Biography:
Early Life
Robin Andrew Sutherland was born on November 29, 1923 at Rowland’s Flat in South Australia. He was one of three children of Thomas and Evelyn Sutherland, having two brothers, Gordon and John. His early education was at Christian Brothers College in Wakefield Street, Adelaide.
Robin Sutherland was one of the initial group of 24 students who began their formation at the newly established St Francis Xavier’s Seminary on January 31. 1942. From an early age Robin proved that he was very capable with his hands, and at the Seminary he built a cow shed, pigsties and other facilities, as well as maintaining the rector’s car. After their Junior Seminary and philosophy studies they progressed to Werribee College in Victoria. Of that original group only eight were ordained priests.
Robin was ordained priest in St Francis Xavier’s Cathedral on July 22, 1952 together with Robert Aitken, Terry Holland and Tony Boylan. Archbishop Leonard Faulkner and Mgr Vincent Tiggeman were contemporaries but they were ordained in Rome.
Appointments
Fr Robin’s first appointment was as Assistant Priests at Walkerville where his duties included visiting the infectious diseases hospital at Northfield, the mental asylum and the Gepps Cross migrant hostel.. After two years there he was appointed to Kangaroo Island, firstly as Priest in Charge but later as Parish Priest. While at Kangaroo Island he was responsible for the building of the church at Parndana. Five years later, on 1st Feb 1960 Fr Robin was appointed Parish Priest of Birdwood. At the same time he was appointed Director of Vocations in the Archdiocese.
In October 1962 he was appointed Parish Priest of Clearview. He was to remain here for over eleven years, during which time he built the new Church of the Good Shepherd and Presbytery at Clearview.
In January 1974 he was appointed to the Parish of Marion, later to be known as Seacombe Gardens. Once again Fr Robin left his mark with the building of another new church which was rather unique in its design – often referred to as the ‘picture theatre’ with its tiered seating and projection screen which had not yet become common place.
Fr Robin was at Seacombe Gardens for just on twenty six years during which he introduced many initiatives in pastoral care.
Retirement
On December 21, 1999 Fr Robin retired with the title of Pastor Emeritus and took up residence at Murphy Villa. However he continued to undertake some pastoral care and supply work until his health deteriorated.
After as serious set-back in health and hospitalisation he went first of all to the Lutheran Nursing Home at Fullarton where they could provide the level of care he needed, and then the last couple of years at the Southern Cross Care Home at Fullarton. This is where he died on January 6, 2013.
Concelebrated Requiem Mass was celebrated in “his” Church of the Holy Spirit at Seacombe Gardens on January 10, 2013 and his remains were buried with his parents in the Centennial Park Cemetery.
In his eulogy, David Shinnick, who had entered the Seminary with Robin back in 1942 and remained a lifelong friend, spoke of some of his recent discussions with Fr Robin and said how he would miss his “scintillating conversations, his infectious laughter and his mop of angelic white hair...But we can rejoice in his life lived to the full in the service of God, the Church and people”.
May he rest in peace. |
