As a former parishgoer of Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church Warburton, I wish to express my concern, and also that of quite a number of locals, at the cluster of the 100 year old historic church.
Of all the pastors serving the church, was Father Charles Cerini leaving an indelible impression on all whom he served.
“The judgement of everyone who knew him was that he was unique, and irreplaceable; and very likely possessed of that type of greatness which becomes immortal” (Author Niall Brennan, Yarra Valley News Sep 17, 1968).
Fr Cerini was a country boy born in Victoria’s western district of Colac in 1932.
When he finished school, he demonstrated his budding talent by erecting a much needed sporting pavilion.
He was tall at six-foot-three and gangly and had a loud distinctive laugh. He was always cheerful and supportive and caring.
His main characteristic was that he was a man of faith and it was his belief that inspired and led his social outlook.
If anything was given to him it would be given to someone else in need.
One local said of Fr Cerini: “He was the best bloke I’ve ever met.”
In 1944 he served as chaplain, attended many executions and founded a half-way home for ex-prisoners.
For the rest of his life ex-prisoners would drop in to see him, knowing they would always be welcome.
The archdiocese sent Fr Cerini to Warburton to become their Parish Priest.
The Sacred Heart Parish was based in Warburton, covered a large area, but was relatively poor.
There was no Catholic school.
Fr Cerini’s solution to every problem was to roll up his sleeves and get to work!
The parish needed a school, so he built one.
The nuns needed a covenant, so he built one.
The Warburton School is now called the Cerini centre.
Any large building needs additional labour.
Fr Cerini inspired people to help, this was not limited to Catholics, many Seventh Day Adventists gave assistance, and many workers from the dam would travel down to Warburton on the weekends to help out.
Skilled tradesmen, labourers, families and children all donated their time and labour to construct the school and convent.
When the high school moved from Warburton to Yarra Junction, the school bus was expected to carry the Catholic children.
When the Victorian Education Department did not allow this to happen, Fr Cerini acquired a bus to drive the children to and from school every school day.
Fr Cerini marched the children between Yarra Junction and Warburton twice a day for two weeks.
The Melbourne Age newspaper published about the week.
As a result, the Education Department relented and allowed the children to travel on the bus.
In September 1968, Fr Cerini died suddenly from leukaemia.
In the central hall of St Joseph’s Catholic School, members of society, professional people, labourers, locals, outsiders, catholics and many others gathered for the funeral.
It was often said Cerini was central to the development of the Sacred Heart Parish in Warburton.
The Church of Warburton was opened and blessed by Archbishop Daniel Mannix in 2025.
