Chairman of Well-Being Australia Mark Tronson says it has been his privilege to have been a receiptent of many 'Angels Unawares' leading up to and during his 18 years of founding the Sports and Leisure Ministry, 17 years as the Australian cricket team chaplain, and now 29 years of faith financial living.
One of these Angels Unawares were James and Margaret Kidd.
Mark Tronson picks up the story: The surname 'Kidd' is well recognised in Baptist circles. Delma and I knew three of the Kidd family. Delma's late dad Darrell, a high school teacher taught with Peter Kidd. Lillian Neate (nee Kidd) is the better half of Rev Alan Neate a Baptist Minister, retired to Batemans Bay and good friends throughout our years in Moruya.
James and Margaret Kidd were Penrith identities well before we moved to Warragamba Baptist Church as a very young Minister in 1981. James was a highly esteemed GP and became our family physician.
Three of our children were born under the medical care of Dr. Kidd. Delma's mum and dad Darrell & Doreen were visiting us in Wallacia on one occasion and Darrell fell into enormous pain with a kidney stone. We rushed him to see Dr Kidd – hence we learnt of the connection between Darrell and Peter Kidd.
Margaret Kidd hosted mission people in their home regularly and was a wonderful hostess. James, a keen photographer 'shuttered' our growing family on numerous occasions. Margaret thought it hilarious at the Wallacia Christian fellowship on one occasion when I welcomed them as 'The Kidd's …... there were fifty kids (children) in the congregation.
James and Margaret's eldest daughter Marilyn Kidd was in the AIS Rowing Squad in the mid 1980s and won a Commonwealth Games Gold Medal in the Eights. James and Margaret were well aware of the strains and stresses of young athletes and I've heard no better 'sporting parent' story than his. Dr Kidd said that at the rowing (cheering enthusiastically), his name and title was simply - 'Marilyn's dad' !
We were living by faith finance and the day before I was to leave for the July 1984 L.A. Olympics as a Chaplain which was to be followed by my first US Sports Ministry study tour, Dr Kidd arrived on our doorstep. He had with him a 'bag of oranges' for Delma and the children, and to wish me well. James' visit was such a joy to us all.
To me, the 'bag of oranges' was a message into my heart from the Lord. We were secure. The Lord was with us as a family and with us in our fledgling faith mission. Over 24 years similar things have occurred. Indeed, James and Margaret Kidd were angels unawares!