Bob Maguire

Robert John Maguire
Robert John Maguire
Born	Robert John Thomas Maguire; 14 September 1934 (age 92); Thornbury, Victoria, Australia
Died	19 April 2023 (aged 88); Cabrini Hospital, Malvern, Melbourne, Australia
Other names	Father Bob
Occupation(s)	Roman Catholic priest, community advocate, media figure
Years active	1960–2015
Known for	Social justice advocacy, parish priest at Sts Peter and Paul's Church, South Melbourne; media work on Triple J and SBS

Robert John Maguire (14 September 1934 – 19 April 2023), also referred to as Robert John Thomas Maguire and widely known as Father Bob, was a prominent Australian Roman Catholic clergyman, community advocate, and media figure. He held the position of parish priest at Sts Peter and Paul's Church in South Melbourne from 1973 until 2012. Celebrated for his dedication to social justice and his commitment to assisting the disadvantaged, Maguire was honoured as a Member of the Order of Australia (AO) in 1989 for his efforts supporting homeless individuals through the Open Family Foundation.

Following his retirement, he continued his community involvement by serving as chairman of the Father Bob's Foundation.

Early life and education

Born on 14 September 1934 in the Melbourne suburb of Thornbury, Victoria, Robert John Maguire was the youngest of five siblings. His father, James Maguire, who emigrated from Glasgow, struggled with alcoholism and was often violent; his mother Annie (née McLaughlin), originally from Edinburgh, endured repeated domestic abuse. Growing up in impoverished conditions, Maguire frequently lacked adequate clothing and wore hand-me-downs. He regarded his mother as an exemplar of Christian devotion.

Maguire attended Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic Primary School in Armadale, Victoria, becoming an altar server at the age of eight. Benefiting from a Returned Services League scholarship, he studied at Christian Brothers College, St Kilda between 1948 and 1953.

His sister Kathleen succumbed to tuberculosis in 1945; his father died from lung cancer in 1947, followed by his mother's death in 1950, leaving him orphaned by age 15.

Upon receiving the sacrament of confirmation, he chose the name "Thomas," becoming Robert John Thomas Maguire.

Priesthood

At eighteen years old in 1953, Maguire commenced theological studies at Corpus Christi College, Melbourne, preparing for ordination. During this period, he took up beekeeping, which he later described as "one of the finest periods of my life." He was ordained a priest on 24 July 1960 at twenty-five years of age.

In 1965, Maguire enlisted in the Australian Army Reserve. During the Vietnam War era, he attained the rank of lieutenant colonel and led the Character Training Unit responsible for training junior officers.

Maguire served as parish priest at Sts Peter and Paul's Church in South Melbourne from 1973 through to 2012.

Foundation

Established in 2003, Father Bob's Foundation was created to unify Maguire’s social initiatives under a single Board of Governance. Its volunteer group known as the "Bob Squad" embodies Maguire’s innovative approach to social justice, adopting the motto "Viva La Bob," inspired by influential figures such as Che Guevara and Martin Luther King Jr.. In the mid-1980s, Maguire also founded Open Family Australia to support Melbourne’s street children.

Even after retiring, Maguire maintained his role as chairman of Father Bob's Foundation. Operating primarily within the City of Port Phillip, this grassroots organisation delivers meals, distributes pantry supplies, and advocates for social causes.

Social justice and community work

Maguire earned recognition as a dedicated champion for marginalized populations, including the impoverished, homeless, and other vulnerable individuals. He acted as patron for Dance World, a community dance studio offering scholarships and opportunities to young people. Additionally, he chaired Open Family and was instrumental in founding Emerald Hill Mission, both organizations committed to providing social assistance. A significant event in his career was officiating the funeral of Victor Peirce.

Media work

Maguire presented a radio program on Melbourne’s 3AW and made appearances on SBS shows such as John Safran vs God. Between November 2005 and January 2006, he co-hosted Speaking in Tongues. From 2005 through 2015, he was co-host of Sunday Night Safran on the national youth broadcaster Triple J, where he amassed over 120,000 followers on Twitter. In October 2009, he joined the judging panel of the public speaking competition Strictly Speaking, which aired in late 2010 alongside judges Jean Kittson and host Andrew Hansen.

Later life

On 7 September 2009, Maguire revealed via his blog that church officials had requested his resignation upon reaching 75 years of age. He chose to leave this decision to his congregation. Ultimately, he was compelled to retire at 77, conducting his final service on 29 January 2012 before a packed audience exceeding 1,000 attendees.

His retirement and life story were captured in the 2013 documentary film In Bob We Trust, directed by Lynn-Maree Milburn, which debuted at the Melbourne International Film Festival on 27 July 2013.

Maguire remained active at Triple J until the conclusion of 2015.

He passed away at Cabrini Hospital in Malvern, Melbourne, on 19 April 2023 at the age of 88. Following his death, he was honored with the appointment as an Officer of the Order of Australia.

Honours and awards

2024		Officer of the Order of Australia
?		Reserve Force Decoration
15 September 1980		National Medal
15 May 1986		National Medal – First Clasp
1 January 2001		Centenary Medal "In recognition of long service to the congregation of Sts Peter and Paul's Church and the local community"

12 June 1989: Member of the Order of Australia "for contributions to homeless youth through the Open Family Foundation"
2011: Named Victorian of the Year
2011 & 2016: Nominated as a finalist for Senior Australian of the Year

External links

Official website of Father Bob's Foundation
Archived page for Sunday Night Safran on Triple J (archived 2006)
Archived official site for Speaking In Tongues (archived 2008)