“The tombstone of Christopher Wren, the architect of St Paul’s Cathedral, is located inside the cathedral he designed,” the Hon. Chris Bowen MP shared from the lectern at the memorial service. “The epitaph of the tomb reads: ‘Look around you. This is his monument.’
“To find the monument to Father Chris Riley, look around you,” he invited those assembled at the service. “At the eyes of the people he saved… Look into the eyes of their children and grandchildren, because his impact was generational.”
On Monday 18 August 2025, we said goodbye and thank you to a friend, mentor, advocate, colleague and founder of Youth Off The Streets, Father Chris Riley AM. Hundreds of mourners, from family and friends to supporters of the organisation he started over thirty years ago, made their way to Warwick Farm in Western Sydney, where so much of Father’s life’s work was carried out.
Many were dressed in black and white, the colours of Father’s beloved AFL team, Collingwood. To those present and the thousands who watched the livestream online, veteran journalist and close friend Mike Munro AM served as master of ceremonies, offering words of comfort and reflection in the opening eulogy.
“Father Chris Riley was someone who never sought attention or fame,” he said. “His whole existence was devoted to helping disadvantaged youth rise up and lead happy, successful and full lives.”
Looking out to the hundreds gathered, including former and current young people supported by Youth Off The Streets, he asked, “Who would have thought he would wildly surpass even all his dreams?”
Mike Munro AM delivers the eulogy.
In the hours and days since Father’s passing, tributes have poured in from every walk of life, across generations, parliamentary aisles and religious beliefs. His memorial was no different. Father’s ability to unify others in sharing his vision – alongside mentions of his loyal and ever-present Great Danes – was a thread that ran through the tributes.
First to speak after the eulogy was the Prime Minister of Australia, the Hon. Anthony Albanese MP. Though unable to attend the memorial in person, he shared his condolences via a video message.
“Father Chris Riley is an inspiration,” he said. “He’s someone for whom no one would be left behind.”
“He changed the lives of so many young Australians; young Australians who’d done it tough, young Australians who no matter how difficult their circumstances were, Father Riley put a hand out of friendship, support and compassion.”
Other dignitaries who spoke included the Hon. Jason Clare MP, Minister for Education; the aforementioned Hon. Chris Bowen MP, Minister for Climate Change and Energy; and former New South Wales Detective Superintendent, Deb Wallace. Both Minister Bowen and Ms Wallace shared personal anecdotes about Father Riley – moments that underscored his unwavering commitment to securing better outcomes for “his kids”.
“He taught me that not only my traditional role of arrest, charging and prosecution was a policing role,” Ms Wallace said, after recounting the success of an intervention program she and Father Riley delivered to at-risk youth in Cabramatta. “But there was also room for prevention, intervention and diversion.”
Deb Wallace, former New South Wales Detective Superintendent.
Family and friends included Kerry McCabe, the founder of not-for-profit organisation, UnLtd; Libby and David Koch, longtime supporters of Youth Off The Streets; and on behalf of Father Riley’s family, his nieces Taryn Ferguson and Olivia Anderson.
Friend Tony Stewart read a moving tribute from Cipriano Manuel Das Neves, who was first supported by Youth Off The Streets as a child in the wake of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. Das Neves is now the Timor-Leste National Manager of the Youth Off The Streets Overseas Fund.
Music was also a powerful vehicle for expressing sorrow and celebration during the service. The ceremony featured a waiata, a traditional Māori song of gratitude and farewell, performed by Jan Nichols, members of her multi-generational family and Youth Off The Streets’ Joseph Ratuvou, Team Leader Crisis Accommodation. The emotional performance inspired those of Māori heritage in the audience to add their voices.
Jan Nichols and her family performing a waiata, a traditional Māori song of gratitude and farewell.
Before his passing, Father was humbly adamant that no state funeral should be held in his honour, should one be offered; instead, he asked that his favourite song be played. Jimmy Barnes was happy to oblige and sent a video of himself singing a pared– back rendition of his iconic anthem, Working Class Man.
It was fitting that among those who spoke were former young people whose lives were directly impacted by Father’s work: Molly Vaughan, who gave the Acknowledgement of Country before her sharing her own tribute; Kylie Sharp, now Youth Off The Streets’ Domestic, Family and Sexual Violence Prevention Lead, and Amy Morrison, a Student Support Youth Worker; and lastly, Chris Sutherland.
Sutherland, one of the first three trainee youth workers at Youth Off The Streets, shared his recollections of Father – the first, in the wake of the Macquarie Fields riots, when he was still a young person.
“A few days later, he asked me if I wanted to go on a service learning project to the Philippines,” Sutherland recalled. At the time, he admits that he was eager as “a kid from Macquarie Fields getting to go overseas [for] free… but that trip really saved my life”. Sutherland would work for Youth Off The Streets for many of the years that followed and now works for the NSW Department of Communities and Justice.
Chris Sutherland, former young person supported by Youth Off The Streets.
“In our culture,” the proud Aboriginal man said in conclusion, “we honour our creators. My hope is that Youth Off The Streets will continue to honour Father’s legacy, through the work they do with young people, as their creator.”
Support us in ensuring Father Riley’s legacy continues and make a donation in memory.
Beyond his public service, Father Riley was a beloved son to Mavis and Kevin, and a cherished brother to Helen, Peter, and Greg. We join the community in extending our deepest sympathies to his family as we celebrate the life of a courageous and compassionate man whose legacy will endure through our work and commitment to children and young people in need.
If you save one child, you save the world. That’s my focus. One kid at a time. And if they put on my tombstone that I saved one kid, then that would be more than enough for me.
– Father Chris Riley AM
