From the rails to redemption: The remarkable life of Fr. Kevin Flynn

It was a special day as Queanbeyan residents Clare McManus, Gretchen Bell, Martin, and Mary Dorrian had the privilege of sitting down with Fr. Kevin Flynn to capture some of the remarkable stories from his life. The conversation flowed easily, filled with laughter, nostalgia, and moments of deep reflection on a well-lived life.

As we began, Fr. Kevin shared a humorous anecdote about his 90th birthday that set the tone for our discussion:

“A friend of mine from Grenfell sent me a card. She wrote, ‘Fr. Kevin, congratulations on making 90 through no fault of your own.’ It was a sign that she knew me well.”

Early Life

Fr. Kevin was born into a railway family. His father was a railway guard and Secretary of the local  Railway Union, starting as a junior porter, he eventually transferred to Cootamundra, where he became a guard on passenger trains. One story of his father’s bravery stood out:

“I recall a harrowing story of my father’s courage. One day, he had to stop the daylight train at Strathfield because it was entering the station too quickly. As the brake vanguard, he couldn’t communicate with the engine driver due to a brake issue. He used the auxiliary brakes to prevent a potential disaster and received a commendation for his swift action.”

Fr. Kevin’s schooling began in Cootamundra, where he was taught by the Mercy Sisters until grade 3 and then by the De La Salle Brothers until he was 14. He had a younger brother, 18 months his junior, who trained to be a De La Salle Brother and spent many years teaching in various metropolitan schools.

Life in the Seminary

Fr. Kevin’s journey into the seminary at Springwood required him to secure a bursary for tuition and accommodation. By the time he entered, he had already begun learning Latin. Among his classmates, a friend named Pat was deeply focused on spiritual studies and eventually became a bishop, while Fr. Kevin himself was more interested in football.

“I remember my first day vividly. The director stopped me as I was leaving the dining room. I wondered why he would want to speak to me. I still remember it as clear as a bell. ‘Kevin, you are here to be a priest. We do not eat with our left hand. We eat with our right hand.’ At that time, it was considered very bad manners to use your left hand for eating or writing. People were often superstitious and thought that being left-handed was a sign of the devil.”

The following night, he was pulled aside again.

“He told me, ‘You’re disobedient.’ I replied, ‘What have I done wrong?’ He said, ‘I saw you deliberately stir your tea with your left hand.’ So, I learned to stir my tea with the right hand. These lessons in obedience were just the beginning.”

His time at the seminary was turbulent. He was expelled twice for smoking, a habit his mother inadvertently supported by sending him tobacco.

“Before I went to the seminary, we even smoked cow dung wrapped in newspaper when we couldn’t get cigarettes. We didn’t have the money to buy the newspaper, so we would find where newspapers were dumped and then roll the cow dung in them to make our ‘roll-your-own’s!”

In the final years of his seminary studies, he attended St. Patrick’s Seminary at Manly. He had figured out exactly how much study was needed to pass the exams, relying more on memory than a desire to expand his theological knowledge.

“Just before my ordination, I had an interview with the Director. It was part of the ordination process required under Canon Law. The Director came around one night while I was studying and asked, ‘Do you want to be a priest?’   After eleven years of study, I found it a strange question. I answered, ‘It’s up to you to decide whether I’m worthy or not.’ He turned his back on me, went out, and slammed the door. But in the end, I was ordained and have served since 1955.”

Jindabyne and the Snowy Mountains Scheme

In 1961, Fr. Kevin was transferred to Jindabyne, where he became deeply involved with workers employed in the Snowy Mountains Hydro-Electric Scheme. He visited the tunnels being carved through the mountains, talking to the men working there.

“I loved the mountains. I’d go into the tunnels just to be amongst the blokes. They were blasting through the mountains, drilling holes, inserting explosives, and clearing debris. It was dangerous work, and safety wasn’t always the greatest priority.”

Many workers were displaced persons from Europe, arriving in Australia after World War II. Most didn’t speak English and suffered from trauma due to the war. Fr. Kevin’s presence in the tunnels provided comfort and reassurance.

“One day, a fellow priest visited, and I decided to take him to the tunnels. A group of workers saw us, and one of them shouted, ‘Who the hell are you?’ Before I could answer, another worker immediately said, ‘It’s OK. He’s Fr. Flynn, and he has God on his side.’”

Football

Fr. Kevin played football sporadically over the years, starting in Goulburn in 1956. He was eventually selected for first grade, despite being a halfback placed on the wing.

“Right at the end of the season, I got a concussion. I had to say Mass the next day, and there was no way to say I couldn’t do it. The sermon was shorter than usual!”

In Jindabyne, he was encouraged to train with the local team.

“I ended up playing the full season. The next year, I kept turning up for games, but I injured my shoulder, and that was the end of my playing days.”

Walking a Difficult Pathway

After Jindabyne, Fr. Kevin was moved frequently, filling in for absent priests. His addiction became problematic during this period. Eventually I started attending AA meetings and found a friend there who was in a similar situation.  At first, I struggled but after some time something clicked, and my life changed.”

He spent time at Matt Talbot House in Sydney, where he was not a chaplain but a worker who assisted the residents.

His experiences in Sydney reinforced his belief in the goodness of people, even those whom society overlooked.

Interest in Criminal Law

“I have a deep love for criminal law. One of the best cases I became involved in was a young man accused of killing his father. I served as a character witness, and the main police witness later revealed crucial details that changed the case. The young man was found not guilty.”

Fr. Kevin often wished he had studied law formally. He found himself advocating for people who needed legal representation, helping workers, and others who were wrongly accused.

Reflection

Looking back, Fr. Kevin saw the church as an organisation that was flawed in some ways, however, he always sought to act with integrity and compassion.

“The question I always ask myself is: ‘What would Jesus do?’ He forgave but never approved of wrongdoing. That’s the principle I try to live by.”

His life, filled with trials, triumphs, and unwavering dedication, stands as a testament to resilience, faith, and an unyielding commitment to serving others.

This is just a glimpse into aspects of Fr Kevin’s early years when his life of walking in the shoes of Jesus had only just begun.

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Mary Dorrian is a member of St Gregory’s Parish Queanbeyan with a strong commitment to the parish for over 40 years. Mary is currently a Director of the Catholic Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn Education Limited (CAGEL) and has extensive leadership experience in Catholic and government education systems. Mary is married to Martin, has three daughters and is an enthusiastic researcher of family and community history.

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