Rev Basil Travers
Title:
Rev
First Name:
Basil
Middle Names:
Robert
Preferred Name:
Surname:
Travers
Order:
Date of Birth:
Place of Birth:
Cleve SA
Country of Birth:
Australia
Date of Ordination:
Place of Ordination:
Port Pirie SA
Country of Ordination:
Australia
Ordination Diocese:
Port Pirie
Seminary:
Date of Death:
Place of Death:
Country of Death:
Australia
Date of Burial:
Place of Burial:
Barmera SA
Country of Burial:
Australia
Find A Grave URL:
Appointments Table
Diocese | Place | Role | Start Day | Start Month | Start Year | End Day | End Month | End Year | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Port Pirie | Whyalla | 1962 | Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants | ||||||
| Port Pirie | Port Pirie | 1971 | Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants | ||||||
| Port Pirie | Berri | 1981 | Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants | ||||||
| Port Pirie | Streaky Bay | 1988 | Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants | ||||||
| Port Pirie | Kadina | 1992 | Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants | ||||||
| Port Pirie | Barmera-Waikerie | 2000 | Jan | 2001 | Gravestone; Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants |
Biographical Notes
Fr Frank Cresp, Good and Faithful Servants: Recalling the Spirit of the Deceased Priests of the Diocese of Port Augusta and Port Pirie 1888-2008, 2008:
Travers, Basil Robert
Born: 21/8/1934 in Cleve, SA.
Ordained: 29/6/1961 in Port Pirie.
Worked in Whyalla 1962; Port Pirie 1971; Berri 1981; Streaky Bay 1988; Kadina 1992; Barmera 2000.
Died: 15/1/2001. Buried at Barmera.
A man without guile.
by Bishop Eugene Hurley, 5th May 2008
At one point in history Fr Basil Travers, Fr Gerry Quirk and myself were all on the staff at the Cathedral in Port Pirie. During discussion with some of the religious in the parish, it was suggested by one of the religious that we diocesan priests did not have any community life. We priests took exception to this as Gerry and I would always call in to Basil's room at midnight, to sing the national anthem in unison with the ABC radio, as it closed down for the day. Often Bas was a reluctant member of this community activity and to some occasions less than total involvement.
It occurred to Gerry and me one night close to midnight that not only could we sing our usual "goodnight" to Bas, but also we would include him in our weight lifting exercise. The singing of the national anthem did not impress Bas and he showed no inclination to embrace our enthusiasm for weight lifting. Determined to create community, as urged by our religious, we placed a bar on Bas' chest and we discovered that even in half sleep Bas could lift the weights!! Despite this exciting discovery, Bas did not embrace the weight lifting culture. In hindsight it could have been the catalyst for a dramatic set back to our community life.
The next evening as we presented ourselves to Bas' room for our midnight tribute, we were confronted with a locked door - this was unprecedented. Undeterred we went onto the balcony, which adjoined the Bishop's quarters and tried to enter Bas' room via the window. Our desperate efforts to form community were well and truly dashed as we encountered a very wide awake Bas - poking at us with a broom. He had clearly decided that this was no way to form community. During the fracas the Bishop's door opened and he emerged to identify the source of the mayhem. At this point Gerry and I disappeared and Bas returned to some peace.
It is a tribute to the character of Basil and the affection we had for him that we would ever have had such fun. He was a wonderful priest, a good friend and a constant inspiration. He is greatly missed and often spoken of, especially in matters of the history of the Diocese.
(Reproduced with the approval of Sister Mary Cresp RSM)