Fr. PJ Coyne was appointed first parish priest of Leongatha in Sep 1901. He was appointed Vicar General of the Sale Diocese with title of Dean in Apr 1918 and in 1932 he was made Monsignor.

He had a cheerful personality, and enjoyed gardening, horses, and quail hunting.

"No pastor was more beloved by his people than Father P.J. Coyne."

His first holiday trip back to Ireland was in March 1922 (after 33 years in Australia).

Dean Coyne 1901 - 1934

"Msgr Coyne had spent 45 years of his priestly life here in Victoria. On his arrival, Gippsland was still in the pioneering stage, roads were primitive and sometimes nonexistent and it had been said that priests needed hearts of gold and arms of steel so as to minister to their flock."

Bishop Ryan's eulogy