Peter and Robyn Presdee, 15 May 2025
On Good Friday this year, we lost a dear inspiration, member and friend to us in Australian Catholics Exploring the Diaconate. Deacon Peter Presdee previously open up his story for us, as did his wife, Robyn Presdee, on this blog. They have also been most generous in our meetings and retreat, sharing something of their rich experience as a deacon couple. Here we are blessed to publish the words of Peter’s eulogy that Robyn prepared and read at his funeral. May you know the deep warmth of God’s love and Rest in Peace, Peter.
EULOGY – Rev Deacon Peter Presdee
(5.6.1947 – 18.4.2025)
Peter had 2 great passions in his life – faith and footy. Hence the wall hanging on display today in the church for St George/Illawarra.
We are especially pleased to be back at Our Lady of Mt Carmel, Varroville – Peter was ordained a Deacon here and I was received into the catholic faith here.
Our dear friend and colleague Chaplain Brian shared with me his memories of Peter and it was a great comfort to me and I felt it would be a fitting way for me to start – Brian said Peter valued fellowship, had a brilliant mind, he was a man of spiritual convictions and had a unique sense of humour.
Peter and I found each other later in life. At the time our lives were messy, a bit like messy church, complicated and filled with uncertainty of the pathway ahead. We found sense and purpose in a Hymn by G. Linnaeus Banks from (1860) “I live for those who love me” It goes as follows:
“I live for those who love me, For those who know me true;
For Heaven that smiles above me, And awaits my spirit too;
For wrong that needs resistance, For the cause that lacks assistance,
For the dawning in the distance, And the good that I can do.”
No doubt everyone here could place themselves and their memories of Peter within some of the words of that hymn.
Peter had a self-denying drive to be of service to others.
I will give you two examples – he was in Melbourne at a union conference and was unhappy in his current role. He was considering applying for a St Vincent de Paul special works position as manager of the Nagle Centre in Campbelltown. It was only 10 minutes from home but considerably less money that he was currently earning. As he walked through the streets of Melbourne pondering what to do, he passed a small church where an Aboriginal man was asleep on the porch. A Victorian police paddy wagon pulled up and two burly coppers got out, grabbed the man and threw him into the back of the paddy wagon. He said to the police officers “Hey, that’s a bit heavy handed.” Peter was told “Move on mate or you will be next!” Most people would think what has this man done to deserve this type of treatment. Peter reflected “Not what has he done but what has happened to this man.” He then decided to be the voice for those society does not welcome and accepted the position as manager of the Nagle Centre.
Under Peter’s leadership the Nagle Centre went from basic emergency relief to providing life-changing skills through counselling, self-determination, art therapy, adult education via the Clemente program for entry to university, emergency financial relief and even a restaurant venue for quality meals that was open for all. In a 12-month period over 10,000 meals were served. The Centre even won an Australia Day award for the varied levels of assistance to the people of Campbelltown. I urge you to, if possible, to make a donation towards the St Vincent de Paul Society.
During the last few weeks of his life, he tried to crawl out of bed – usually around 2.30am- Peter was moaning and I woke up to find that he had crawled half way out of the bed. I tried to stop him and he resisted with a renewed strength and looked at me in a frustrated way. I explained we were retired and don’t have to go to work anymore. In his frustration at not being able to move easily he cried out – “What about the people!” Always mindful of those he was called to serve. In desperation I tried to convince him that it was the middle of the night, to go back to bed and when the sun came up, we will go to work then. This helped Peter to relax and settle back into bed.
The sun came up on Good Friday morning and Peter went off to work with God. Last weekend we had a funeral for a Pope for the people – today we have a funeral for a Deacon for the people.
Peter tried especially hard to live by this mindset. It has been my forever joy to have shared this journey with him.
I have a morning prayer from St Therese of Lisieux:
I would like to finish with –
O my God! I ask you for myself and for those dear to me the grace to fulfil perfectly your holy will and to accept for love of you the joys and sorrows of this passing life so that one day we may be reunited in Heaven for all eternity. Amen.
Liturgy on the Margins 