Fr. Leo Hayes
Father Edward Leo Hayes (1889-1967) was born in Frederickton, northern NSW. In 1911, he began his theological studies at St Columbus’ Seminary, Springwood, continuing on to St Patrick’s college, Manly. In 1918, he was ordained priest for the Brisbane Catholic archdiocese and took up his first posting as assistant priest in Ipswich (1918-1922). Fr. Hayes then spent the rest of his life in Queensland, serving as parish priest in Kilcoy, Taroom, Chinchilla, Toowoomba, Crows Nest, and Oakey.
Fr. Hayes was also an amateur geologist and ethnologist, and pursued his interests alongside his religious duties. He joined several expeditions of the Royal Geographical Society of Australasia to the Carnarvon Range in the 1930s and 40s. He is perhaps best remembered as a prolific collector, and for his important collection of books, manuscripts, and artefacts, which he donated to The University of Queensland in 1967. In recognition of this gift and for his services to literature, The University of Queensland awarded Fr. Hayes an Honorary Master of Arts just months before his death in 1967. The University Senate also established two scholarships in his name: one for Postgraduate work in Australian literary or historical studies, and one for an adult from the Darling Downs to undertake Undergraduate studies.