Wayne’s passion and energy impressed me so much 24 years ago when I started teaching and he was running Auckland school Debating. He really helped set up secondary debating in Auckland. Just this year we were lucky enough to meet Wayne in his capacity as chess coach at Royal Oak Intermediate, when our son Thomas began taking an interest in chess. It is a testimony to Wayne that ROI is going to honour Wayne’s tireless work by ensuring we keep developing a strong chess club and offering a trophy in Wayne’s name. He was such a special guy with a deep passion for chess coaching- just as 20 years ago he took the same approach with Debating. Only this August he texted my husband explaining how he had noticed Thomas’s chess was improving rapidly and suggested he entered the next tournament- he really took an interest in every chess player he knew and developing their talent. Sending your family our love, best wishes and gratitude for sharing Wayne with us. Georgina Barwood

He married my sister, and together, they made me an uncle. He made the codes work, and the codes made a bulletin board. He played chess, while everyone else was... throwing out old computers. He collected said computers, and gave them new life, and gave some of them away. I never heard him formally debate, but I'm told he was rather good at it. I didn't know him as well as I could have, but he loved my sister, and that was good enough for me.

I want to honor my good friend and colleague, Wayne McDougall, whose recent passing has left me heartbroken. Reflecting on our time together brings comfort, as Wayne’s kindness and dedication were unmatched. I first met Wayne 13 years ago at a Chess Power Sarapu Cup event in Kaukapakapa, where his understanding and agreeability quickly stood out. When I informed him the event would soon be limited to children, he didn’t just accept the change—he wholeheartedly agreed, exemplifying his constant empathy. For Wayne, chess wasn’t just a game; it was a way to shape young minds with respect and character. His dedication was unmatched—he reached thousands of children, giving his time selflessly. I don’t know anyone who has done more for children through chess in New Zealand. He offered opportunities to kids from disadvantaged backgrounds who would have otherwise missed out, making a lasting impact on their lives. Wayne was also the most successful junior chess coach in New Zealand based on performance. The teams he coached frequently excelled at a national level, a testament to his remarkable ability to inspire and bring out the best in young players. Perhaps most admirable was his humility. Despite his immense contribution, he never sought recognition. Wayne was quietly selfless, and even in his most challenging moments, his focus remained on others. When I called him after his diagnosis, he was more concerned with offering practical advice than his own situation. That level of generosity and care was truly remarkable. Wayne’s values of kindness, humility, generosity, and purpose are his legacy. My heartfelt condolences go to his beloved wife, Jenny, and his children, Nathan, Sylvia, and Euan. I hope they find some comfort in knowing how deeply Wayne was appreciated and how many lives he touched. Thank you, Wayne, for showing us how to live with grace. You will be deeply missed, but never forgotten.

I know that Wayne as a sci-fi buff would appreciate this line from the 1982 movie Blade Runner: "The light that burns twice as bright burns half as long, and you have burned so very very brightly, Roy" Wayne, your life may have been shortened so tragically by the cancer which took you from us way too soon, but I know that your faith in God shone through so brightly in the time that you were with us. I was so heartened to hear you speak of death having lost its sting, the last time that I saw you on the video call only a few weeks ago. Clearly, you lived your life on a firm foundation and that biblical faith shone through even as you prepared to meet your Heavenly Father in those last precious weeks you had with the family. 1 Corinthians 15:51-57 King James Version "51 Behold, I shew you a mystery; We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, 52 In a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trump: for the trumpet shall sound, and the dead shall be raised incorruptible, and we shall be changed. 53 For this corruptible must put on incorruption, and this mortal must put on immortality. 54 So when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this mortal shall have put on immortality, then shall be brought to pass the saying that is written, Death is swallowed up in victory. 55 O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory? 56 The sting of death is sin; and the strength of sin is the law. 57 But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." Unlike Roy, the android in the Blade Runner movie, Wayne has a creator who has promised eternal life after this short mortal life is over, to those who believe in His Son Jesus. Wayne, we will miss you, but we know we will see you again when that great and glorious day arrives.

Poem by Jill ( aged 86 today) Our Wayne has passed away Yet in our hearts to stay He's bound for heaven now Where angelic hosts bow. In the presence of Christ Jesus Where love and joy and peace is Wayne lived good years, Though early he was taken, We can rejoice, with tears, With faith that is unshaken Giving glory to God, We his family and friends Will thank our Father in Heaven Whose Love never ends.

Wayne's Tribute Love from Dawn Smith ... Australia 🇦🇺 Dear Jenny and Family, My Heart is aching for You All at this Incredibly Sad Time in Your Lives. Such a Shock to Loose Your Precious Husband Wayne and Beloved Father, in the Way that it All Happened. 😢 I Can't Imagine How You Must All Be Feeling Right Now. But For You All To Know, That Right Now, Wayne Is Resting In Perfect Peace, In The Arms Of The LORD. 💜 What a BLESSING To Have That BLESSED ASSURANCE.!!! I Am So Very Sorry For Your Loss. 😔 For All The FAMILY, Especially His Mum, Dad And Sisters. 😢 I PRAY 🙏🏽 YOU ALL KNOW GOD'S SHALOM 🕊 PEACE At This Time In YOUR LIVES, Like NEVER BEFORE.!!! MY LOVE ❤️ And PRAYERS, Go Out To YOU ALL, As YOU REST In KNOWING, The Comfort It Brings To KNOW, One DAY SOON YOU WILL ALL BE TOGETHER AGAIN. HEAVEN IS WONDERFUL PLACE, Filled With HIS GLORY AND GRACE.!!! 🙏🏽 GOD BLESS YOU ALL, LOVE Dawn. XXOO 😪💜🎶💕🙏 Dawn Smith 🫂 Australia 🇦🇺

TRIBUTE to Wayne McDougall with Love ❤ from DownUnder Australia 🇦🇺 Wayne, it was with great shock that we learned of what you were going thru! There truly are no words to express what we felt at the rapid decline in your health! 😔 We are Glad and Grateful that we got to do the Zoom Call with you a Week Before the Lord took you Home 🏡. Jenny Thank you for organising that call. 🫂💙 Wayne, we are Grateful to Know where You are now! With Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus. Jenny, Nathan, Euan, Sylvia and your other family members remain in our Prayers 🙏 during this painful, challenging and difficult time. Greg and I will continue to Lift each one up in Prayer 🙏🏻🙏🏾🙏🏼 for God's Peace, Comfort, Strength and Healing as they each learn to Live without you on this earth 🌏. We are Grateful to know that You are in a place with no more suffering or pain and no more tears! 😢 We also know that the tears 😭 that your family and Loved Ones are crying 😢 now are all being collected and stored by Our Lord, in His Bottle, just as it says in His Word, the Bible. Psalm 56:8 NLT 📖 8 You keep track of all my sorrows.     You have collected all my tears in your bottle.     You have recorded each one in your book. 📖 RIP Wayne 💙😢 Looking forward to that day we are once again Reunited in Abba's Presence. .. See 👀 You in Eternity, Wayne 🫂💙🕊🙏🏽 Love Leanne and Greg 🧡 Australia 🇦🇺