Father Pat Austin, parish priest of Balranald, is a member of the religious order, the Missionary of the Sacred Heart.

“It is quite unusual for a member of a religious order to be on their own,” Fr Pat told me.

He gets news from the Order all the time, and always knows wherever he ends up in the world, he will be back at the order.

Last year, he was invited to go back to the order, but during a journey to visit his brother in Bendigo, fate took a different turn.

Father Pat was passing through Balranald on the way to see his brother for his birthday.

An Indian priest who came from Hillston told him there was a big shortage of priests in Balranald, and he should come back.

“I knew he was right, so after I saw my brother in Bendigo for his birthday, I immediately made plans to return to Balranald, I have a great fondness for, and a happy connection to the town, from my time here before,” Pat said. On his way home from Bendigo, Fr Pat stopped in Balranald and presided over two Mass services. He was back in residence in Balranald in December 2023.

Fr Pat was ordained into the Catholic faith in 1968, when he was 28 years old.

“My family encouraged me, and I wanted to be like the priests I knew and admired,” Pat said.

“I became a parish priest, which is like a doctor of souls. People come to the church where all spiritual things take place, then return to their lives, and live their faith.”

The first 10 years of his life as a priest was spent in the Northern Territory.

“I was sent first to Melville Island, North Darwin, where there were tribal Aboriginal people,” he said.

“One older man, named Bob Curry, sent word he wanted to be baptised.”

Father Pat was asked to go to Bob’s camp. Bob was sitting on the ground with his two wives.

There were little aluminium pots and pans around, and a little white dog. The trio did not speak much English, but conveyed they wanted to be like the early missionaries.

Not speaking the language, Father Pat recited the creed; I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting.

“Each phrase I would speak, the man would say in reply, ‘Him right,’ and I felt this was an adequate baptism.

“Sometime later, it was late at night and I was driving to the island next door when a man tried to wave me down.

“I don’t know how I saw him as this was in the dead of night.

“When I got out of the car, he said Bob needed me, and led me over to where Bob was, lying on the ground, his two wives with him.

One of the wives was cradling his head in her hand.

“I directed them to act fast and we will get the man in the truck and to the first aid post.

“I was told, ‘No father, he want baptism, he dying,’ and they repeated this.

“I asked them if they had any water with them, and they did.

“I was still trying to think, and asked him if I were to baptise him as Bob – his name.

“I was told, ‘no no he wants to be baptised James’.

“I knelt down and began baptising, and the man died the next day.

“He wanted to be like the priests and the Catholic missionaries he saw, I feel it was a good demonstration of the power of example.”

The wonder of how Father Pat managed to see the trio in the pitch black of night is something which has stayed with him.

“During my time there I was lucky enough to meet Doctor Charles Osborne, who had studied the Tiwi tribe extensively, and taught me the language,” he said.

“I invited a doctor who was beautifully versed in the Tiwi language to share my house, so he could teach me about the Tiwi people.

“He was there until the cyclone hit in Darwin.” Fr Pat knew the Tiwi had a very deep culture and wanted to find out all he could.

Incredibly dedicated to his work, he knew connecting with and understanding the people was the key.

He also spent time in a foreign mission in Papua New Guinea, from 1988 to 1998. “I was a bit surprised to be asked,” he said. “I was 48, and knew the challenges, and wanted to go.

“I contracted Malaria in the first week there, and was sick for a month.

“The beauty of it there was the bishop presiding allowed the different groups on different islands to be in charge of their own religious undertakings.

“I loved living in Papua New Guinea.

“They were such a happy race.

“Women were in charge of everything, and they got things done.

“Because the women accepted the church, that’s how it was. “A lot of work has been completed over many years to translate the Bible into many different languages, including their language.” After a time, Father Pat became quite ill. His beloved German Shepherd dog, a girl named Sheba, was four years old, and sadly “I became a parish priest, which is like a doctor of souls. People come to the church where all spiritual things take place, then return to their lives, and live their faith.” had to be left behind.

“I was just too sick,” he recalled sadly.

“I had no other choice, and really missed her. “I couldn’t wait for the quarantine and governmental protocols. I was distraught.”

Fr Pat has also served in Brisbane for a year, and in Victoria for eight years.

“There were two parts of my post in Victoria, the parish was one part, and there was also school in the Western District of Hamilton.

“They were lovely people, sheep farmers. It was not far from the Grampians, a great part of the world.”

Fr Pat went back to Milne Bay in the Southern Province of Papua New Guinea for 10 years, then back to Hamilton, before arriving in Balranald.

He first came to Balranald in 2006, was away 2013 to 14, returned in 2015 for a year, and then made Balranald his home once again in December last year.

He vastly enjoys life in Balranald, and the people in the town.

He gardens every day, believing it is good for the body, mind and soul.

He regularly ‘keeps the cafes in business,’ as he calls it, dining out with good friend Andrew Le Cornu, proprietor of a local motel.

His beloved Labrador, Sweetheart is always by his side, and even comes to church to sit in on services.

Speaking with Fr Pat, it is quite clear he was born for his vocation.

He just has a special something which is observable, but like an itch you just can’t scratch – you know its there but can’t quite get it.

His serene nature would calm and restore faith to even the most obstinate of doubters.

It was such a pleasure to meet Father Pat and Sweetheart, and hear his story