Lissara group celebrates 70 glorious years

Lissara group celebrates 70 glorious years

2 October 2024

LISSARA Presbyterian Women celebrated their 70th anniversary on Friday evening.

The ladies were joined by family and friends who together reminisced about the formation of what was then known as the WMA, then PWA and now the Presbyterian Women (PW).

As leader of the PW Elizabeth Patterson welcomed all to the dinner. Elizabeth herself has been a member for half a century, first joining in 1974 when the leader was the wife of the minister of the congregation Rev Uel Matthews.

She had experienced the Matthews era, the Armstrong era, the Abraham era and now the beginning of the Burke era.

Special thanks were extended to Eileen Robinson for all the years shed had served in PW and for the many activities and outings that she had faithfully organised.

Another tribute was paid to Madge Andrews, a senior member who agreed to cut the anniversary cake.

Gifts were presented to Eileen and Madge by Rosemary Cuffey and Alison Burke.

A slide show ran throughout the evening showing photographs from as far back as the 30th anniversary.

While the founding members have passed away, the organisation is still flourishing and thankfully has a mixer of older and young members which bodes well for the future.

The catering was provided by George Hanna of The Mulberry Tree.

The evening was brought to a conclusion by a poem celebrating 70 years written and delivered by Ann Patterson and by words of encouragement by the current minister, the Rev Alan Burke, who said that although there had been many changes in the past 70 years, one constant remains – “our God does not change”.