Ipswich community mourns loss of mother, grandmother, matriarch Gaye Anderson

The passing of Ipswich icon and hair salon mogul Gaye Anderson has sparked an outpouring of love and tributes from the many people who knew and loved her.

The Ipswich community is mourning the loss of an adored mother, grandmother, and “matriarch” who sadly lost her battle with cancer last week, aged 71.

Gaye Anderson passed away on Tuesday, April 12; days after celebrating her 50th wedding anniversary with husband Vern.

She was well known and respected by people across the city, but particularly by Ipswich hairdressers and business people who knew her as the owner and operator of Gaye’s Hair Fashions.

With six stores in Ipswich alone, and more than a dozen between Toowoomba and Deception Bay, she was truly a force to be reckoned with.

Ipswich businesswoman Gaye Anderson sadly passed away on Tuesday, April 12. Picture: Rob Williams

The prominent businesswoman was formally recognised on numerous occasions for her commitment to the city’s business community in the years after she opened her first store in 1973.

Social media posts about the tragic passing of the Ipswich icon have been met with an outpouring of love, with many sharing their gratitude to her for giving them their starts in the hairdressing industry.

“RIP Gaye,” Facebook user Kerryl McNamara wrote.

“Thank you for all your hard work in the hairdressing industry and for all the career/employment opportunities you have given to me and my fellow hairdressers.”

Gaye Anderson pictured with Annette Brookes (left) and Debbie Spinks (right). Picture: David Nielsen

Facebook user Coreen Brennan said Gaye was “an acute businesswoman and an Ipswich born and bred who accomplished so much for Ipswich”.

“Wow, what a gorgeous lady, beautiful business minded (woman who) we can honestly say was one of our first women activists before it was a thing,” wrote user Melanie McInnes.

“So thank you Gaye for making the world more equal in the rights for all gender equality in the working business community of Ipswich and the south west suburbs of Brisbane. True inspiration.”

Ipswich businesswoman Gaye Anderson. Picture: Rob Williams

The beloved hairdressing giant leaves behind her adoring husband Vern, her children and children-in-law Charne and Trent, Dax and Merinda, Amity and Ben, and her grandchildren, who knew her fondly as ‘Gayemar’, Lydia, Celeste, Angus, Zavier, Hudson, and Layla.

A celebration of Gaye’s “life and love” will be held at 10am on Friday, April 22 in St. Paul’s Anglican Church on Brisbane St, Ipswich.

Family members have said donations to the Wesley Hospital would be appreciated in lieu of flowers.