Others Magazine

Lieut-Colonel Mary Begley was promoted to glory on Sunday morning 18 September 2022, aged 95. She entered her eternal reward, walking home with Jesus after faithfully serving as an officer for more than 65 years.

Mary Irene Castel was born on 16 August 1927 in Greenwich, England. Mary met Ian Begley when he was an Australian delegate at the International Youth Congress in London, Ian having been billeted with Mary’s family near Greenwich.

Mary migrated to Australia and married Ian on 6 September 1952 at Moreland Corps, Victoria. Earlier this month, Mary and Ian celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.

Mary and Ian left their home corps of Hobart, with Lynette (aged three at the time) and Suzanne (aged one) and entered Officer Training College on 17 January 1957 as cadets of the Sword Bearers session. Following their commissioning on 14 January 1957, Mary, with Ian, was appointed to South Perth Corps (WA), where their son Raymond was born. Their next appointment was to Medina Corps (WA).

Mary and Ian had many appointments that found them serving around the world, spending many years in the Caribbean Territory. For their first appointment there, Mary and Ian sailed to British Guiana with their three children, where they served at Georgetown Corps. They were then appointed to Jamaica to Kingston Central Corps, where Rodney was born.

Several appointments in the Bahamas followed: Corps Officers at Mackay Street Corps (Nassau Citadel); then Sectional Officers, Bahamas; Regional Home League Secretary, Bahamas; followed by a move to Trinidad and Tobago as Divisional Leaders where Mary was the Divisional Home League Secretary, Trinidad. Mary and Ian spent 11 years serving in the Caribbean Territory.

On return to their homeland, they continued serving faithfully in the Australia Southern Territory, being appointed to Weeroona Senior Citizens Residence (pro tem) in Melbourne; then to Western Australia as Superintendents of Hollywood Senior Citizens Residence Complex; then to Northern Victoria Division (based in Bendigo) as Director of Women’s Services and Divisional Home League Secretary.

Following were appointments in the Melbourne Central Division as Divisional League of Mercy Secretary and Divisional Home League Secretary; followed by appointments at THQ in the Public Relations Department and later as Assistant Territorial Home League Secretary; followed by Divisional Home League Secretary for the Eastern Victoria Division.

Ian and Mary were the first officers tasked with the responsibility of establishing the National Secretariat in Canberra, after which she was appointed as the Assistant Territorial Home League Secretary for the Australia Southern Territory. Mary’s final appointment before retirement was the Outer Circle Home League Secretary (with her recipes welcomed in the monthly newsletters).

Mary and Ian retired on 1 February 1995. In retirement, they enjoyed travelling around Australia in their caravan and went on several cruises and overseas trips. Mary and Ian were devoted to their family and friends, having wonderful memories of adventures over many years. However, retirement didn’t suit them, and after a short time they took up ‘international appointments in retirement’ in the Hong Kong Command for three years; then Singapore for one year, at the Peacehaven Aged Care Facility in 2003; and a short time later another appointment back in Hong Kong Command for a further year of service.

After concluding their post-retirement service, Mary and Ian continued caravanning and cruising, enjoying many more happy times spent with family and their many friends.

Our love and prayers, along with our heartfelt sympathy, cover and surround Lieut-Colonel Ian, Major Lynette Jones, Suzanne and Andy Clark, Raymond Begley, Rodney and Karen Begley; their five grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“Her master said to her, ‘Well done, good and faithful servant.
You have been faithful ... Enter into the joy of your master”
(Matthew 25:23)

A funeral service of Thanksgiving and Celebration of Mary’s life will be held on 30 September at 11am at Le Pine (Box Hill) 1048 Whitehorse Road, Box Hill.