Event and Ticketing Details
Dates & Times
Wednesday 26 June
6:15 PM - 7:15 PM
When Father Bob Maguire was forced to retire from his South Melbourne parish, the community – and wider Melbourne – was devastated and outraged. Father Bob is an iconoclast, known for his radio and television partnerships with John Safran as well as his lifelong work with the homeless, sick, criminal and addicted – work he continues now through the Father Bob Maguire Foundation.
Passionate and creative, humorous and compassionate, Father Bob has made a significant mark. Sue Williams has written the biography of this controversial figure and national treasure in Father Bob: The Larrikin Priest. Together they tell his extraordinary story.
Featuring
Sue Williams
Sue Williams is the author of Father Bob: The Larrikin Priest, a biography of Melbourne icon and national treasure Father Bob Maguire. An award-winning journalist, Sue was born in England, and worked in print and television in the UK and New Zealand.
Sue’s othr books include the bestselling Women of the Outback, Outback Spirit and Getting There. And Then the Darkness, about the disappearance of British backpacker Peter Falconio, was shortlisted for the Golden Dagger Award in the UK for the true crime book of the year, and the Ned Kelly Awards in Australia.
Sue spent many years travelling around the world before falling in love with Australia in 1989. Since settling here, she has written for many of Australia’s leading newspapers and magazines. Sue lives in Sydney with her partner.
Father Bob Maguire
Father Bob was one of Australia’s best-loved parish priests; he appears Sunday nights on Triple J.
Father Bob Maguire AM RFD, is one of our unheralded, truly Australian heroes. They say that the mould was broken when “the fiery priest of the downtrodden” was born. Throughout his life he has never stopped questioning the establishment – political or religious.
From 1973 he served as Parish Priest at Sts. Peter and Paul’s in South Melbourne. He co-founded Open Family in 1978 and to this day he continues his work with the street people of Melbourne – Emerald Hill Mission is managed by volunteers at the rear of the parish house where food is cooked and served on a daily basis. The Fr Bob Maguire Foundation raises funds to aid the underprivileged and homeless.
His unusual style has greatly contributed to the success of John Safron’s weekly show on Triple J. It is the highest rated of all the segments, especially enjoyed by the younger listeners.
Fr Bob was awarded the Order of Australia in 1989 and in 2003 was named Entrepreneur of the Year for the Southern Region of Australia for a Social, Community or Not For Profit Organisation, and he also received the Local Hero 2005 Victoria Award as part of the Australian of the Year celebrations.
Fr Bob is a strong inspirational leader to both his congregation and the wider Australian community.