Fr Robert will mark his silver jubilee anniversary on October 28 with a special mass at St Peter's Anglican Church.

It has been an interesting road for Fr Robert.

"I come from a family who you would say is not really a 'church family'," he said.

"I was the person who decided as a teenager that I wanted to go to church. I probably knew from about year 8 in school that I was going to be a priest."

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Fr Robert originally trained as a school teacher and was then appointed to Finley High School after growing up in Sydney.

From there he approached the then Bishop of the diocese about being ordained.

"He sent me off to theological college and after that I came back and was ordained as a priest on October 28, 1994 at St Alban's in Griffith," Fr Robert said.

Fr Robert then worked in Griffith, Corowa and Coleambally before coming to Leeton where he has been now for 16 years.

"The people and community is what has kept me here," he said.

"I've had the opportunity to work with some very talented, energetic, enthusiastic people, who are good, kind and generous.

I've also had the chance to work with some wonderful eccentrics. There are times I think (television show) The Vicar of Dibley is reality TV.

"It's the life of the community that has kept me here."

Fr Robert is well respected by both his peers and the wider community.

He is known for his wit and sense of humour, but also his compassion. Over the years he has attended to many weddings, baptisms, funerals and other church events.

Fr Robert also hopes to see the church continue to evolve and grow as the world continues to change at a rapid pace.

"I think what people need and require from the church is very different today and I think how we deliver to those needs will continue to change," he said.

Fr Robert's special celebratory mass will be attended by many from near and far as they seek to wish him well for more years to come.

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