THE first Old Boy rector of Brisbane’s Iona College, Fr Peter Daly will be remembered as a man of giving who made a significant and lasting contribution to Oblate education.
“His legacy does not just lie in these changes but in the wisdom he demonstrated, and his compassion and understanding of humanity,” Iona College rector Fr Michael Twigg said.
“He was particularly gifted at assisting families through difficult times.”
Fr Daly died in Perth after suffering a seizure on September 28.
While his funeral will be held in Perth, a memorial service will be held for family, friends, Iona old boys and staff.
Fr Daly attended Iona as a student from 1965-72, became the college’s 11th rector (2002-10) and served as provincial of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate Australia from 2016 until earlier this year.
His first year as a priest was spent at St John Vianney’s Parish in Victoria, followed by Massey, New Zealand; he then went on to spend six years at Brisbane’s Iona College.
His next obedience was five years at Mazenod College, Lesmurdie, as boarding master and religious co-ordinator.
In 1992 he was based at Mazenod College, Victoria, and then Natal Province, South Africa, where he conducted parish missions before returning to Mazenod College, Lesmurdie, as rector, from 1993-2001.
He was then rector at Iona College until the end of 2010, where he was the first old boy to become rector.
Over the next few years, he had a sabbatical, assisted at St John Vianney’s and St Eugene’s, and then served as rector at Mazenod College, Lesmurdie, in 2014 and 2015.
From 2016 through to January 2019 he was the Oblate provincial.
He returned to Mazenod College, Lesmurdie, as rector from April this year.
