THE North West Anglican community, family, friends and members of St James the Great and St Luke’s, last Sunday bade emotional farewell to the Reverend Betty Handley at a communion that also was a special retirement celebration.
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After more than 50 years in Mount Isa, Mrs Handley celebrated the Eucharist among her flock for one final time, leaving behind a legacy of service, which has been inspirational, energetic and best simplified as: “Unselfishness gives equal happiness.”
Mrs Handley, who had thousands of friends way before Facebook, is retiring to join family in Hervey Bay, where she will undoubtedly enrich that community because her retirement is merely a change of course as she turns her talents in a new direction.
The special occasion was well attended and led by the parish’s priest-in-charge Rev. Susan Handley, and a large number of well-wishers, who thanked Rev. Betty for her qualities of quiet strength, integrity, and watched as she was presented with a medal by the Anglican Bishop of North Queensland, the Right Reverend William Ray for having served the church with distinction.
Rev. Betty was educated as a teacher and came to Mount Isa from Winton in October 1963 with a husband and two children.
She was caring about people, working with the predecessor of Blue Care, the Blue Nurses, and as a visitor to the Laura Johnson Retirement Home, Mount Isa Hospital, the region’s schools and the physically and socially isolated across the state from Charters Towers to the Northern Territory border. She led prayer groups, in particular for healing and appeals for rain.
The down-to-earth and humble Mrs Handley became deacon in 1995 and was ordinated in 1998. During her time in the area, she helped promote unity and cooperation among the region’s faiths, served with the Combined Christian Churches of Mount Isa, ecumenical services such as the World Day of Pray and Christmas services and on occasions led the Mount Isa City Council in prayer before meetings.
Mrs Handley’s attention to detail have shone through the town’s many public events, such as the fetes and flower shows she presided over, and as a leader in the Scout movement for more than 50 years,ending her time as assistant regional commissioner in recent months. and receiving the Scouts’ Silver Kangaroo award for “eminent achievement and exceptional service”.
Her work for scouting and the Anglican Church earned her a Medal of the Order of Australia in Queen’s Birthday Honours in 1994.
Rev. Betty was known for willing to do whatever she could to make life better for the community, her compassion toward the underdog and as a woman of grace, intelligence and encourager of others.
