For more than half a century, Holy Trinity Church has relied on the steady service of Val Stafford, who has quietly filled nearly every role needed to keep parish life running.
A Lifetime Of Service
Val Stafford has volunteered at Holy Trinity Church in Banyo for more than 53 years, beginning in 1972 when her eldest child started school. Now 83, she has shared plans to retire from parish service when she turns 85. Over the decades, she has served as sacristan, managed audio-visual needs, read during Mass and stepped in whenever practical help was required.
Her work extended beyond the church, with 27 years as a catechist in public schools and contributions to tuckshops, sewing groups and parish projects. Growing up in Warwick with limited access to Mass, she said this experience motivated her to help Catholic children in state schools strengthen their faith.
Deep Roots In Banyo
After marrying her late husband Keith, Val Stafford settled in Nudgee, just around the corner from Holy Trinity Church, where their family home has stood for 62 years. Generations of her children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren have attended the parish school.
She began volunteering when her eldest daughter started at St Pius V Primary School, as many women of the time left paid work after marriage. What started as helping the parish nuns with small tasks soon grew into decades of dedicated service.
Recognition And Change
During National Volunteers Week in May, Banyo-Nundah parish publicly recognised Val Stafford’s decades of service, a surprise she had not expected. Over the years, she witnessed major changes at Holy Trinity, including the rebuilding of the church after St Pius V was destroyed by fire in 1976.
She served on the committee that selected the design of the new building and later saw the introduction of English in the liturgy, which she believed made Mass more accessible. Across her service, she has worked with eight priests and watched the parish community continue to grow.
Community Response
Parishioners have described Val Stafford as humble, welcoming and generous, with many praising the way she made newcomers feel at home at Holy Trinity. When news of her long service was shared online, community members expressed their gratitude and congratulated her on her commitment.
She has said she hopes her example inspires others to volunteer, though she recognises that it is harder for families today to find the time. As her 84th birthday approaches in October, she has decided to step back at 85, saying more than five decades of service is long enough.
Published 18-August-2025
