Saibo Mabo

Saibo Mabo (14 May 1947 – 12 May 2017) was an Australian bishop in the Anglican Church of Australia. He served as an assistant bishop in the Anglican Diocese of North Queensland from 2002 to 2015, and as National Bishop to the Torres Strait Islander people during that time.

Early life and ministry Mabo was a Meriam man, who was born in 1947 on Thursday Island in the Torres Strait in Queensland. He was the nephew of indigenous rights activist Eddie Mabo.

Mabo commenced ministry from the age of 17 after he felt he was being called to work as a priest. He was educated at Nungalinya College Mabo's appointment was seen as an opportunity for reconciliation in the region by the Anglican Church of Australia and he was appointed as a "national" bishop to all Torres Strait Islanders, both on the islands and in mainland Australia.

As Bishop, Mabo spent time representing the Anglican Church of Australia on the National Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Ecumenical Council. Together with local Member of Parliament Warren Entsch, Mabo led a successful restoration project of the Quetta Church Hall on Thursday Island as a community initiative, with Entsch serving as Patron and Mabo as chair of the project. Mabo also was instrumental in supporting the Torres Strait community following the murder of eight children in the Cairns suburb of Manoora in December 2014.

Mabo served as bishop until mid-2015 when he retired from the role, following which he became the local parish priest at All Souls and St Bartholomew's Cathedral Church.

Death Mabo died two days before his 70th birthday on 12 May 2017 after a short illness, his funeral service being held on 16 June 2017 at St Bartholomew's, the same place where he was consecrated as a Bishop in February 2002.

Mabo was survived by his wife Sania, two children and seven grandchildren.