Church farewells organist after 50 years

AYLENE Gallagher went out on a high note yesterday when she played the organ at St Kilian’s for the last time.Mrs Gallagher retired after the 10am mass yesterday, after 54 years of playing at St Kilian’s. She started playing the organ at the church in 1956.Celebrating her 90th birthday, Mrs Gallagher said she loved playing music for people to sing to at Mass. Yesterday nine children, 24 grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren, were in the congregration to watch her play at mass for the last time. “It was just a lovely day,’’ she said. “I got a bit sad about it, but it had to be done, I couldn’t keep going forever.” At the end of the service, Mrs Gallagher received a bunch of flowers from the church and enjoyed a light lunch with family, friends, and some parishioners at the St Kilian’s Parish Centre.She then enjoyed a family gathering at her son’s place in the afternoon. Parish administrator Father Rom Hayes praised Mrs Gallagher for her contribution to the church. “She is what you call a legend, in every sense of the word,’’ he said. Father Hayes said she also had a great sense of humour.He said Mrs Gallagher had on occasions worn her Hawthorn cap while playing the organ if the Hawks’ had won the football in the AFL.