Category Archives: Christians

Bill Ferguson (1882 – 1950) aboriginal leader Bill Ferguson stood tall, with a calm and reliable manner, and his strong Presbyterian faith supported his pride in Aboriginal people  In 1949 he went to lobby the national Chifley Labor government in Canberra as … Continue reading →

William Bernard Ullathorne (1806 – 1889) Catholic priest, commentator, pamphleteer William Ullathorne persuaded the English Colonial Office to allow passage money of £40 each for ten schoolteachers, whom he recruited from all parts of the British Isles. He published a … Continue reading →

Jeremiah Francis O’Flynn (1788 – 1831) Catholic priest Simple but impulsive, Jeremiah O’Flynn managed to conflict with authority wherever he went, yet his clash with the Colonial Office helped to publicize the needs of Catholics in New South Wales and … Continue reading →

James McColl (1844 – 1929)  Senator James McColl was a senator in the Federal Parliament.  He was also a Presbyterian who taught Sunday school at St Andrew’s in Bendigo for 55 years.

Robert Bruce Plowman (1886 – 1966) patrol padre, author Robert Bruce Plowman was the first Australian Inland Mission Patrol Padre at Oodnadatta, South Australia, 1913-18.  He wrote `Camel Pads’, `The Boundary Rider’, and `The Man from Oodnadatta’.

Frederick Llewellyn Heriot (1884 – 1956) Cloncurry minister The Rev. F. L. Heriot, of the Australian Inland Mission, may be fairly described as a hero.

James Dixon (1758 – 1840) Catholic priest, convict (political) Reverend James Dixon was tried and sentenced to death for suspected complicity in the Irish rebellion. The sentence was commuted to transportation for life. He arrived at Sydney on the Friendship … Continue reading →

Agnes Bennett (1872 – 1960)   medical practitioner, army officer, flying doctor Agnes Bennett was a committee-member of the (Church of England) District Nursing Association and gave free medical assistance.  She was the first female commissioned officer in the British Army … Continue reading →

John Dunn (1938 – 2013) railway engineer, Bible teacher You could say that John Dunn had a two-track mind, or rather that his life ran on parallel rails according to design, because the two great passions of his life were … Continue reading →

John Clifford Peel (1894 – 1918) aviator, visionary John Clifford Peel wrote to John Flynn advocating the use of aircraft to overcome the distance and isolation of the outback.   John Clifford planned to become a medical missionary but was killed as … Continue reading →

Reginald Moffatt Fulford (1892 – 1945)  Australian outback worker Reginald Fulford was a council member of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. He was a representative of Bush Church Aid Society. “A real friend” who would “do anything for anybody” and … Continue reading →

Francis Xavier Gsell (1872–1960) autobiographer, missionary, bishop Gsell lived and worked on Bathurst Island. He understood Aboriginal life, spiritual values and rituals and sought the people’s advancement; at this time even some anthropologists believed that they would become extinct. 

Elisabeth Murdoch (1909 – 2012) family matriarch, philanthropist Few can rival Dame Elisabeth’s enormous contribution. Her interests are so many they need to be alphabetically catalogued: academia, the arts, children, flora and fauna, heritage, medical research, social welfare. Many of … Continue reading →

James Mein (1761 – 1827) benefactor, farmer, Presbyterian lay leader James Mein’s position in the Presbyterian Church is not entirely clear. Some have referred to him as an elder, others as a catechist. He certainly played the major part in … Continue reading →

Thomas Arndell (1753 – 1821) farmer, magistrate, surgeon Thomas Arndell was one of seven assistant surgeons who formed the medical staff led by Surgeon-General John White which cared for the convicts in the First Fleet. He was an Anglican. He … Continue reading →

David Hay (1916 – 2009) administrator, diplomat, public servant David Hay played everything cool, but always made a point of knowing what was involved in whatever job he took on, what its problems were and how they might best be … Continue reading →

Henry Montgomery (1847 – 1932) Tasmanian bishop, father of Field Marshal Montgomery ‘A man must be a leader in the Colonies’, Montgomery later wrote of the role of bishop. ‘The quiet, harmless man will fail. It is all push … … Continue reading →

Thomas Scott (1783 – 1860) minister, benefactor, landowner Thomas Scott was appointed archdeacon of New South Wales on 2 October 1824, and he arrived at Sydney on 7 May 1825. He was also made a member of council and a … Continue reading →

Boak Jobbins (1947 – 2012) preacher, author, builder One of Boak Jobbins’ key contributions to St Andrew’s was the prominent role he played in its restoration. He was endlessly committed to the project and the stonemasons even carved a likeness … Continue reading →

William Stawell (1815 – 1889) statesman, Chief Justice of the Supreme Court As an agnostic William Stawell took part in some of the more dissolute amusements of the era, but in 1848 a sermon preached by Bishop Perry converted him, … Continue reading →