Bishop Daniel Eugene Hurley was the sixth bishop of the Catholic Diocese of Darwin from 2007 until he retired in June 2018. He’s known in his community for his kindness, generosity and pastoral approach – whether demonstrated through providing help to the people of Timor-Leste during recent floods or looking after local families in need.
Eugene was ordained as a priest in 1964. He served as Bishop of Port Pirie from 1998 until 2007, when he became the Bishop of Darwin. In this role, he was responsible for a very large diocese that takes up almost all of the Northern Territory.
In the 2019 Australia Day Honours he was made a Member of the Order of Australia for his service to the Catholic Church in Australia, and to the broader community in the Northern Territory.
Now in his 80s, he still works hard every day of the week. He counts being invited into Aboriginal communities and experiencing their spirituality as his life’s greatest privilege.