Kevin Croker

Kevin and Margaret Croker with Archbishop Christopher Prowse on the occasion of Kevin notching up 25 years with the Archdiocese.

Be careful the next time you check in with a colleague about your accrued leave, for a dinner might be organised on your behalf.

 

Long-time employee of the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn – Kevin Croker, got more than he bargained for recently, when he casually enquired to a fellow worker, as to how long he had been working for the Archdiocese.

When the answer emerged as 25 years, Kevin, as a result, inadvertently dobbed himself in to be wined and dined, even though he would remain unaware it was being organised.

A number of Archdiocesan staff joined Kevin and Archbishop Christopher Prowse for dinner at the Mercure Hotel in Braddon on Tuesday, July 12. Together they enjoyed a lovely three course meal in good company, all the while, celebrating Kevin’s 25 years of service.

Thanked for loyalty and dedication

After the main course was completed, Archbishop Prowse publicly thanked Kevin for his loyalty and dedication to the Archdiocese over a long period of time.

In thanking Kevin, the Archbishop said when he first arrived in the Archdiocese, that he “likened Kevin to an octopus,” highlighting the many hats he (Kevin) has worn in his time with the organisation.

The Archbishop also paid tribute to Kevin’s wife, Margaret and spoke of Kevin’s own vocation where he had demonstrated a “tremendous love of the priesthood.”

“This is particularly evident in the care, he (Kevin), has given in the infirmities and frailties of priests,” Archbishop Prowse said on the night.

A real character of the Archdiocese, Kevin, or KC, as he is affectionately known among colleagues at Favier House, then gave an impromptu speech of his own.

He entertained guests on the night by speaking candidly about his time spent over a quarter of a century at the Archdiocese. He first started as the chief clerk in 1991.

Remembering the “old days”

Initially based at Archbishop’s House on Lake Burley Griffin, Kevin spoke of the “good old days, fond memories and of the many friendships formed.”

In his address, Kevin described his work as “ministry” and publicly thanked the three Archbishops he has worked alongside – Francis Carroll, Mark Coleridge and Christopher Prowse.

He announced that his greatest achievement in working for the Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn was establishing the Clergy Retirement Foundation in 2005.

Kevin also reserved a special thankyou for his wife Margaret. He reflected that it had very much been a “partnership” with her over the journey.

To mark the occasion, Kevin was presented with an Isla Patterson painting, which depicts the foreshore at Yarralumla Bay.

The long-time employee expressed his heart-felt gratitude at the gift and informed everyone in attendance that he had “already picked out a wall space in the house”.

On the night, Kevin said that he would like to stay on with the Archdiocese for a few more years yet and that he is looking forward to when all of the staff move to the new administration building at Manuka in 2017.