Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017:
Collopy, George

Teacher, administrator, provincial bursar; born Melbourne, 5 December 1893; died Melbourne, 8 October 1973, aged 79.

George Collopy was educated at CBC Parade and, before entering the noviceship in 1917, had worked with the Customs department for some years. His Jesuit studies were undertaken in Ireland and France, and he was ordained in 1926.

Among the positions in which Collopy found himself upon his return to Australia were minister at Sevenhill, sports master at Xavier, superior and parish priest at Sevenhill in 1942 and minister at Riverview until the end of 1949.

As minister at Riverview he knew the boys well, and, while not universally popular, was considered fair. As a disciplinarian in the refectory he was without an equal, always in control of the situation. His concern for the health of the boys was well known, as was his concern for what he considered wasteful expenditure. At times he was not the happiest of men, but was always doing his job. One could be certain to find the minister where he should be, and if one needed something, he wouldn't get more than was needed, and sometimes even less.

From Riverview he spent 1950, as minister in the parish of Hawthorn, and was than appointed minister at St Patrick's College. This gave him more time to smoke his Captain Petersen pipe and a trip down Brunswick Street on a Saturday afternoon. However, this situation did not last, as an accident involving the rector and some other members of the community caused Collopy to be appointed acting-rector, later confirmed as vice-rector, 1951-55. This didn't eliminate the moments of reflective smoking or the patronage of the Fitzroy Football Club. Indeed, it was said that this was one of the happiest periods of his life.

When Father Henry Johnston had to attend a conference in Rome, Collopy was appointed acting parish priest at North Sydney, 1956-61. This temporary appointment was later confirmed as parish priest.

After this term of office, he returned to St Patrick's College teaching religion, history, Latin, mathematics and English. In addition, he took on the job of procurator of the province, a job he held until nearly 80 years old. His last residence was Burke Hall from 1968. He was very parsimonious with money, always critical of requests, sometimes requiring the direct intervention of the provincial or socius. He found it hard to adapt to the Church and Society of the post-Vatican era. Community meetings and concelebrations were not congenial. Collopy could be a difficult man, but he was reliable. Through difficult times, he did the work that he was given to do as well as he could.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)