By CAM LUCADOU-WELLS
DEDICATED charity worker Carma Keast, OAM, will be long remembered for her compassion and humility.
Mrs Keast lived in Dandenong for much of her 90 years, most of that lived with a long-held zest for tennis, crafts, cards, flower arranging and volunteering for Trinity Uniting Church.
About 180 people attended her funeral on 27 January at the church she so often festooned with beautiful floral arrangements on Sundays.
Her daughter Pauline Kilpatrick told the gathering that the “inspirational” Mrs Keast “pursued everything with passion, dedication, motivation and perseverance”.
“Your love, compassion and laughter has left a remarkable everlasting memory for all of those in your life.”
Mrs Keast was recognised for her enormous community service with a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in 2014.
“From my humble beginnings, I never thought I’d get such an award,” she told the Journal at the time.
“I’ve always thought I’d received help from the Lord above for trying to make the world a better place.”
Her volunteering included being tennis club secretary up until her late seventies, serving at Dandenong Hospital kiosk and being a long-serving church council member.
She created more than 30 rugs for Black Saturday survivors, as well as getting behind numerous fund-raisers for the church, Legacy and the Cancer Council.
Up until the ripe age of 78, she played more than 500 games of tennis with both Trinity and Presbyterian tennis clubs.
Mrs Keast was also a champion on the tennis court and played bowls up until six years ago.
Giving seemed “natural”, the former winner of Greater Dandenong’s Good Neighbour Award once told the Journal.
“Smiles make such a difference to make a better world for everyone,” she said.
“I try to smile a lot. Since I’ve been walking around a lot recently, it’s surprising how many stop and smile or say hello.”
Mrs Keast died on 20 January six months after being struck by pneumonia.
Through that time she maintained her humour, joking about the availability of parking at Monash Medical Centre as she boarded an ambulance, Ms Kilpatrick said.
She is survived by three children, 10 grandchildren and 14 great-grandchildren.
