After three months in Europe with her Danish family, Lis Hansen-Lucas was crossing a street in the United Arab Emirates with her husband, well-known Sunraysia sporting identity Geoff Lucas, when she was hit on Tuesday.

The 52-year-old school teacher was nearing the end of her long-service leave with her recently retired husband, who survived the accident.

It is believed he will return this week to his Boeill Creek home, in River Road, NSW.

Mrs Hansen-Lucas lived in Mildura most of her life, teaching textiles at schools throughout the district and most recently at Merbein P-10 College, where she was also the school librarian.

Principal Graeme Cupper said she had been expected back at work next Monday after her long-service leave and “dream trip” overseas.

He said Sunraysia’s school community would miss Mrs Hansen-Lucas, having also taught in Mildura, Irymple and Coomealla.

“She knew a lot of people through her time teaching, and a lot of kids, and colleagues had nothing but the utmost respect for her as a person, a teacher and as an educator,” Mr Cupper said.

“She was an exceptional teacher and a great person.

“We worked together in the early days at Irymple and I don’t think she’s left the district in her time.”

He said under Mrs Hansen-Lucas’s care, the library had been a positive place for students to spend time.

“A lot of kids who weren’t taught by her were certainly influenced by her work in the library.

“It was always a welcoming place for kids to come to visit and not just read, but as a place for someone to talk and have a strong well-being focus as well.

“Lis was someone who was always very good to have on staff and certainly had the respect of staff and also students, not just at this school but all the school’s she worked in.

“She influenced many people in Sunraysia in her years in teaching; that’s a pretty good thing to be able to say.

“It was an enormous shock to every­body... the community has pulled together extremely well.

“Our condolences go out to her husband Geoff and the family, on behalf of the school community.”

Together the couple had a strong involvement in Mildura’s harness racing circles, owning winning horses and supporting sports throughout Sunraysia.

Mr Lucas, Mildura East Cricket Club’s president, is also a horse breeder, trainer and driver, and had retired this year to concentrate on his hobbies.

Mr Lucas and his wife had two adult daughters.

One lives in the UK and one still in Mildura.

This story appeared in Thursday’s Sunraysia Daily 9/9/2010.