarm'') is the capital and most populous city of the Australian state of Victoria, and the second-most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Its name generally refers to a met ...

. When in Melbourne Griffiths became a home missionary and started the process to become ordained: during this process he was appointed to

Katherine, Northern Territory Katherine is a town in the Northern Territory of Australia. It is situated on the Katherine River, after which it is named, southeast of Darwin. It is the fourth largest settlement in the Territory and is known as the place where "The outbac ...

Life in the Northern Territory

In Katherine Griffiths went on patrols in the local area, often assisted by Dorothy who also helped isolated children with their correspondence lessons and taught Sunday School. The couple lived at the manse which they frugally furnished with beer cartons and tea crates. Immediately following Griffiths ordination the couple were moved to Alice Springs where, in addition to his work as a Reverend, he offered medical and dental help; he went as far as to use his International work truck as an ambulance. Shortly after their arrival Griffiths, as chairman of the trustees of the

Returned and Services League of Australia The Returned and Services League of Australia (RSL) is a support organisation for people who have served or are serving in the Australian Defence Force. Mission The RSL's mission is to ensure that programs are in place for the well-being, care ...

, lobbied for the flat area around (what is now known as) ANZAC Hill to be set aside as a recreational reserve and also suggested a memorial be erected on top of ANZAC Hill. He designed the memorial and opened and dedicated it with a public address on ANZAC Day, 25 April 1934. With the outbreak of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...

Griffiths was commissioned as an Army Chaplin and during the war worked in the Northern Territory,

Victoria Victoria most commonly refers to: * Victoria (Australia), a state of the Commonwealth of Australia * Victoria, British Columbia, provincial capital of British Columbia, Canada * Victoria (mythology), Roman goddess of Victory * Victoria, Seychelle ...

and

Palestine __NOTOC__ Palestine may refer to: * State of Palestine, a state in Western Asia * Palestine (region), a geographic region in Western Asia * Palestinian territories, territories occupied by Israel since 1967, namely the West Bank (including East ...

. During the War Griffiths started work on the construction of Griffiths House, which was originally designed to be a hostel for young single people who had moved to Alice Springs for work, but by the time it was opened (on 5 July 1941), plans had already changed and it was immediately converted in to a social club for soldiers stationed in Alice Springs. After the war, and opening in 1945, the house was converted to provide hostel accommodation for children from remote areas of

Central Australia Central Australia, also sometimes referred to as the Red Centre, is an inexactly defined region associated with the geographic centre of Australia. In its narrowest sense it describes a region that is limited to the town of Alice Springs and i ...

so that they could attend school. Griffiths was also chairman of the Alice Springs Progress Association.

Later life

Griffiths and Dorothy left Alice Springs in 1952 when they moved to Murray Bridge. Griffiths ashes were buried at ANZAC Hill in 1987.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Griffiths, Harry Methodist missionaries in Australia Australian Methodist missionaries 1895 births 1987 deaths 20th-century Methodists

Early life

Life in the Northern Territory

Later life

Further reading

References