If you’re a trail-biker or bushbasher you’ll know it belongs to an out-of-the-way property near Taralga, off the Wombeyan Caves road, thence by ever-wilder ways down into the Abercrombie valley.

But not only bikers and hikers venture to Binacrombi (“Go wild . . . without going feral!”). Its 240 hectares also cater for family and corporate get-away groups. And, importantly, for rough, tough (in their own estimation) inner Sydney teenagers with shoulder chips bigger than turpentine logs.

For what isn’t widely known about Binacrombi is this: it was set up as a self-funding life-saving bush escape for kids whose behavioural boundaries are marked by druggery, thuggery and, yes, buggery. Kids who want out of this meaningless maze if only they could be shown the way.

Enter Dave Smith, to some tut-tutters a “notorious” Anglican priest, philosopher, author, Palestinian rights crusader, perennial Australian of the Year nominee, and fiercely competitive boxer, martial arts exponent, kick boxer and wrestler.

For 20 years, Father Dave has run a gym and after-school hang-out for otherwise aimless and hopeless kids across the road from his Holy Trinity church, in Dulwich Hill.

It’s supported by all sorts of people – not necessarily nicely behaved members of the Sydney Anglican flock – who are proud to belong to Dave’s Fighting Fathers ministry.

Binacrombi’s an adjunct to this gym, a sort of bush finishing school for those who earn it and want it. (No, not like Geelong College and its Timbertop). Fighting Fathers and their supporters around the world number in their thousands – loosely held together in a not always harmonious group by Father Dave’s stirring self-built and administered website. (Did I mention he’s also an IT genius?).

Dave Smith knows about young lost souls seeking hope and salvation. For he once was one himself, but literally fought his way out of a boozy, druggy Newtown downward spiral that followed a broken first marriage and the devastating death of his father – also a revered and controversial Anglican minister.

Father Dave, and his deceptively elegant wife Ange (she’s a qualified martial arts instructor, Binacrombi’s business manager, and mother of their three children) understand the differences between tough love, tough times, tough answers and bravado.

Which is why Binacrombi works with kids who turn out to be not so tough after all. But this takes a lot of work and money. Plus fearsome mental and physical stamina.

Which is why Father Dave, having just won the Australian Masters amateur middleweight boxing title, is now, er, hell-bent on celebrating his 50th birthday in February by doing something mad.

Even by his extreme standards. You see, one of Dave’s fund-raising wheezes is to charge a few bucks for dozens of beefy blokes, grim-faced sheilas and sundry mug-lairs to get in the ring with him.

One after the other, round after round, until all their egos and wallets are depleted. Box-a-thons he calls them. Light relief from the couple of dozen “Christians v Lions” club fight nights he’s staged and fought in over the years.

Last Sunday, despite a few heavies really trying to knock his block off, he went 60 rounds for exactly $3421. Not quite an Anthony Mundine purse, but still gratefully received.

So, the birthday boy’s planning a world record 120 round box-a-thon. He reckons that’ll raise $5000 for the youth club and Binacrombi.

“I believe the record currently is around 100 rounds,” he opines.

“An attempt to break that should raise plenty of funds if we promote it properly, even if I fail. We’re starting to plan it now, and I’ll need at least 30 opponents plus volunteer helpers.”

Well, include me out, Father. But I do like the sound of your next fundraising idea: chess boxing. “It’s big in Europe,” he enthuses.

“You fight for four rounds, then you and your opponent play chess for four rounds, then back to boxing, then to chess . . . what do you think?”

Well, Dave, I don’t think it’ll knock off Dancing With the Stars on TV.

But, hey, go for it, Preacher Man. You’re a hard nut to even knock down, let alone keep down.

And Ange’s trained soprano voice would wow ‘em during the boring chessy bits.

Y’know, I might even parade the ring with the round cards for this one . . .