Reverend Richard Pennington farewelled Ms Leece on behalf of the Parish of Central Goulburn, consisting of members from St Paul’s Avenel, St John’s Nagambie and Seymour’s Christ Church.
He thanked her for her many years of support to the parish and the Mother’s Union, presented her with a gift to take to her new home and wished her well for her future in Drysdale, near Geelong.
Ms Leece invited Seymour and district residents to drop in for a cuppa and thanked everyone for their friendship and love given to her for many years.
“I will miss you all,” she said.
She has lived in Seymour for more than 50 years and has been an integral part of various groups in the area most of that time.
She moved to Seymour with her husband, Doug, and family. Doug taught in local schools.
Ms Leece joined the Anglican Mother’s Union in June 1978 and has been an active member in many ways, predominantly being the treasurer for more than a decade.
She has attended hundreds of Mother’s Union meetings, for the local church branch and at a diocesan level at Wangaratta.
For 15 years she attended the Puckapunyal Primary School’s ‘Adopt a Granny Day’ with members of the Mother’s Union and school families. She also attended many fun afternoons at Karingal and Nagambie healthcare facilities with church folk.
She was an integral part of the Anglican church’s flower shows and photography competitions.
Ms Leece supported the Anglican debutante balls and enjoyed catering many church luncheons, Mother’s Union fundraisers, funerals, church and community activities.
She has been an active member of the Seymour Garden Club, manned many raffle tables and stalls and supported various club activities.
She has also been a long-time member of the Seymour Golf Club.
Her mother Lorraine Clark was a centenarian and Ms Leece lovingly supported her in her home and at Karingal.
Ms Leece is now 89, but did not want to go into Karingal, so she settled for an alternative. She is downsizing from her Anglesey St home and will move to a unit at Drysdale on the Bellarine Peninsula near some of her family.
The community and church wish her all the best in her new abode.
– Di Grant
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