Tony McClean

Tony McClean was born in Wanganui NZ on 31/12/78. He was the eldest child born to Jeanette and John McClean. Tony was followed by 2 brothers, Paul and Daniel, and a sister Hannah.

From a very young age Tony had what I would call a “natural faith”. It was something that just seemed to be born in him and this, along with his charismatic personality, seemed to draw people to him in quite an amazing way. In many ways he was different, seemed to have a different spirit guiding him, and a different view of the world.

In Tony’s world there were no outsiders. He wanted everyone to be a part of his “family”, and to feel that they belonged. There were no outsiders in his world, and as he grew that seemed to become his great mission in life. He would simply bestow a nickname on you, and you were in; another best mate, a part of his ever growing “family”. 

He packed a lot into his extraordinary life. He loved music, sports, surfing, snowboarding, art, teaching, humour, adventure, literature, theology and he excelled at all of them.
His greatest passion though, was people, his ‘family”, and this is where he really excelled. Tony had the ability to inspire and encourage. He had  a way of looking at people and seeing the person that they could become.

Tony spent many of his summer holidays at Scripture Union Camps on Ponui Island and at Whananaki, Northland. He began attending these camps as a 14 year old camper and then, once he had left school, as a leader.

At 19 he took on the role of “adj.” at the Ponui Camp, a role which he continued each summer, missing only 1 camp, until the summer of 2008.  He was full of fun & energy; he fuelled the camp concerts, energised the sports, led the worship and held the heart of many Ponui Camps in his hands.

Tony was a talented and inspirational teacher. He made learning fun and his vibrant personality drew the children to him. He was able to understand and connect with them, and to bring the best out of them. They seemed to love his creative style of teaching and it motivated them to work hard and to set challenging goals. But they also looked upon him as a friend and as someone they could aspire to be like as they grew up.

Janice Adamson, the Principal of St.Thomas’s School in Kohimaramara, Auckland, where Tony taught for 3 years, said, soon after hearing of his death, that “he was a rare teacher with heart, adored by his pupils and that  his death was a loss to education itself.”

Tony was a very talented musician. He was an accomplished guitarist and singer, but was also quite gifted at writing lyrics and music. He, along with 3 of his mates from church, began a hip-hop type band named “The Fat Monks” and amazingly got NZ on Air funding to record and film one of their original songs “Jimmy Smith Style.” 

During the last few years of his life, Tony discovered another latent talent. He found, while studying at Teachers College, that he enjoyed, and was rather good at art. He took inspiration for his own life from people like Gandhi, Martin Luther King & Mother Theresa, and so in late 2006, in an effort to raise funds for his planned Habitat For Humanity build in Fiji in 2007. Tony painted these 3 paintings. Included on each one is a quote from that person that reflected the type of life that Tony wanted to live.

Tony lived a life without compromise, drawing inspiration from these earthly heroes, but his real driving force was his devotion to his Lord & Saviour Jesus Christ.

Last year (2007) Tony spent 6 months teaching in an INF school in Pokara, Nepal, where, not only did he make a huge impression on the missionary children at the school, but he also became a much loved hero of the children in a number of the towns orphanages.

On his way home, he met a friend in Calcutta, India, where they spent a couple of weeks visiting New Zealanders working amongst the poor and needy. They also spent some time helping in the Mother Theresa home, which had a profound effect on them. Tony, in an e-mail home said “I spent most of my time looking and feeling stupid. I was having a ‘what-a-horrible-place, why-am-I even-here-moment’, and I suddenly remembered Jesus’ words about whatever you do for the least of these you do for me, and I actually realised I was in the middle of the best worship service I’ve ever been at”

Tony arrived back in NZ at the beginning of November and was excited about the possibility of getting a job at Elim Christian College, in 2008. Before he went away he had spoken to Murray Burton, the Principal, about the possibility of teaching some Christian Living classes and had worked on a programme while in Nepal. The Sports Coordinator job was now also available, and Tony jumped at the chance of being able to combine his 2 of his passions in life in the 1 job. It seemed like a dream come true. Tony loved his time at Elim College and was so excited about taking the year 12 group to OPC for the last week of the term.

None of us were prepared for what was to happen on that fateful journey. None of us ever expected that Tony’s life would be cut so short; he had so much living to do. But we know that he was ready. In his final class at Elim, he had talked with the students about Heaven. He had told them of the assurance that he had and that he couldn’t wait to get to Heaven, to go “home”. Tony had achieved the purpose for which he was here, to be human in the fullness of God’s love, and he had made sure that he lived every one of his days expressing that purpose.

In his final e-mail from India, written on the 30th October, 2007 and entitled ‘Signing off” he wrote;
”This is the final instalment of my adventures. Thanks for sticking with me to the end. It’s kind of hard to believe that I’ll be home this weekend”.
It is kind of hard to think that he really has now gone home.

Tony has left a legacy of what it means to be a true follower of Christ. To love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, strength and mind, and love your neighbour as yourself.

To preach the good news at all time, and if necessary use words. (one of his favourite quotes)
To be willing to lay down your life for a friend.
To see the world as our family and to do all we can to make sure everyone we meet belongs.
To live an extraordinary life.

We will always remember the inspirational, irreplaceable Tony McClean