Shortly after his arrival in India, Warwick (“Rick”) saw a need at the mission for someone with his agricultural training and experience.  So, for the next ten years, he worked as the Workshop Superintendent, teaching the orphan children about mechanics and mechanized agriculture.  During this time, he married Maxine Strong, daughter of the founder of The GSAM, Rev. Maxton D. Strong. Rick and Maxine eventually fostered seven orphan children before having three children of their own.

Warwick, or “Rick” as he is known to most, first came to India in 1976 as North Indian Director of an aid organization called, “For Those Who Have Less.” At the time, he was delivering an aeroplane containing one hundred and ninety-eight purebred, Australian dairy cows to be used in a cross-breeding program to benefit the poor.  Mother Theresa personally assisted Rick in his work and, in turn, Rick donated cows to her children’s home in Dumdum, Calcutta. He also brought twenty-five cows to “The Good Shepherd Agricultural Mission” (GSAM) in Banbasa, a trip that changed his life forever.

After encountering Visa difficulties in 1986, Rick moved his family back to Australia where he ran a farm for a college in Tasmania—but the Mission was never far from his thoughts.  In 2004, following the death of Rev. Strong, Rick along with his wife Maxine and son Clifton, returned to India to continue the mission’s work.  So committed was Rick to this project, he sold his house, cars, and business in Australia and donated all that he had to the organization.  Today, he continues to be a non-stop force for good around the compound, active in all aspects of mission life, leading by example and working harder than most volunteers half his age.

He became a member of our orphanage Board of Directors in 2004 and is a key person in the growth and development of the project.