Maryborough bagpipe player Vince Henderson is being mourned

He was the face of his community’s Anzac Day services, even playing those poignant notes outside his Maryborough home during the Covid lockdown last year. Now the community is mourning the much-loved community member.

Maryborough Relay for Life - Cancer Survivor Vince Henderson. Carer, survivor and participant of Relay for Life for over a decade.

A Maryborough legend will be farewelled at a funeral service on Thursday after he died aged 80.

Vince Henderson, a longtime member of the Maryborough RSL Pipe Band, was well known in the community and had long been the face of Anzac Day and other ceremonial events.

His friend Bruce Bissett told the Chronicle Mr Henderson’s passing on November 12 was a “big loss to the community”.

He said Mr Henderson was passionate about the bagpipes and a prolific teacher, even teaching his son Ben the art.

“It was his life really,” Mr Bissett said.

He was also a cancer survivor.

He previously shared the story of his battle with prostate cancer with the Chronicle in 2018 when he joined in raising funds at Maryborough’s Relay for Life event.

Vince Henderson from the Maryborough RSL Pipe Band.

“I went through 39 radiation treatments,” he said at the time.

“Two of my brothers died of cancer, my sister had throat cancer and my other brother has been treated for cancer as well.”

Mr Henderson said it was a privilege to lead the lap of honour alongside members of the Maryborough RSL Pipe Band.

Last year, when people were confined to their homes for Anzac Day, Mr Henderson stood in the front yard of his Maryborough home and played the bagpipes, honouring the tradition the day after his beloved wife, Fay, passed away.

His funeral will be held at the Orana Chapel at J Kirk & Sons Hervey Bay Crematorium from 10am on Thursday.

The funeral will be live-streamed here for those who cannot attend.