Helena Kalippa-Rioli  RIP   -   MSC Tributes

From Fr Malcolm Fyfe MSC, Vicar General, Diocese of Darwin.

Some reflections on the death of an iconic Tiwi Islander.

Preamble: On Friday last, January 15, a great number of people were in mourning as Helena Kalippa-Rioli was farewelled at Darwin’s St Mary’s Cathedral. The matriarch of the Rioli family was remembered by Tiwi Islanders and people from across the country at her funeral service. Emeritus Bishop Eugene Hurley was the Principal Celebrant at the Requiem Mass, assisted by Father Pat Mara msc, Tiwi Islands Parish Priest. Father Pat gave an eloquent and moving tribute to Helena in his homily. 

Helena and her husband, Cyril were, for well over half a century, Pillars of the Faith at the Garden Point Mission and constant supporters of whatever priests and nuns were available for ministry on Melville Island. I have drawn together the following commentary to acknowledge their contribution to the life of the Church on the Island. Their praises are widely sung in the media because of their many descendants who became outstanding Australian Rules Football players.                                                                         

Father Pat Mara sent me the following by way of a personal notification:

“On December 30 Garden Point said farewell to Helena Rioli who passed away peacefully at home surrounded by family and close friends. She was the matriarch of the well-known family, being a leader, inspirer, and example of great faith in Jesus Christ.

I visited Helena at the clinic two days before she died, some family and Sr Barbara were there. She said “Father, this has been my last Christmas” to which we all had a little bit of a chuckle and her granddaughter Dianne said “Nana you say that every year.” Thomas walked in not long after and exclaimed that on his way up he had seen a yirrikipayi (crocodile) at the beach and Helena peacefully remarked “Oh my sister has come to get me.”

For the six years that I had known Helena she suffered from a terribly bent and painful back, but like most Tiwi’s there was never a word of complaint. She carried the crosses given to her in life with dignity and courage and was a model of faith and inspiration to those who knew her. It is never easy to get a stubborn man to come to the faith but her prayers and example led to her late husband Cyril coming back to the church with an open heart. The pair of them would clean the church and walk to Sunday mass together each week. May they enjoy each other’s friendship once more in the kingdom of heaven.”

“Helena Rioli never travelled outside her small Tiwi Island community to watch her boys plays in a grand final.” (ABC News: Al Dowler)

What follows is an extract from the Homily cum Eulogy that I gave at Cyril’s Requiem Mass on 23 June, 2016.  It may be of interest in providing some additional background information.  Malcolm Fyfe:

“Cyril Kalippa, the patriarch of the famous Rioli family died on the afternoon of June 3, aged 81 with his wife Helena by his side in their Tiwi Islands home.

Cyril who made his name change by deed poll 14 years ago had been diagnosed with a serious heart condition about a month earlier. Family members, including AFL stars Cyril “Junior Boy” Rioli and Daniel Rioli, had travelled to the Tiwi Islands a few weeks in advance of his death to say their final farewells.  When they and other family members left the hospital, the doctors said there was a 90 per cent chance he would last only three days but in fact Cyril lingered on for some weeks and was able to return home where he wanted to spend whatever time remained to him.

My initial connection with the Rioli family dates back more than 45 years ago to a time when I was the Headmaster at Monivae College in Hamilton, Western Victoria. A young Tiwi Islander named Sibi Rioli came to the College as a Year 10 boarder. He quickly became a hero, admired and idolized by fellow students, as ruck-rover in the College first XVIII with his uncanny ball control, his precise disposal, a thrill to watch. It was a sad occasion four years ago when we farewelled him from this Cathedral after his sudden and untimely passing from us.

The first time I met Cyril and Helena at Garden Point was back in 1978 when I had my first posting to Darwin. In those days Father John Leary was in full vigour. He had been their Wedding Celebrant and very good friend and held the two of them in the highest regard. Cyril was indeed a unique personality with clear leadership qualities.

Let me mention just a few salient features of Cyril’s achievements, confident that others in their eulogies will recount many details from Cyril’s life. Kalippa was a Tiwi Bombers foundation board member when they entered Darwin’s NTFL competition in 2006. He was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to the Melville Island community. He worked hard to improve the lives of people in the Tiwi Islands. His was a vision where he wanted to create economic development, employment opportunities. He was instrumental in setting up the timber business. He was a foundation member when the Tiwi Land Council separated from the Northern Land Council. He endeavoured to provide a better life for his people through his involvement in the Tiwi College, so as to ensure the transition from education to the employment of local men and women. He combined all of these activities with a vibrant family life and with enduring support for the Church and the priest and nuns who ministered on the Tiwi Island. He frequented the Church not only for Sunday Mass but practically speaking, on a daily basis.

It is indeed fitting that Cyril and his family are being honoured by a State Funeral and that this Cathedral is the chosen venue for the celebration of his Christian life and death.”

(End of quotation)

The Darwin diocese extends to the entire Rioli family its condolences and promise of prayers at the passing to Eternal Life of Helena Kalippa-Rioli.”