Gympie community fundraiser Aileen “Toots” Lumsden remembered

A beloved Gympie great grandmother is being remembered for her joy, valiant fundraising and for fighting right up until the end of her life surrounded by her loving family.

Champion fundraiser and joy giver: Aileen Lumsden has been remembered.

Aileen “Toots” Lumsden has been remembered by her friends and family for her smile, beautiful soul and positive, calming and loyal presence.

Mrs Lumsden loved fishing, camping, chatting, eating mud crabs and adored her family.

“She loved nothing more than sitting back in her camp chair with a coffee in her hand listening to the sound of the waves while playing board games, fishing, searching for seashells, chasing ghost crabs and many other adventures,” daughter Debbie-Lee Wilcox said at Mrs Lumsden’s funeral on Thursday.

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Aileen "Toots" Lumsden has been remembered for her incredible fundraising for the community, and being a loving, loyal and joyful friend, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother.

“Mum had the most amazing life surrounded by love.”

Mrs Lumsden grew up on a number of farms throughout Gympie, from Kandanga to Kybong. She married at the young age of 17 to the love of her life, Rob Lumsden and they bought their first house together on Noosa Rd.

The couple had three children, and while her husband worked at Nestle, Mrs Lumsden went from bean picking, to working in the kitchen at the Australian Hotel, to running the cafe at Gympie Ten Pin.

When Mr Lumsden retired they hit the road and became grey nomads, travelling Australia.

“Mum was passionate about giving back to Cancer Council after they supported both her and dad, when my dad was diagnosed with throat cancer,” Mrs Wilcox said.

Together they raised almost $100,000 with a team called HOPE: Hold On Pain Ends.

When the Lumsdens returned from a trip to the Cape in 2021, Mrs Lumsden was diagnosed with lung cancer. Sadly it was terminal, and for the next two years she fought the cancer through hospital appointments, the support of a Keith Urban concert and time with her family.

“The whole time she had a smile on her face and never complained,” Mrs Wilcox said.

In recent weeks family rushed to spend as many moments as they could with her before she died peacefully at home.

Mrs Lumsden had three children, seven grandchildren, and nine great-grandchildren.

“Mum grew her wings in dad's arms, surrounded by family at home,” her daughter recounted.

“The most common words used to describe mum were always smiling – a beautiful lady with a beautiful soul, positive and calming, loyal, never showed ill judgment on anyone.”

Originally published as Gympie community fundraiser Aileen “Toots” Lumsden remembered