Fr David Strong SJ, The Australian dictionary of Jesuit biography 1848-2015, Second Edition, 2017, post-publication supplement:
Quin, Peter

Teacher, administrator, pastor; born Echuca, Victoria, 11 April 1930; died Brisbane, Queensland, 22 November 2016, aged 86.

Peter Bernard Quin was the son of Bernard and Mary. Bernard was a medical practitioner in Victoria in the late 1920's, but with drought and the depression had taken his family to the island of Nauru. When the island was being bombed by German ships early in WW2, the Quin family returned to Australia. Then, the Australian government asked Dr Quin to return to Nauru as a medical officer to look after troops stationed there, as well as the local population. In 1941, when the Japanese entered the war, Australia withdrew its troops and Dr Quin and four other Australians decided to stay with the Nauruans. The Japanese overran the island and in 1943, Quin and the other Australians were beheaded by the Japanese. Quin went to his death wearing his rosary around his neck as a public affirmation of his faith. He was 49 years old. For many years the Australian government did not recognise this bravery, maintaining that he was a citizen doctor. After a long pursuit by the family, Dr Quin was finally recognised in 2019 with a Group Bravery Citation by the government, and in 2014 he also received the Australian Medical Association's President Award for his dedication to his patients.

Peter Quin's secondary education was at Xavier College, Kew, 1943-49. He was a recognised sportsman, especially in athletics, seen notably in 1948 in the APS Mile event, when he came a close second to the famous John Landy (GGS), but was subsequently disqualified for interference in the back straight. He was also Captain of the School in 1949.

Quin entered the Jesuits at Loyola College, Watsonia, 1 February 1950. University studies began in 1952 from Loyola, studying Arts at The University of Melbourne. He completed a Bachelor of Arts degree, 1959-60, while living at Campion College, Kew. Between these years he studied philosophy at Loyola, 1953-55. Regency was at Xavier College, 1956-58, teaching middle school English, religion, and French as well as being a prefect of boarders.

Theology followed at Canisius College, Pymble, 1961-64, and was ordained to the priesthood at St Patrick's Cathedral, Melbourne, by Archbishop Justin Simonds, 2 January 1964. Tertianship was at Maison La Colombière, Paray-Le-Monial, France, under the guidance of Père Goussault. He then undertook studies in spirituality, 1966-67, in Canada.

Quin returned to Australia in 1967 and was posted as prefect of studies and teacher of religion and English as well as headmaster of the junior school and senior form master at St Louis School, Perth, WA, until 1969, when he was transferred to Xavier College, Melbourne, as First Division Prefect, and teacher of religion and French. He held this position until 1974 when he was appointed headmaster of St Ignatius' College, Riverview, also teaching religion and English. In his administration he gave special importance to the education of families, striving for the alignment of family values with those of the school.

In 1982 he had a mission shift, first working in the parish of the Immaculate Conception, Hawthorn, Victoria, and then in 1983, as parish priest in the parish of Lavender Bay, North Sydney.

He returned to Xavier College in 1989 as rector, chaplain, and Director of the Pastoral Office, currently called 'Faith and Service'. He returned to Sydney in 1993, as parish priest of St Mary's, North Sydney, a mission he held until 2004, when he was transferred as parish priest of Toowong, Brisbane in 2005. He remained in this work until his death.

Quin was a much loved, charismatic, pastoral priest, always fully engaging with enthusiasm and zeal with total availability to whatever place he was assigned. He enjoyed being tour guide to friends around Australia and overseas, usually with the Old Xaverian pilot, John West, in his plane.

Summarising aspects of Quin's memory by friend Father Christopher Gleeson in his funeral homily, Father Chris Horvat said that Quin was a spontaneous, free spirit and a missionary at heart. He welcomed thousands into the Church. He was passionate about sacramental ministry, exercising it far and wide. He married about 3000 couples, and when baptisms are added, he was involved sacramentally with some 15,000 people. Unconstrained by rubrics, liturgy was theatre for him. Imaginative and creative, he initiated Women's Nights of Spirituality in North Sydney and Toowong: they remain a source of strength for the hundreds who attend annually. He also founded 'Parent Infant Foundation of Australia', an organisation to help young parents care most effectively for their infants. He listened to people and gave hope to the unemployed and terminally ill, a man who gave hope to the hopeless.

Horvat further added, quoting Gleeson, that Quin was 'a keen cook, avid golfer, and surfer, afficionado of meaningful European cinema, daily devourer of heavyweight theological writing and Sudoku puzzles, a life-enlarger par excellence'.

(Reproduced by permission of Fr David Strong SJ.)