THE Marburg & District Residents Association made a decision back in 2008 to reinstate the Anzac Day services in the community park in the centre of town.
But who would take charge of organising the event?
Wendye Gratton wasn’t a member when the decision was made, however, at St Mary’s primary school in Ipswich where she worked, each class took turns in running the assembly, and Wendye’s class would run the Anzac Day service.
Her husband Barry encouraged her to volunteer to organise the Marburg community service, so she joined the association and took on the job.
And from 2009 to 2025, Wendye, marshalled her group of willing volunteers on an annual basis to run the Anzac Day service and community event.
This year, Wendye announced that the 2025 event was to be her swansong.
Fellow association member, Julie Daniels, has volunteered to take over the lead.
THE Moreton District RSL has acknowledged Wendye’s commitment to keeping the Anzac spirit alive.
District President, Paul Rogers, made a surprise visit to the Marburg & District Residents Association meeting last week and presented Wendye with the RSL Queensland ‘Coin of Appreciation’ medal and thanked her for her outstanding service for the past 17 years.
“Member for Ipswich West, Wendy Bourne, contacted the CEO of RSL Queensland, Rob Skoda, about Wendye’s dedication to keeping the Anzac spirit alive,” Mr Rogers said.
“The CEO sent it down the chain of command and as we knew Wendye’s story, the district Secretary Cathie Aikers and I decided the best acknowledgement was the Coin of Appreciation.”
The ‘Coin’ was instituted by the RSL about 18 months ago to be used to honour individuals who had made a significant commitment to the RSL.
“It was a pleasure to make the special presentation at the meeting.” Mr Rogers said.
WE spoke with Wendye about the history of her involvement.
The Anzac Day Services had been in hiatus in Marburg for about eight or nine years when Wendye stepped up to the task.
She spoke of the people who had been involved from that beginning.
People such as Les Birnie from the local antique shop who had sung at every service in those 17 years.
And of poet Dennis Cannon who had also served every year by reciting poems without a script and in a way that only a true poet could accomplish.
Then there was the Riggs family who bring their horses along adding colour to the parade and staying on to give demonstrations of horsemanship and letting the families pet the horses.
Not forgetting the ex-service personnel who have stepped up to give the Anzac Day address.
Then there were, and are, the band of helpers in the lead up to the day who cook Anzac biscuits and other treats for the community morning tea and help set up and put away on the day.
And others who help where and when needed.
“A FEW over 100” people attended the first Anzac Day service organised by Wendye.
The parade was along a much shorter route and much, much smaller.
Wendye spoke of how the Anzac Day service and morning tea had grown over the years to become a major community event.
“This year, it was estimated that between 500 and 600 people attended. It was a wonderful day.”
What Wendye didn’t speak of was the enormous amount of work involved in organising the event other than to say there was a lot of paperwork involved in gaining all the necessary permissions and that the Ipswich City Council supported the day by helping fund the expenses.
And her retirement, she said, did not mean she was stepping away completely.
“I’m retiring from organising the Anzac Day service but I still plan to be one of the helpers.”
