A special farewell party was thrown in Oban for a much-loved shop manager who has worked tirelessly for the charity Mary’s Meals.
Marie Rowan, 55, who has headed up the charity’s shop in Oban for the past nine years, has left her role to prepare for emigrating to Australia where she can be closer to her family.
The Lord Lieutenant of Argyll and Bute, Patrick Stewart, and representatives of other charities in the town, were among a huge number of well-wishers who joined a farewell party to give Marie a special send-off.
The surprise party, which was organised by volunteers at the popular charity shop, included a rolling slideshow of all the amazing community events that Marie and the team have been involved in over the years.
Since taking up the role of shop manager at the Mary’s Meals shop, Marie has been pivotal in building up a family of dedicated shop volunteers who travel from all over Argyll, including Lochgilphead and Glencoe, to give their time freely.
Marie said she was very sad to be leaving her role at Mary’s Meals, a Dalmally-based charity which sets up school feeding projects in some of the world’s poorest countries.
She said: “The loyalty of our shop volunteers is incredible and we are one big family, together sharing so much laughter and supporting each other during times of need.
“I love the way Mary’s Meals has brought us all together – people from all walks of life that are united in the belief that we can all do a little something to help make a big difference to impoverished children around the world and to support work in our local community.
“Mary’s Meals just never leaves you – it is in your heart forever. There are still children waiting to receive Mary’s Meals and it is all the little acts of love that allow us to keep reaching out to those children around the world.”
Marie gave a heartfelt thanks to all the shop volunteers she has worked with over the years.
She hopes to continue being involved with Mary’s Meals when she emigrates to Australia by taking on a voluntary role to raise awareness of the charity.
During Marie’s farewell party, members of the community, including children, also stopped by the shop to wish her well and presented her with hand drawn cards, poems and gifts.
Magnus MacFarlane-Barrow, global CEO and founder of Mary’s Meals, said: “Marie has been an incredible and impressive member of staff, certainly living the values of Mary’s Meals to the full and beyond.
“She is loved by the whole town and has an infectious joy and concern for every single person involved, especially those dedicated volunteers who get so much out of becoming part of the Mary’s Meals family.
“Whilst we are extremely sad to see Marie leave our Oban shop, we are equally grateful that she plans to continue playing an important role in spreading the word about Mary’s Meals so far and wide.”
