Gordon Moyes

Gordon Moyes
Born	Gordon Keith Mackenzie Moyes (1938-11-17) 17 November 1938 Melbourne, Australia
Died	5 April 2015(2015-04-05) (aged 76) Sydney, Australia
Occupation(s)	Christian evangelist, broadcaster, politician
Years active	1979–2011
Known for	Host of Turn 'Round Australia and Sunday Night Live with Gordon Moyes; Member of the New South Wales Legislative Council

Gordon Keith Mackenzie Moyes AC (17 November 1938 – 5 April 2015) was a prominent Australian Christian evangelist, broadcaster, and political figure. From 2002 until 2011, he held a seat in the New South Wales Legislative Council, initially as a member of the Christian Democratic Party until March 2009, after which he became the sole parliamentary representative for the Family First Party in New South Wales from November 2009 through 2011.

Early life and career

Moyes was born in Melbourne on 17 November 1938 and authored When Box Hill was a Village, recounting his formative years.

He gained nationwide prominence as the host of the television series Turn 'Round Australia and the radio program Sunday Night Live with Gordon Moyes.

Prior to assuming leadership at Sydney’s Wesley Mission in 1979, Moyes served as an ordained minister within the Churches of Christ in Australia, ministering to congregations in Ascot/Newmarket, Ararat, and Cheltenham in Victoria. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Melbourne in 1961. Upon joining Wesley Mission, he became affiliated with the Uniting Church. After a 27-year tenure, Moyes stepped down from his role at Wesley Mission in December 2005, with Keith Garner succeeding him.

Parliamentary career

In 2002, following the resignation of Elaine Nile, Moyes was appointed by the Christian Democratic Party (CDP) to fill her vacancy in the New South Wales Legislative Council. He subsequently secured election in his own right during the 2003 state election.

By 2004, Moyes openly challenged CDP leader Fred Nile’s policy priorities, urging a transition away from positions opposing homosexuality, abortion, and Islam toward a stronger emphasis on environmental concerns. This disagreement intensified after Nile’s re-election in 2007.

When Legislative Council president Meredith Anne Burgmann retired in 2007, both Moyes and Nile vied for the presidency. Nile withdrew his candidacy to support Moyes; however, Peter Primrose was ultimately appointed president, with Moyes receiving only two votes. Later that year, after Nile assumed the role of Assistant President, Moyes publicly expressed criticism of him.

Toward the end of 2007, Moyes accused Nile of undemocratic leadership practices related to opposition against Islamic schools and called for his removal. By 2008, Moyes described Nile as being outdated and isolated within the party, also raising concerns about workplace harassment.

In 2009, Nile regretted allowing Moyes to replace his wife due to what he perceived as Moyes’ disloyalty and backing of the Greens—whom Moyes regarded as "far more Christian." In March of that year, Moyes was expelled from the CDP; he denounced the party as "hypocritical," "anti-democratic," and fundamentally extreme. He criticized their literal biblical interpretations and condemned their anti-homosexual stance as inconsistent with Christian values.

Following his expulsion, Moyes served as an independent before affiliating with the Family First Party in November 2009. He was unsuccessful in retaining his Legislative Council seat during the 2011 state election.

Other details

Moyes was honored with multiple honorary doctorates: a Doctor of Divinity (honoris causa) awarded by the California Graduate School of Theology in 1985; a Doctor of Laws (honoris causa) from the same institution in 1989; and a Doctor of Letters (honoris causa) conferred by Milligan College in Tennessee also in 1989.

In recognition of his extensive community contributions through Wesley Mission—including expanding social welfare programs and fostering collaborations to increase service reach—he was appointed a Companion of the Order of Australia in 2002. Additional accolades include being named a Member of the Order of Australia in 1986; receiving Rotary International’s Paul Harris Fellow award in 1978; earning Australian Father of the Year honors in 1986; and obtaining Rotary International’s president’s "distinguished service" award in 1994.

Residing on New South Wales’ Central Coast at Tumbi Umbi during his later years, Moyes passed away on 5 April 2015 in Sydney.