Page 14 - Unity Edn 43

Keith Michael (Mick) Fox RIP

much more significant than a Papal Blessing, but
I can tell you that Mick tried to keep the papal
distinction a secret and that he must have been
one of the youngest people anywhere at that time
to receive a Papal Honour.

At any rate, in the Education office, Mick was great
to work with: he was personable and competent;
he quickly adjusted to the challenges the position
entailed, its diversity of activities and its range of
responsibilities. He was generous to a fault with
his time. Whatever he did he did well.

The second facet of Mick’s life that I would like to
say something about is his work during the 1999
Timor crisis and on behalf of the thousands of
refugees who were evacuated to Darwin. Fr. Jovito
D’Araujo from the Dili Diocese whose family was
among those evacuated to Darwin, has informed
me through Sister Anna Molinari, that Mick was
tirelessly present out at the Tent City that provided
emergency accommodation where we now have
the Portuguese Club. In gratitude for all the help
received, many Timorese children were named
after him. After Timor gained its independence

Mick made several trips to East Timor and took
his sons with him. Father Jovito said that many
Dear Liam, Conor, Fionnuala and Riona, stories could be told of his kindness and generosity
and he described Mick as being truly a great and
Bishops Charles and Eugene, Mr. Luke humble man. He mentioned how helpful and
Gosling, Federal Member for Solomon, generous Mick had been in enabling his family
to fly his father’s remains back to Timor L’Este in
Fellow Priests and Friends of Mick Fox: February 2000.

You have already heard quite a lot about various Sister Aurora Pires who was also present in Darwin
aspects of Mick’s life and achievements. I don’t during the 1999 Timor crisis and the evacuation of
want to go over the same ground but maybe I refugees recounted a number of incidents where
can say something about certain other aspects of Mick had come to the rescue. Sister Aurora added,
Mick’s life and work in Darwin, namely our time "The words I would use to describe Mick Fox are:
together in the Catholic Education Office and his attentive, approachable, gentle, joyful, practical,
later humanitarian work on behalf of the people prompt, patient". “With Mick around", she said,
of Timor L’Este and for refugees and asylum 'we felt that everything would be OK”.
seekers generally. Added to that I will need to say
something on behalf of the Ballarat Mercy Sisters. These are not isolated stories. They are typical of
My own relationship with Mick and his family the many such segments from the story of Mick’s
goes back 40 years to 1980 at a time when I was life that have been coming to light over the days
Director of Catholic Education. I had other duties since Mick died.
as well and I needed a competent Assistant.
Darwin was being rebuilt and was expanding
after the devastation caused by Cyclone Tracy on To move on, let me tell you that several Sisters
Christmas Day 1974. New suburbs were forming of Mercy, notably Sister Carmel Setford, Sister
up and the satellite city of Palmerston was coming Geraldine Mugavin and Sister Patricia O’Brien from
into being. Planning for the future of our Catholic the then Ballarat East Congregation have sent me
school system was essential. Of the several their recollections about Mick and have asked me
applicants for the position, I chose Mick Fox. I to speak on their behalf. They arrived in Darwin
could not have done better. in January 1983 to staff the Holy Family Parish
Primary School. Let me quote their words: "We
were met at the airport by Mick Fox, along with
Mick had been a lay missionary in PNG for others who were working for Catholic Education.
eight years, first as Secretary to Archbishop From then on Mick and his family took us under
Virgil Copas msc in Port Moresby and then as a their wing and made our introduction to the N.T.
co-worker with the French Missionaries of the and our settling into our initial accommodation at
Sacred Heart, who were in need of a manager for Rapid Creek a welcoming experience. Mick and
their base in Port Moresby, a Centre where the Chris were wonderful to us and we became their
mission priests stayed while in town for various extended family; their hospitality, generosity,
appointments. And you know, the French priests their sense of fun, the swimming pool and the
were so grateful for all Mick did for them that kids made our introduction to the Territory one
they organised a Papal Honour for him. This is of acceptance and welcome. Mick was the ‘go to’

14
14 Catholic Community of the Northern Territory, Diocese of Darwin