Mary Wagner remembered as devoted mother, community leader after death at 89

The matriarch of one of Australia’s most successful business families has passed away, leaving behind an incredible legacy. This is her life story.

Henry and Mary Wagner celebrate their 60th wedding anniversary. July 2018

Mary Wagner AM has been remembered as a devoted mother with a brilliant mind for business and leadership.

The 89-year-old Wagner family matriarch passed away at home on Saturday after a period of intermittent illness.

Her son John said the family, including Mary’s children, grandchildren and great grandchildren, were with her in the hours before she passed, just two days short of her 67th wedding anniversary.

“We were all gathered around mum on Friday evening, she was listening to every word and making the occasional contribution to the conversation,” John said.

“It was mum’s wish to die at home, surrounded by her family.

“It was a lovely farewell.”

Henry and Mary Wagner married on October 3, 1958.

Mary Wagner was born at the Warwick Hospital on October 3, 1935, to Rose-Ann and Denis Doyle and was taken home in a horse and sulky to the family home in Clintonvale.

At the tender age of 5 she was riding her horse to the nearby Clintonvale State School, and was later enrolled at Warwick Convent as a boarder.

Mary finished her education as a boarder at All Hallows School in Brisbane and commenced her nursing training at the Mater Hospital.

It was on her return to the Darling Downs to complete that training at St Vincent’s Private Hospital that Mary met the love of her life, Henry Wagner.

“On her first shift dad was admitted with a very serious condition, with a piece of steel embedded in his arm.” John said.

“He was in real strife.”

Celebrating the Wagner family's 35 years of business and a decade of Toowoomba Wellcamp Airport are (from left) Neill, John, Mary, Henry, Joe and Denis Wagner, Friday, November 8, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

They couple fell in love and married at St Patrick’s Cathedral on May 5, 1958.

Together the couple raised eight children; Kate, John, Tricia, Denis, Greg, Elizabeth, Neill and Joe.

While Henry threw himself into growing the family business, Mary raised their children and worked night-shifts at the Mt Lofty Hospital, an aged care facility.

“Mum would go to work at 9.30pm, drive herself to the hospital where she was the matron, then work until 6.30am,” John said.

“She did that for 13 years and would sneak an hour or two of sleep here and there.

“Mum had an incredible work ethic and she was determined that her children would have a good education.

“There was not a lot of money around the place, but there was a lot of love.”

Kate Greer with her mum Mary Wagner at It's a Bloke Thing 2021, Friday, September 10, 2021. Picture: Kevin Farmer

If family was Mary’s first love, her second was her faith.

She was devoted to Toowoomba’s Catholic diocese and worked alongside her beloved brother Monsignor Pat Doyle.

“We would say the Rosary around the table every night and go to mass every Sunday,” John said.

Mary and Henry were instrumental in building the neighbouring bingo hall that brought much needed revenue into the diocese, money that supported Catholic education in the Darling Downs.

Her devotion to community service spread to a raft of organisations, where Mary applied her unwavering work ethic.

“Mum loved a project,” John said.

Henry and Mary Wagner. It's a Bloke Thing lunch at Wellcamp Airport. September 2018

“She was a very bright woman with a strategic mind for business, who would dream big and get the job done.”

Mary raised funds for Lourdes Home and St Saviour’s Primary School, sponsored Sudanese refugee families fleeing civil war, was a patron of the Toowoomba Refugee and Migrant Service and took the lead in raising about $4.4 million to build Downlands College’s Sports Science Centre.

For the Cobb and Co Museum, Mary led efforts to raise millions for its National Carriage Factory expansion, and later became a Patron of the John Wallis Foundation.

But by far her greatest achievement – and the one she was most proud of – was raising her children with Henry and seeing them succeed.

Ali Davenport and Mary Wagner at a TSBE Women in Health event, May 30, 2019.

Today the Wagner Corporation has grown from humble beginnings to being one of the most influential businesses in Australia.

“Mum was extremely proud of the achievements of dad and her sons, myself, Neill, Joe and Denis, but also of what all of her children achieved,” John said.

Toowoomba Mayor Geoff McDonald paid tribute to Mary, saying she was a true leader.

“Her warmth, kindness, and generosity knew no bounds, touching the hearts of all who had the privilege of knowing her,” he said.

“Mary was a beacon of hope for those in need, always ready to lend a helping hand.

“Our community extends our deepest sympathy to Mary’s family during this difficult time. We are forever grateful for her contributions and the legacy she leaves behind.”

Originally published as Mary Wagner remembered as devoted mother, community leader after death at 89