Ordination, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 29 September 1866, p 618, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115452323:

On last Saturday morning the imposing ceremony of conferring the order of priesthood was performed in the temporary cathedral. In the absence of His Grace the Archbishop the rite was gone through by the Right Rev. Dr. Eloy coadjutor to the diocese of Oceanica. Besides the order of priesthood which was conferred upon the Rev. J. A. Byrne the following received the tonsure and minor orders, Brothers Bonaventure Curr, Placid Quirk, Bernard Callachor of the Benedictine order and Mr. Bennett secular. The ceremony commenced at 8 o'clock and the following clergy either took part or were present, assistant priest very Rev. S. A. Sheehy V.G., venerable Archdeacon McEncroe, assistant deacon and sub-deacon, Fathers Fitzpatrick and O'Farrell, master of ceremonies Father John Dwyer, Very Rev. Prior Sheridan, Revs. Fathers Powell, Newman, Crone, Quirk, McDevitt, Laffan and Darcy. The service which is a very long one was witnessed by a large congregation. Father Byrne will celebrate his first Mass in St. Mary's on Tuesday morning at 7 o'clock, the feast of the Angels Guardian.

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Tenterfield, The Armidale Express and New England General Advertiser, 6 March 1869, p 2, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article189959725:

It is my painful duty to mention the premature death of the Rev. Eugene Bennett, deacon of the R. C. Church and student and assistant of St Mary's College, Lyndhurst, Sydney—which took place on Sunday night, 14th Feb., at the residence of the Rev. Father Keogan.

During Monday and Tuesday, for the first time the new R.C. Church bell sent forth its solemn peals at intervals, and on Tuesday morning the corpse was removed by the chief mourners to the Church, where a solemn requiem mass was celebrated, and the prayers of the congregation were offered, for the soul of the deceased. The Rev. Father Keogan then addressed the congregation in a manner suitable to the sad occasion; and subsequently he spoke in very forcible and pathetic language to the assembled multitude. Then he gave the benediction, and recited the usual prayers. About 5 p.m. the funeral procession left the Church for the cemetery, where the remains of the deceased were interred; it was one of the largest and the best arranged ever witnessed in Tenterfield, persons of all classes and creeds being present to show their sympathy and their respect for the memory of the deceased.

The Rev. Eugene Bennett was a native of Aughalion, County Cavan, Ireland, and was only about 28 years of age. He spent about four years in the Kilmore Seminary, in preparation for his sacred calling, before coming to this colony. Here he was a member of Lyndhurst College, where, from his kind and gentle demeanour, he gained the love of his fellow students and the esteem of his superiors. He took ill some eight months ago, and the most eminent medical men in Sydney recommending a change of air he came to his friend the Rev. Father Keogan, at Tenterfield. But the country air proved of no benefit to him; he sank gradually until he died. He was one for whom many a tear has been and will be shed, but he has passed away to minister before the throne of the Most High. Tenterfield, Feb. 24, 1869. [Received too late for last issue.]

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Death of the Rev. E. Bennett, Freeman's Journal, Sydney, 6 March 1869, p 15, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article115433196:

(From a Correspondent)
It is my painful duty to give publicity through your columns to the premature death of a young and pious ecclesiastic, the Rev. Eugene Bennett, deacon of the Roman Catholic Church, student and assistant of St. Mary's College, Lyndhurst, Sydney. Our towns people were cast into the gloomy thoughts of that final tribute all must pay, by the announcement of his death which took place on Sunday night, the 14th of February, at the residence of the Rev. Father Keoghan. For the first time the Roman Catholic Church bell, sent forth its solemn and mournful peal to tell the people that one more was numbered amongst the dead, and that another soul went forth to the presence of its Creator, to receive the sentence of the just judge. During Monday and Tuesday, mournful peals were heard at intervals until his funeral, which took place on Tuesday evening, about five o'clock, when its death toll continued from halfan-hour before the funeral started until it reached the cemetry. The funeral was one of the largest and best arranged ever before witnessed in Tenterfield, as persons of all classes and creeds came to show their sympathy and respect. On Tuesday morning about 9 o'clock the corpse was removed by the chief mourners from the residence of Father Keoghan to the Church, where a solemn requiem Mass was celebrated and the prayers of the congregation were offered up to the throne of mercy for the soul of the deceased. After Mass the Rev. Father Keoghan addressed the congregation in a manner suitable to the sad occasion, and again, before the funeral procession took place he spoke in a forcible and pathetic manner to the assembled multitude relative to the deceased. Then he gave the benediction and recited the usual prayers, after which the funeral procession moved slowly from the church, and in a short time the remains of the Rev. Eugene Bennett were laid low in the Tenterfield Cemetery, where they shall remain until they will be aroused from their long slumber by the piercing sounds of the last trumpet. The Rev. Eugene Bennett was a native of Aughalion, County Cavan, Ireland, and was only 28 years of age at the time of his death. He spent about four years in the Kilmore Seminary in preparation for his sacred calling before taking his departure for this distant land, and since his arrival in the colony he was a member of Lyndhurst College, where, by his kind and gentle demeanour, he gained the love and respect of his fellow students and the respect of his superiors. He took ill some eight months ago, and had the attendance of the most eminent medical men in Sydney, but they, finding that medical skill could not master his disease, ordered him to take the benefit of the country air, so he came to Tenterfield to his friend, the Rev. Father Keoghan, from whom he did not return. The country air proved of no benefit—he sunk gradually, until he breathed forth his last, fortified by the sacraments of his holy church. And thus passed away one beloved and esteemed one for whom many a tear will be shed. One, I trust, pure and holy in in the sight of God, to add to that glorious band of heavenly citizens who continually minister before the throne of the Most High.

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Fr T.J. Linane, From Abel to Zundolovich, Vol. 1, 1979, p 23:
"Bennett, Eugene (Owen) Irish
(See Footprints, Vol. 1, No. 4)
His tombstone in the Tenterfield Cemetery is his only claim to fame. Some claim he wasn't a priest but a deacon. Even the late Mgr. D. Hiscox, P.P. Tenterfield, wasn't sure. d. 14.2.1869."

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T.W. Campbell, The Priests of the Diocese of Armidale: A Necrology, Braddon ACT, 2005:
Bennett, Eugene

Born Aughalion, Co Cavan, Ireland. Date of birth unknown. Studied for the priesthood at Kilmore seminary for four years, then came to New South Wales to continue training at St Mary's Lyndhurst College Sydney about 1866/67. He was described in his obituary as 'deacon of the RC Church and student and assistant'. He took ill in late 1868 and went to Tenterfield on medical advice for a change of climate, where he resided with Fr Matthew Keoghan, a friend, who was appointed to Tenterfield in 1866. The change of climate did not improve his health and he gradually succumbed to his illness (tuberculosis?). He died Sunday 14 February 1869, and was buried in Tenterfield cemetery on 16 February 1869. Age at death was stated as 'only about 28 years'.
(Sources: AE 6 Mar 1869, Footprints Vol 1 No 4, Oct 1971 p 32, MDHC A-Z B41)

(Reproduced by permission of Tom Campbell.)