From living homeless as a teenager to becoming Toowoomba's motorbike-riding priest
Pauline Harley rides her Harley-Davidson to and from her two churches in Toowoomba. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
Reverend Pauline Harley takes off her motorbike helmet, shakes out a shock of pink hair and walks into a small brick church in Toowoomba.
She greets parishioners warmly before swapping her leather jacket for her white priest robes.
Pauline Harley did not grow up with religion — far from it, in fact.
St Alban's is a small Anglican church in Toowoomba. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
As a teenager, she spent six "hungry and cold" months living on the streets in Christchurch, New Zealand, after enduring years of neglect and abuse from her family.
"I grew up with not a very good family life," Rev Harley says.
"I was abused. Every which way.
"I never finished high school because I was kicked out of home at 15 years old."
She admits her journey to priesthood has been unorthodox but one that has informed her ministry and advocacy for social justice.
Pauline Harley puts on her robes before mass. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
"I have a lot of empathy for people because of my past and lived experience," Rev Harley said.
"My choice was to let the past forever dictate me in a negative way, or to use it in a positive way going forward."
'Breath of fresh air'
Toowoomba, 126 kilometres west of Brisbane, is known as part of Australia's "bible belt".
The regional city has a long history of religion, stretching from early settlement, when priests would conduct services in homesteads, to the city's association with Christian fundamentalist movements.
Phoebe Mitchell has been attending St Alban's church for 20 years and says Rev Harley's arrival has been a "breath of fresh air".
Phoebe Mitchell says the parish is now more involved in social justice initiatives than ever. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
"We hadn't had a minister in some considerable time," Ms Mitchell said.
"Pauline's arrival was a shock to some people … one, because she was female and two, because of her hair."
Ms Mitchell says Rev Harley's appointment has seen more conservative churchgoers choose to leave the parish.
But she says the parish has since become more diverse and welcoming to people with disability and LGBTQI+ people.
"We're really fortunate to have someone like Pauline who challenges us to step outside our comfort zones," Ms Mitchell said.
St Alban's welcomes people from all paths. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
Journey to priesthood
Before becoming an ordained minister, Rev Harley was a fishmonger, a baker, a computer manufacturer, and even tried her hand at border patrol security.
She had found herself in Australia in her 20s, having left an abusive marriage.
Pauline Harley never saw herself becoming an ordained minister. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
"As a Kiwi, I couldn't receive any government benefits, so I had to find a way to work," Rev Harley said.
She eventually took up administrative work at a local church office, where she became close with the reverend.
"He was just a gentle, kind man who saw a broken person and was willing to give me a go," she said.
"Next thing you know, I'm at church every Sunday."
At age 40, she decided to become an ordained minister, which involved acquiring a university theology degree and other religious qualifications.
More than a decade on, she is the priest-in-charge for the Toowoomba West Parish.
The bikie priest
Rev Harley always wanted a Harley-Davidson, even before she married and changed her surname to Harley.
She rides it religiously, even if it garners a few stares.
Loading..."I've been stopped once when I've been riding with my collar on and there was a double take from the police officer who was doing the random breath test," she laughed.
It has drawn a new crowd into the church community.
"It resonates with the youth, and with people who ride bikes," Ms Mitchell said.
"We have an awful lot of people who are on the fringe of the church … but because of Pauline, there's this growing feeling [of community] around the area."
From belief to action
While volunteer numbers are dwindling across Australia due to the cost of living, Toowoomba West Parish has more people than ever putting their hands up to help.
The parish is now heavily involved with social justice initiatives such as the Winter Shelter, in which churches use their facilities to offer a warm place for homeless people to stay during the coldest months of the year.
Pauline Harley speaks to parishioners at the morning tea after the mass. (ABC Southern Qld: Grace Nakamura)
There are 50 regular volunteers who help with the Winter Shelter and a local community kitchen.
Rev Harley says her past has shown her the value of the kindness of strangers and helping others.
"For me, it's important I show parishioners that actions are just as important in our faith journey,"she said.
"I pray for our city that more and more people would step out of their comfort zones and help out in our community."