The joke was on him.

Not only did he enjoy seeing kangaroos in the yard when he lived in Medowie, but koalas too.

It is those memories, plus catching a 40 kilogram black Marlin off Bulahdelah, and the people he has met in the past six years that Father Yates will look back on fondly when he returns home to England. Father Yates will deliver his final service at St John’s Anglican Church in Raymond Terrace on Sunday before he leaves the sunny shores of Port Stephens for his home country.

“I’m looking forward to going back,” he said.

“It’s an interesting time with England leaving the EU [European Union]. I’m not looking forward to the weather though. For me, Port Stephens was Australia.

“I really enjoyed being here, the community, getting to know everyone.

“I’m broken hearted to be leaving and saying goodbye but it feels like the right time.”

Father Yates has taken on the vicar position at St Saviours Church in Eastborne.

The rector and his family will leave for England on Wednesday, close to six years after they first moved.

Father Yates spent two years preaching at St Francis’ church for Medowie, Williamtown and Mallabula before moving to St John’s in Raymond Terrace where he has been for the past four years. Not just a rector, Father Yates – a former police officer – was a chaplain for the NSW Police Force’s Northern Region. One of his first roles when he moved to Port Stephens was to preach at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Newcastle. It also happened to be one of his last.

Father Yates preached at the National Police Remembrance Day service in the cathedral at the end of September.

During his time in Port Stephens Father Yates helped to establish Milo’s Table, continued the carols by candlelight tradition at the Old Rectory, established mass in the Junction Inn and was the chaplain for the Medowie RSL Sub-Branch.

He also became an Australian citizen in August.

Father Yates thanked Port Stephens for making his family feel welcome and said while it was bye for now, he would be back.