Father Chris Riley has been farewelled in a touching memorial service with tributes pouring in from all corners of his life.
The beloved Catholic priest and youth advocate passed away peacefully at home on August 1, aged 70, after a long battle with illness.
On Monday, a memorial service was held to honour his life and legacy, with friends, former students, community leaders and public figures coming together to remember the man known as the “people’s priest.”
One of the most moving moments came from rockstar Jimmy Barnes, who recorded a special video message and sang his famous hit Working Class Man in Father Riley’s honour.
“I was fortunate enough to spend some time with him and the people he helped, at the time I needed his help as much as anyone,” Barnes said in the emotional clip.
“I learned a lot from him and I’m singing for him today.”
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese also paid tribute in a video message, calling Father Riley “an inspiration, someone for whom no one would be left behind.”
“He changed the lives of so many young Australians, young Australians who’ve done it tough, young Australians, no matter how difficult their circumstances were,” Mr Albanese said.
“Father Riley put a hand out of friendship, support and compassion. May you rest in peace.”
Former Sunrise host David “Kochie” Koch remembered meeting Father Riley in Macquarie Fields after the 2005 riots.
“I hadn’t been hosting Sunrise for long and went out to Macquarie Fields just to get a sense of what was really going on there,” Koch said.
“What I found was a priest on a horse walking the streets, followed by those two Great Danes.”
Father Riley was best known for founding Youth Off The Streets in 1991, starting with a single food van in Kings Cross. The charity grew into a nationwide support network with crisis accommodation, schools, counselling, and outreach services.
Veteran journalist Mike Munro shared how Father Riley’s mission was inspired by the 1938 film Boys Town, where Spencer Tracy played a priest helping troubled boys.
That story helped inspire what would become one of Australia’s most well-known youth outreach programs.
Over more than 40 years, Father Riley worked with disadvantaged young people in many roles – as a teacher, youth worker, residential carer and probation officer. He famously said there was no such thing as a “child born bad.”
“We must have the courage to demand greatness from our youth,” he once said.
Today, Youth Off The Streets supports young people around the country, with more than 180 staff and 250 volunteers continuing his mission.
He was also known for pioneering trauma-informed behaviour strategies now used in schools and adopted by government bodies across Australia.
Images: Youth Off The Streets/ Facebook
