Brian Morrison

For the Australian footballer, see Brian Morrison (footballer).
Brian John Morrison
Born 1933
Malvern, Victoria, Australia
Died 2 December 2009
Subiaco, Western Australia
Occupation Priest
Charity worker
Website http://www.fatherbrian.org.au/index.php

Father Brian Morrison was a Catholic priest who worked for 40 years in providing crisis care for people affected by upheaval caused by natural and man made disasters.

Father Brian was born (Brian John Morrison[1]) and grew up in Malvern, an inner Melbourne suburb, and moved to Western Australia in 1972 to develop the Catholic Church's Crisis Care centre.[2][3] The charity regularly distributes tonnes of food to needy West Australians, many of whom live on the streets,[3] and organises an annual Christmas Appeal. He was also the racing chaplain in Perth[3][4][5] In 2006 Father Brian was awarded Western Australian Senior of the year for his humanitarian work.[6] Father Brian has collected donations from the Western Australian community to support humanitarian efforts for Australian disasters like Cyclone Tracy, 2003 Canberra bushfires and the 2009 Victorian Bushfires.[7] In addition to his work with Western Australian communities, he travelled overseas extensively. He made thirty trips to places such as East Timor, Bangladesh, Chechnya, Thailand and Iraq to help people in need, particularly children in some of the world's most devastated areas.[8] Internationally Father Brian has organised relief efforts for the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake, for victims of the Bali bombings and for children affected by Chernobyl disaster.[5] He travelled to the Ukraine and the Chernobyl area four times over sixteen years to provide support and love to those who were shunned by many. During his visits to help Chernobyl victims Father Brain suffered radiation poisoning, probably through consuming contaminated food,[5] it is thought that this was cause of his terminal lymphocytic cancer and adenocarcinoma.[2][9][10] Father Brian died on 2 December 2009 at St John of God Hospital in Subiaco.[11] A Pontifical Requiem Mass was held on Friday 11 December 2009 at St Mary's Cathedral, Perth followed by a private burial.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "Obituary: Father Brian John Morrison". Herald Sun. 5 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  2. 1 2 "Chernobyl link possible to Father Brian's cancer". The West Australian. 16 July 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  3. 1 2 3 Emerson, Daniel (3 December 2009). "City unites to mourn Father Brian". The West Australian. Retrieved 3 December 2009.
  4. ↑ O'Regan, Mick (24 October 2003). "When sport and religion are the same thing". The Sports Factor. ABC Radio. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  5. 1 2 3 Emerson, Daniel (2 December 2009). "Father Brian dies, aged 76". The West Australian. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  6. ↑ "Senior Australian of the Year 2006 - Recipient". Australian of the Year. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  7. ↑ "WA pledges $1 million for Victorian bushfire fund". ABC News. 9 February 2009. Retrieved 23 November 2009.
  8. ↑ "Vale Father Brian Morrison". Australian of the Year. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  9. ↑ O'Leary, Cath (20 November 2009). "Father Brian's death "imminent"". The West Australian.
  10. ↑ Senior Australian of the Year 2006 - Results
  11. ↑ "Perth charity campaigner Father Brian Morrison dies of cancer". PerthNow. 2 December 2009. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
  12. ↑ Cross, Robert (8 December 2009). "Death of Fr Brian Morrison - Funeral Arrangements". Catholic Archdiocese of Perth. Retrieved 11 December 2009.
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