Hamish Muir

“A security guard” is a role that would never aptly capture the incredible character of Hamish Muir; an entire magazine and fifty volunteer role titles may do his contributions to Elevate some justice.

Hamish would strike you as a hilarious, well-respected, and beloved man. The beginnings of his involvement with Elevate were hesitant – to say the least; Di was persistent, and Hamish’s annual “no, I will not help out” was worn thin. He found himself at Elevate’s National Camp as a security guard, apprehensive at the vast number of people charging around the campsite with physical and intellectual disabilities. He was off to a fantastic start as a volunteer.

Hamish is a smart man, with a quick wit, and undeniable love for seeing people become all they can be. He recovered from the initial shock and became an essential piece of the camp tapestry. You miss him when he’s not there and National Camp is even more National Camp when he is there.

Poolside, Hamish has spent long afternoons hoisting people in and out of the water. Amazingly, he’s never taken a tumble into the pool. When asked why he’s so willing to tackle the hard and repetitive labour, he says he wouldn’t take “no, I can’t get in” (because of physical limitations) as a response. “Nothing is impossible”, he echoes.

Amid recently journeying challenges with his physical health, he laughs over fond memories from camp. A curious leftover suitcase after delivering all the luggage to their owners, to learn an unfortunate young man on a school karate trip had his suitcase stolen by Elevate Christian Disability Trust at the airport.

You could call Hamish any of the following roles across his 25 years of service: a fantastic coach, an MC, worship leader, luggage–deliverer, boundary-enforcer, impromptu dancer or skit participant, chair-setter-upper-er, camp-food-consumer, sleep-schedule supporter, and a virtual camp leader during the COVID-19 lock-down.

Hamish, we are so grateful for all you have contributed to the ministry.