Tributes are flowing for long-serving priest Father Wilf Plunkett, who died over the weekend after many decades serving the Wagga Catholic Diocese.
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Father Plunkett, 92, was born in Albury and went on to join the priesthood at the age of 27.
He spent over 50 years serving the church across the Riverina including over 30 years at the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Kooringal.
In 2006 he was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for his service, especially his role in providing pastoral care in Wagga.
John Goonan, a parishioner of Father Plunkett's for about 20 years, said the Wagga diocese had lost a "man of the people."
"He just welcomed everyone, it didn't matter who they were, what faith they were, what condition they were in, he was always there for whoever wanted help," Mr Goonan said.
"Pope Francis says he wants his bishops not just to be shepherds of their sheep but to smell like their sheep and I think that sums up Father Plunkett beautifully, he smelt like us, he was one of us and people loved him."
Wagga Catholic Diocese apolostolic administrator Reverend Kevin O'Reilly said Father Plunkett had contributed a great deal across the many parishes he had been involved with over the years.
Father Plunkett was particularly instrumental in the establishment of the Sacred Heart Catholic Church at Kooringal, transforming an old army hut into the parish centre that stands on Lake Albert Road today.
"He built up the Kooringal parish and helped to construct the Kooringal church," Father O'Reilly said.
"He also helped to construct the Mater Dei schools."
Father O'Reilly said Father Plunkett would be remembered for his "great care and concern for others."
"I think he'll be remembered as a great pastor ... his love towards not just his people but all people, he was friendly with everybody," he said.
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