Vicki Rolland: Scott Morrison pays tribute to St Aloysius Cronulla parishioner

Scott Morrison has paid tribute to a Sydney church volunteer who helped livestream services to people around the world during the lockdown.

A woman who streamed a Sydney church’s mass all around the world during the COVID-19 pandemic has been remembered for her faith, singing voice and kindness after her sudden death.

Vicki Rolland, 59, collapsed at Cronulla train station on June 22 less than an hour after she livestreamed the 8am mass at St Aloysius Cronulla – just as she had almost every day for 12 months during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the best efforts of paramedics, Ms Rolland could not be revived as the parish priest raced to the scene and prayed the last rites.

“It is with a very sad heart that we announce that Vicki Rolland tragically passed away earlier this morning,” the church said in a statement on Facebook on June 22.

“(It was) less than an hour after she had successfully livestreamed the 8am parish mass – as she has done almost every day for 12 months – received communion, and had her morning coffee at Anna’s Coffee Shop to follow, as was her normal routine.”

Vicki Rolland, 59, has been remembered as a pillar of the community. Picture: St Aloysius Catholic Church Cronulla

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said he knew the St Aloysius community was deeply saddened by Ms Rolland’s passing.

“Vicki was one of those people who stepped up during the pandemic, livestreaming the morning parish service almost every day for a year,” Mr Morrison said.

“She ensured that the church could still stay connected with its congregation even if the physical doors could not be open.”

Mr Morrison said he knew this time would be doubly hard for Ms Rolland’s family and her Catholic community as they prepare for a funeral under pandemic conditions.

“Many in the Shire will know Vicki well and they can speak of her devotion to St Aloysius and to St Vinnies and the enduring friendships and connections she made,” Mr Morrison said.

“My prayers will be with her family.”

Prime Minister Scott Morrison led the tributes. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Gary Ramage

Ms Rolland’s passing also prompted an outpouring of grief from the Catholic community around Australia and across the world.

Among those who offered their condolences and prayers on Facebook were Catholics from Melbourne, Palm Beach in Queensland, Singapore and the Philippines.

“Vicki Rolland, you have touched our lives without knowing,” one commenter wrote.

“We attend the 8am mass online from the Philippines – not only the community of St. Aloysius mourn your passing, we from the Philippines mourn too.”

Fellow parishioner Sue Schembri described Ms Rolland as a “walking disciple for our parish”.

“Bless you Vicki, I pray you knew how many hearts you touched in our parish,” Ms Schembri said.

“You lived your faith to the end – love and prayers to you in heaven in the arms of Jesus.”

Others across Australia and the world paid tribute to Ms Rolland’s reading and singing voice.

“I don’t know Vicki, I’m from Melbourne – I just got to meet her when I hear mass online every day,” another commenter wrote.

“I loved it when she did the reading – she read beautifully and she had a beautiful voice.”

“Singing her way to heaven, joining the chorus of angels in entertaining everyone and encouraging all to join with her,” another commenter added.

Vicki Rolland, 59.

Ms Rolland was also the president of the St Vincent de Paul Society’s Cronulla branch and her friend – Tony Cranney, also the Sydney Archdiocesan President of SVdP – made a tribute to her on Facebook.

“Vicki bought love, compassion, joy and assistance to hundreds of families throughout The Shire and beyond,” Mr Cranney wrote.

“Vicki was a leader who led by example and actually couldn’t say no to anyone in need or asked her to assist with a project – I should know, I called upon her talents on many occasions.”

Mr Cranney said Vicki would also be remembered as a wonderful cook and someone who gave her time to help vulnerable people.

“She will be fondly remembered for the meals she provided for many years at the Como Social Leisure Centre where those suffering with mental health issues would gather for support,” Mr Cranney said.

“Besides Vicki’s role as president of the Cronulla Night Conference of SVdP she volunteered to answer the phones at SVdP head office where those most vulnerable in the community would ring looking for help.”

Mr Cranney said Ms Rolland was a determined advocate for social justice who once could not help herself from stopping Prime Minister Scott Morrison in Cronulla Mall one day to plead her case about supporting women affected by domestic violence.

“No one did fundraising better than Vicki as she pleaded to the generosity of her audience,” Mr Cranney said.

“I do not think anyone really knows the full extent of Vicki’s generosity, compassion and good deeds, but be assured there are many hundreds of people out there today whose lives have been visited by an angel we called Vicki.”

Anna of Anna’s Shop Around The Corner, where Ms Rolland was a regular patron, said she was a “pillar in our community” who would never be replaced

“Vicki is the loveliest, most caring and thoughtful soul,” Anna said in a statement.

“I feel beyond honoured to have called her friend – she spent her days helping and caring. “I’ve watched her care for absolutely everyone who needed it, she was genuinely everyone’s biggest cheerleader.”

Ms Rolland was not married and did not have children, but many members of the St Aloysius community remembered her kindness to her entire community.

“We have lost such a good person, she remembered about everyone’s birthdays and she was so generous,” Hanna Sakowicz wrote.

“She brought us so much joy, and our children will be devastated when we tell them today,” Daniel Tahhan wrote.

“We will miss her voice and her smile and her kind ways.”

Ms Rolland’s funeral mass will be livestreamed at 8am and 10.30am on Wednesday, June 30.