By Fr Robert O’Bryan
GERALDTON Bishop Justin Bianchini took advantage of the priests from the Diocese being in Geraldton for the Mass of the Oils to invite Fr Noel Tobin to celebrate his 60th year as a priest.
Fr Tobin was born in Canowindra in NSW and entered St Patrick’s College in 1946 to start his studies for priesthood. He entered Propaganda Fide College in Rome, Italy in late 1946, completing his studies in 1951 before being ordained in Rome in July 1951.
Fr Tobin received special dispensation to be ordained before his 23rd birthday.
In 1951, he arrived in Geraldton, serving as an assistant priest until 1957 before being posted to Leonora where he served until 1963.
After spending 12 months in Port Hedland in 1963, he took a sabbatical break in 1964.
Returning to the diocese in 1965, he was parish priest in Mt Magnet until 1969 before becoming parish priest of Exmouth where he stayed until 1985. In 1985, he was asked by Bishop Hickey to return to Geraldton to take over the role as Administrator and Chancellor until 1989 when he gave up the role of Administrator to concentrate on full time Chancellor.
Fr Tobin was responsible for setting up the Diocesan Development Fund in the diocese, retiring from the Chancery in 1994 when he moved to Perth where he is still very active as a supply priest helping other parishes. Fr Tobin is a very popular celebrant for funerals in the Perth Archdiocese. Other roles held within the Geraldton diocese were as Editor for the Cathedral Chronicle, 1952 to 1957, and The Sower from 1989 to 1994.
Fr Tobin also served as the Diocesan Webmaster until early this year.
In the 17 years I have known him, he has been very helpful to young newly ordained priests, even claiming responsibility for the training of the current editor of The Sower. He has never lost his sense of humour, always finding the right funny story for the right occasion, including, “Have you heard the one about ….”
Fr Tobin and other priests of the diocese gathered for an evening meal where a presentation was made by Bishop Justin thanking him for all he had contributed to the diocese in the 60 years.