July 21, 2013
Friends and family members gathered at Wondai Diggers Club recently to farewell local identity – and former Wondai Shire councillor – Margaret Compagnoni.
Ill health has forced Margaret, 83, to shift to Melbourne to be closer to her son and daughter-in-law so it was a sad farewell for the many friends who gathered at the RSL club on July 13.
Margaret was born in Wondai but spent the first 10 or so years of her life living in Brisbane. At age 11, she came back and attended Cushnie State School and then St Rita’s Convent School in Murgon (which was established for boarders during World War II).
After helping out on the family farm for a few years, she began training as a nurse at Wondai Hospital and then as a mid-wife at Toowoomba.
She met her future husband, Wilfred Compagnoni, while she was still doing her training.
In 1970 she was appointed Matron of Wondai Hospital, a role she held – although the official title changed a few times over the years – until she retired in 1994.
Margaret was also instrumental in the formation of Wondai’s community radio station, CROW-FM, and was a member of the original foundation committee.
She was also a correspondent for a local newspaper for many years.
In 2000, she decided to stand for Council and was elected – the first female councillor at Wondai Shire.
She served one term but towards the end of this the first signs of Parkinsons Disease were becoming evident.
Margaret officially packed up and left Wondai last Thursday.
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