The Cobar community has this past week farewelled Sr Trish Vagg who is returning to Ballarat following her retirement.
A Sisters of Mercy nun, Sr Trish came to serve the St Lawrence O’Toole Catholic parish in Cobar 11 years ago.
In addition to her church duties (and in the absence of a parish priest), Sr Trish was often called upon to carry out additional duties, including leading weekly church services and conducting funerals.
She celebrated her 50 years Jubilee of Religious Profession as a Sister when serving with Ballarat East Sisters of Mercy prior to moving to Cobar and last year marked her 60 years of service.
Since she arrived Trish was warmly welcomed into the Cobar community.
She’s helped to coordinate the St John’s School Mini Vinnies program and has been a regular visitor to the hospital and the Lilliane Brady Village nursing home.
For a number of years she also made fortnightly visits to Wilcannia to teach sewing, help to run a charity shop and visit members of the community.
A talented artist, Sr Trish has contributed works and volunteered her time at the Great Western Gallery for a number of years.
With a very hot summer and poor health, Sr Trish has been spending more time in Ballarat and has now made the decision to move back to live near her family and ‘sister’ community.
The gallery, school and parish all held functions to farewell her last week.
