Rev. Lyndon Usmar

President Levin Red Cross April 1974 - March 1975.

The Rev Lyndon Usmar, a retired Presbyterian minister, came to Levin in 1972. In his last parish at Pahiatua he had been the Red Cross Branch President for ten successive years.

At the Levin Red Cross Annual General Meeting in 1972 he was appointed Branch President, our first male president.

On the 10 December 1974, a lettter was received from Rev Usmar offering a gift of money to be administered by the treasurer of the Levin Red Cross. The interest from the fund, to be known as "The Lyndon Usmar Reevedon home Christmas Cheer fund," to be used each year to provide Christmas Cheer for the residents of Reevedon home.

A cheque from the Rev Usmar for $200.00 was received on 11 March 1975 and was invested in Feltex company at 10% by the then treasurer, Mr Harris. The first $14 interest was used to provide Christmas Cheer for Reevedon in December 1975.

Note: the Feltex debenture matured in 1988 and was held in reserve until 1990. It was uplifted in 1994, as interest from it was no longer enough to provide cheer. Levin Red Cross decided to honour Rev Usmar's bequest and to carry on providing Christmas Cheer to Reevedon. This still continues in 2007.

Miss Atack stated in March 1975: "i regret to record that through severe illness, the Rev Usmar has had to resign. we are all very sorry indeed to know of his ill health and hope that rest will restore him to health again."

This was not to be and the Rev Usmar passed away on Friday 18^th April 1975. He asked that instead of wreaths money go to Reevedon. $5 was sent by Levin Red Cross on 13 May 1975.