Colourful chaplain with a big heart

It’s pretty easy to spot the new chaplain at Uniting AgeWell’s Kalkee Communities of Murray and Nangatta.

Victor Pitman-Jones - “just call me Vic” – is the one in the loud colourful shirt with the chrome dome, a pierced ear, two tattoos and huge smile. “I like cheerful shirts,” he explains. “It gives people something to smile about. And I’m certainly game to wear a pink wig to help raise awareness during Breast Cancer Week – or even for fun!”

Vic often has knitting needles close by as he whips up jumpers for his grandchildren and lots of other bits and bobs. “It’s not unusual for men to knit,” he says. “In the olden days, fishermen used to knit. It kept their fingers nimble for when they made rope cables.”

Vic always stands out during footy season too. He’s a Sydney Swans supporter in a community of die-hard Cats fans.

One of his fans is resident Margaret who says of the chaplain,” He gets us, he totally understands us. He’s great!”

Vic’s other hobbies are as colourful as his shirts. He has led and sung in choirs for the Salvation Army, plays the trombone and wants to learn the ukulele. He loves sport, music, war history, movies and is always game for a walk in the great outdoors. He’s even walked the Kokoda Trail.

His career has also been diverse. He was raised in Melbourne and when he left school did an apprenticeship as an electrical fitter before joining the Salvation Army Training College at the age of 20. He was ordained two years later, and spent 30 years working as a chaplain for the Salvos across Australia.

Vic also worked as a funeral director, for the Jesuit Social Services supporting families after suicide, and at another aged care organisation before joining Uniting AgeWell.

“I love the values of Uniting AgeWell,” Vic says. “I love the inclusiveness, the ethos and kindness that I see in the organisation.” To this end he feels privileged to minister to all in an organisation that puts all faiths and religions on an equal footing.

He also appreciates that Uniting AgeWell is a learning organisation that champions everyone to be the best version of themselves. Over the years he’s done a Bachelor of Theology and is currently studying a Graduate Diploma in Ageing and Pastoral studies.