The Sixth Auxiliary Bishop of Perth.

Ordained Priest: 17 December 1977
Ordained Bishop: 21 February 2002

Street Address:
21 Victoria Square
Perth WA 6000
Postal Address:
PO Box 3311
Adelaide Terrace
Perth WA 6832
Telephone: +61 8 9223 1351
Fax: +61 8 9221 1716
Email: dsproxton@perthcatholic.org.au

St Mary's Cathedral has been significant in the life of Bishop Don. He was ordained a priest there on 17 December 1977, following which he served as assistant priest to the Cathedral Parish until his appointment as Secretary to Archbishop Launcelot Goody in 1981 and Archbishop William Foley in 1983. He was also Master of Ceremonies to Archbishop Goody and Archbishop Foley for most of this time.

In his time as Secretary, he served on the Diocesan Resources Committee, the Clontarf Aboriginal College Board, the Diocesan Liturgy Committee and the Papal Visit Liturgical Committee.

Appointed Parish Priest of Wongan Hills-Dalwallinu in 1988, he was seconded for one year to the Mission Pastoral Planning Committee, resuming his parish until 1993 when he became Parish Priest of Mirrabooka.

He was foundation member of the National Commission for Ongoing Education for the Clergy, formed in 1993. At the same time, he was appointed to the working party that eventually recommended the re-establishment of St Charles' Seminary.

Currently, he is serving on the Board for the Ongoing Education and Formation of Priests and the Centre for Seminary Studies. In 2001 he became coordinator for the Permanent Diaconate Programme which is being developed for commencement in 2003.

Bishop Don is a member on the Committee for Family and for Life, the Vocations Committee, the Evangelisation Committee and Committees for the St Mary's Cathedral Building Project. He is Chairman of the Association of Heads of Churches in Western Australia, and a member of the Catholic Education Commission of Western Australia.