Michael Putney (bishop)
The Right Reverend Michael Ernest Putney, AM, DD was a Roman Catholic bishop.
Born in Gladstone, Queensland, Putney attended St. Joseph's Convent for his primary education, and Our Lady's Mount and St. Columban's for his secondary education.
He was ordained to the priesthood in 1969. Putney was named titular bishop of Mizigi and auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Brisbane in 1995. In 2001, Putney was named bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Townsville, succeeding Bishop Raymond Conway Benjamin. Putney was well known for his ecumenical outreach to other Christian denominations.
Putney was appointed Member of the Order of Australia in the 2013 Queen's Birthday Honours for "significant service to the Catholic Church in Australia, to the promotion of inter-faith dialogue, and to the community of Townsville".Health
Bishop Putney was diagnosed with terminal stomach cancer in December 2012, and eventually died in office, having worked up until his admission to the hospital on 21 March 2014, passing away 15 months after his diagnosis at the Mater Hospital, Townsville, on Friday, 28 March 2014, aged 67.
