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While he was in Cootamundra Goy had visits from Reverend Dr John Flynn and Reverend K F Partridge,
veteran patrol padre from the Northern Territory. Partridge records that he stopped at Cootamundra on his way
back to the Territory in May 1936 and discussed the possibility of Goy joining the staff of the Australian Inland
Mission (AIM). Goy accepted the challenge and on 17 December 1936 he left Cootamundra to join the staff
of the AIM. By now the family had grown to three children, Dorothy having been joined by brothers Ian, born
19 November 1923, and Alan, born 14 January 1927. Dorothy was already a boarder at the Presbyterian Ladies
College, Goulburn, where she remained, and the boys were enrolled as boarders at Knox College, Sydney.
In April 1937, with a new vehicle and other equipment Goy and his wife set off for his ministry in the north.
They met the Reverend Kingsley Partridge at Inverell in New South Wales with the idea of this experienced inlander
introducing them to ‘life on the track’, and to key people in towns like Charleville and Cloncurry, headquarters of
the Flying Doctor Service (then known as the Aerial Medical Service and still part of the AIM), to meet Maurie
Anderson, radio engineer and Dr G W F Alberry, the flying doctor. While they were in Cloncurry Dr C E A Cook,
the medical superintendent of the Northern Territory medical service, arrived on a visit, giving opportunity for
discussions regarding conditions under which the flying doctor could service that part of the Northern Territory
reasonably within Cloncurry’s operational range.
Partridge escorted the Goys across the Barkly Tableland, visiting most of the stations en route to Tennant
Creek. From there, in June 1937, Goy continued north, visiting the stations and establishing his ministry in the area
north of Attack Creek in the Northern Territory and extending into the Kimberley area of Western Australia.
As part of his patrol he paid visits to Darwin, where for 65 years the Methodist Church had functioned without
a break. There had been an agreement that the Presbyterian Church would not compete in the town as it was
considered that the Methodist Church was pastorally caring for Presbyterian residents, but now conditions were
undergoing a change. In 1938, with rising international tension, there had been a build up of members of the armed
services and others who had come to work on various defence projects in the immediate area. In his visits to Darwin
in 1937–38, Goy became concerned for the welfare of the added population and considered that the church should
provide recreational facilities to counter boredom and provide an alternative to the hotels and other ‘attractions’
then available. He persuaded the Presbyterian Church to buy land on the corner of Smith and Peel streets with this
in view. In June 1939, following press reports in southern newspapers that the AIM was about to commence work
in Darwin, the Methodist Church expressed concern at this prospect. There were conferences in Sydney involving
officials of both churches and an assurance was given that the Presbyterians had ‘no intention of commencing
opposition services in Darwin’. However it was revealed that the Presbyterian Church had bought land in the town
and was contemplating building a recreation club to which purpose some money had been donated. The Reverend
John Flynn (Presbyterian) and the Reverend John Burton (Methodist) visited Darwin and conferred with local
church people with the result that co-operative work was agreed on. On 26 August 1939, Lieutenant Colonel
H C H Robertson, commandant of 7th Military Division, probably at Goy’s suggestion, wrote to the Reverend
John Burton emphasising the need for the club. In September of that year representatives of the two churches met
in Melbourne and agreed on a comprehensive plan for co-operative work in Darwin. One further recommendation
was that a chaplain to the forces be appointed to relieve pressure on Goy and the Methodist minister, the Reverend
Clyde Toft. On November 16 1939 the Presbyterian Church reported that Goy had commenced work in Darwin,
that building work was well in progress and, while Goy’s name does not appear in the reports of the conferences
mentioned above, there is little doubt that he was exerting his influence both in southern boardrooms and within
the Darwin community.
Goy remembered that while he was in Broome in September 1939 Flynn summoned him to Melbourne to
attend meetings of the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church. While he was in Melbourne the war broke
out and John Flynn, then the Moderator-General of the church, and the chaplain-general (Presbyterian) asked him
to accept appointment as an army chaplain to be stationed in Darwin. Goy accepted this challenge and returned
to Darwin with his commission and the task of seeing to the building of the Inter-church Club. At about the same
time the Reverend Clyde Toft was also commissioned as chaplain and the two men worked in close harmony, each
serving in the army on a part-time basis.
There was a great deal to do in a short time and there is no doubt that Goy’s drive and persuasive powers
contributed in no small measure to the speedy completion of the club building. The club was opened with an
impressive show of pomp on 26 June 1940, the Reverend Dr John Flynn, Moderator-General of the Presbyterian
Church and the Reverend Professor Albiston, President-General of the Methodist Church, with most local church
and civic dignitaries being present. The club consisted of the building provided by the church plus additional ‘huts’
and outdoor recreational facilities made possible by government involvement. It proved to be popular and well
patronised.
It was at this time that the Goys had a happy surprise. Mrs Goy told her husband that she was expecting another
baby, 14 years after the birth of their younger son. On 29 October 1941 baby daughter Marian was born in the
Darwin hospital to the delight of parents, family and Northern Territory friends. Before the Japanese air raids in
February 1942 Mrs Goy, daughter Dorothy, who was in Darwin, and Marian were evacuated by flying boat to
Sydney. Later the new daughter was baptised in Sydney by John Flynn.
In June 1940 Goy was appointed to a Civil Defence Committee and became its secretary. He set up its
headquarters on the ground floor of his manse in Peel Street. The committee was frustrated by the apathy of
the Administrator and some departmental heads, with the result that many of the members resigned. When the
Japanese bombed the town on 19 February 1942 the work of the committee was largely uncoordinated and the
failure of the organisation was a sad and bitter experience for Goy. During the raids on that fateful day Goy and