Qld War Widows gather at Gympie Pavilion for Friendship Day

Queensland’s war widows have gathered in Gympie for the first time to mark Friendship Day, arriving from as far north as Townsville and as far west as Ipswich. See the photos, watch the video:

The Pavilion on Gympie’s Southside was abuzz with excited conversation as war widows from across Queensland came together for the annual Friendship Day luncheon on Thursday, September 15.

It was the first time the Gympie branch of the Australian War Widows Qld Gympie Sub-branch hosted the event.

There were also two extra special anniversaries adding to the excitement: Australian War Widows Queensland’s 75th anniversary, and the Gympie Sub-branch’s 40th anniversary.

It was a gathering of the clan, according to Gympie Sub-branch president Maureen Rush.

“Friendship day is the day they all look forward to,” Mrs Rush said.

Check out some of the best shots from the event:

It was a full house at the War Widows Queensland Friendship Day Luncheon at the Pavilion on the Southside of Gympie.

Members of the Gympie Sub-branch (from left) Glenda Standen, Sharan Bavell, Jenny Shores, Pat Harms and Jill Lennon.

Mayor Glen Hartwig and Gympie War Widows president Maureen Rush were excited to attend the event.

It was an extra special day for Lorna Porteus – her 98th birthday!

The excitement in the room was immense, as it was the first time the widows gathered since the pandemic.

Members of the Hervey Bay Sub-branch (from left) Faye Boaden, Jan Boge, Sunee Radford, Edna Murphy and Lynn Glover.

Sharon Blaxter, Brenda McFeeters, Robyn Hussey and Lorna Porteus came from Tewantin to mark the occasion.

Brenda McFeeters shows off her scrapbook, with photos from previous Friendship Day Luncheons.

Pauline Brice, Dorothy Jacobsen, Jenny Turner, Bev Connor, Terri Toye and Dianne Cooper loved catching up with old friends.

Amamoor resident Pauline Brice, with her friend Dorothy Jacobsen from Palmwoods on the Sunshine Coast.

Members of the Hervey Bay Sub-branch (from left) Connie Beavan, Linda Wallis and Mary Johnson.

These lovely ladies are all from Hervey Bay. From left, Heather Fazldeen, Lorraine O'Neal, Brenda Winter, Glynis Burns, Roslyn Eley and Olga Frazer.

Over 240 war widows travelled from as far as Townsville for the Friendship Day Luncheon.

Hazel McIntosh, Vida Leane and Lorraine Hughes travelled from Ipswich.

Pauline Brice from Amamoor caught up with Marissa Catolico, Thelma Bowen and Nimfa S. Gilbert from Southwest Brisbane.

Busloads of war widows from all over the state were excited to attend the Gympie luncheon.

These lovely ladies are all from Hervey Bay. From left, Heather Fazldeen, Lorraine O'Neal, Brenda Winter, Glynis Burns, Roslyn Eley and Olga Frazer.

Jenny Turner and Del Ward loved catching up.

Did somebody say cake? There were two different anniversaries being celebrated at this year's event.

Trish Elliott, Vikki Harradine, Carole Wilson and Eunice Smith travelled from Greenbank, Logan.

Rachel Johnson from head office and Debbie Baczyk, a Board Director for War Widows Queensland loved the tea and coffee station.

Lesley Cullis and Jenny Shores had their hands full selling raffle tickets.

Joyce Longhurst and Glenda Standen were at the door of the Pavilion, ready to greet guests.

Ann Byers and Patsy Squires travelled from Hervey Bay for the luncheon.

Originally published as Qld War Widows gather at Gympie Pavilion for Friendship Day