AFTER originally coming to Warwick for one year, Sister Cecilia Bailey stayed for a decade and loved every minute.

Originally from Melbourne, Sr Cecilia worked in a legal office for six years before joining the Missionary Sisters of Service in Hobart in 1955.

She took her first vows in 1958 and celebrated her golden jubilee in Warwick three years ago.

Sr Cecilia worked in parish missionary work in Tasmania, Victoria and was in the first group to move to Toowoomba in 1964 at the invitation of Bishop William Brennan who saw the work of the sisters in rural NSW.

She worked for four years in rural parishes in the Toowoomba diocese as far west as Birdsville before being appointed congregational formation director for 12 years.

Sr Cecilia was appointed congregation leader in 1981 and moved to Melbourne for six years before working in Pyramid Hill parish near Bendigo.

She was appointed pastoral associate at Goondiwindi from 1995 until moving to Warwick in 2000.

“I came for a year but stayed because the town was friendly and I received a great welcome from everyone, including the QCWA Craft Group,” she said.

“I found Warwick a nice friendly town, I walked everywhere and met people over their fences and we had time to chat.”

As time went on, she became more involved in St Mary's Catholic parish activities and was spiritual advisor for the St Vincent de Paul Conference, in the parish liturgy, social justice and family groups and trained lay leaders for Liturgy of the Word and Communion Services when a priest was not available.

She was involved with the Dementia Support Group and the Amnesty International Letter Writing Group.

She has been an avid Collingwood AFL supporter all her life and has been to games at Victoria Park and the MCG.

“People either love or hate Collingwood but I like their persistence when they are not winning,” Sr Cecilia said.

“In the Depression, they boosted the spirits of people out of work.

“It is a club with a hard-working ethos.”

She is retiring to Toowoomba where there are six sisters from the congregation.