Faith constant from Burma to Aotearoa

MAN OF FAITH: Herbie Charlesworth has worshipped at St Mary???s Church for 58 years.

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He has old-fashioned British politeness and his accent shows a hint of his homeland Myanmar, formerly known as Burma.

But 93-year-old Herbie Charlesworth is firmly rooted in New Zealand.

He says his Catholic faith helped him to adjust to the Kiwi lifestyle after he emigrated and he has worshipped at the same church in west Auckland for 58 years.

Mr Charlesworth still attends Mass daily at St Mary’s Church in Avondale where he is also an altar server.

He also gives communion to the sick every Sunday.

The Anglo-Indian decided to move to New Zealand with his wife Theresa and daughter Penny after the British handed the country of his birth back to the Burmese in January, 1948.

The Charlesworths, like many with English heritage, were given a choice of going back to England or relocating to Australia or New Zealand.

They chose New Zealand where an aunt’s family had settled.

Their shift followed the turmoil of war and rebellion.

Mr Charlesworth, who was in the thick of the allied action in Burma, signed up with the British Army’s Indian Auxiliary Force at 19 and served with the Upper Burma Battalion.

He transferred to the Burma Intelligence Corps and was quickly promoted because he could speak Burmese and Hindi.

The family finally arrived in New Zealand on Easter Sunday in 1950.

Mr Charlesworth’s mother and younger sister Gladys, 85, also made their way over.

His elder sister Elizabeth, 97, and her son, Bruce, followed with his middle sister Cherry, 91, making the journey with her husband Victor.

They thought New Zealand was wonderful, with plenty of jobs and accommodation.

Mr Charlesworth now considers himself a New Zealander.

But his home still contains mementoes of Myanmar and the life he left behind.

Also pinned to his wall is a Benemerenti certificate – an award given by the pope.

Only a few New Zealanders have earned this distinction and Mr Charlesworth got his for the many years of service he’s given to St Mary’s.

He hopes to continue in his role there for as long as he is able.

He says it gives him a sense of purpose – despite his age.

"Nothing is useless in this world," he says.

"Not even me!"

- Sarah Coddington is a student at the Whitireia Journalism School

- © Fairfax NZ News