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Church member motors on

Lil Keene arrives at church in February. Photo by Stan Emslie
LONGREACH UNITING Church member Stan Emslie thinks his Aunt, Lil Keene, may be the oldest Uniting Church member in Queensland still driving herself to church.

Mrs Keene celebrated her 97th birthday on 25 March and she attends worship nearly every week.

Born Lily Stinson, she has lived in Central Queensland all her life. Together with her husband George Campbell, she raised six children.

Some years after George’s death she married Charlie Keene and took over the role of raising his young family.

Mrs Keene has been an active member of both the Barcaldine and the Longreach Uniting Churches.

She is still cooking for church fundraising stalls and remains a very capable knitter, providing the Christmas manger scene for the congregation each year.

For over 20 years members of the Church entertained residents of the Pioneer Retirement Home and Mrs Keene had a large repertoire of poems which she used to recite.

Mr Emslie said Mrs Keene’s eyesight and hearing may be deteriorating, but her faith in her God has never failed.

Photo : Lil Keene arrives at church in February. Photo by Stan Emslie