JUST three days out from his farewell mass, Father Bob Maguire told crowds in Eaglehawk the beauty of Australia Day was that it changed every year.

The well-known Catholic priest was ambassador of the Australia Day celebrations in Canterbury Park, Eaglehawk. The Australia Day message, he said, was always evolving.

“Australia is a work in progress, we’re the architects, we’re the designers, each person has a different view. Whether you’re an Aboriginal person you don’t like it because it’s an invasion reminder, the Catholics don’t like it because it reminds us of Mother England.

“But we develop our own views every year and it’s about helping others.

“When you put other people first you end up living a much happier life.”

Father Bob joked that despite being in trouble with the Archbishop in Melbourne, he could say what he liked in Eaglehawk.

“I like it here, you’re not flash, I’m not flash,” he told the Eaglehawk residents. “Eaglehawk has history on its side. The community of Eaglehawk and the culture needs to be passed on to the younger generations and people who move in. People either move in because they’ve heard the property is cheaper or it’s a place that understands itself to be a community first, and a society second.”

Councillor Peter Cox said Father Bob’s message of helping others resonated with the crowd.

“He has a strong passion of putting others first,” Cr Cox said.

“He also challenges the political and cultural establishment, and I like to think we do that in Eaglehawk as well.”