John Kratzmann brought along a fully restored WWII bren gun carrier, a Jeep and a motorcycle to take part in Wondai’s 2014 Reserve Forces Day parade
July 7, 2014
Wondai’s Reserve Forces Day always attracts visitors from all over south-east Queensland, and this year’s two-day celebration was no exception.
Reserve Forces Day commemorates the two million Australian men and women who have served in the Army, Navy and Air Force Reserves since 1948, as well as the many thousands who have served in the CMF and other volunteer formations over the years.
Inaugural parades were held in 12 cities throughout Australia in 1998 to raise awareness of the Reserves, to thank employers for their support and encourage enlistment.
These first parades and were considered so successful that it was decided to make Reserve Forces Day Parades an annual event.
Wondai is currently the smallest centre in Australia to hold a Reserve Forces Day parade, but it does so with gusto.
On Saturday afternoon, visitors took part in social bowls and a barbecue at the Wondai Country Club, followed by a meet’n’greet at the Hotel Cecil on Saturday night as a warm-up.
Then on Sunday morning, crowds gathered at the Wondai Cenotaph at 10:00am for the traditional flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony to begin the event.
This was followed by a parade from the Post Office which was reviewed by the Aide-de-Camp to the Governor, Flight Lieutenant Rob Moran and supported by the 2IC HQ Southern Qld Lieutenant Commander Mark Tandy.
The parade was followed by a recognition service in Coronation Park led by Wondai RSL president Wally Knight and addressed by Mr Barry Collins from the Naval Association of Queensland, and then a “Beating Retreat” ceremony to mark the end of Reserve Forces Day on the roadway in front of the Cenotaph.
After this, guests enjoyed a post-parade get-together at the Wondai Diggers Club.
Flight Lt Rob Moran (representing Queensland Governor Penelope Wensley), Lt Commander Mark Tandy, Barry Collins from the Naval Association State Branch, Sub-Lt Peter Green, from the Australian Navy Cadets, and Petty Officer John Magor, from the Naval Cadets’ training ship Krait, laid wreaths at the commemorative serviceCr Kathy Duff and Deputy Mayor Cr Keith Campbell laid a wreath at the ceremony on behalf of the South Burnett Regional Council, along with Cr Ros Heit (not shown in photo)
A formal wreath-laying and flag-raising ceremony was held at the Cenotaph to launch this year”s commemorations
After the wreath laying, the parade was assembled; Eileen Beer and Mary Smith served refreshments to onlookers
The initial march from the cenotaph down Mackenzie Street was led by the Queensland Services Heritage Band Association, who travelled from Wynnum for the occasionRenee, 11, Charlee, 7, Belinda, 12 and Mackenzie, 5, getting ready to accompany their grandfather John Kratzmann in the bren carrierAnna Astbury, from Windera, mother of Charlee and Mackenzie (photo above), drove a fully restored WWII jeep in the paradeMathew Bowman drove John Kratzmann’s WWII motorcycle; the wooden side-car was hand-built, but all the rest is originalThe Wondai & District Band led the march back from the Post OfficeMembers of the 49th Battalion Bushmen’s Rifles RQR and Dalby’s 25th Battalion Association also took part in this year’s marchA crowd of about 150 people gathered at the Percy Iszlaub Pavilion in Coronation Park for the commemoration serviceCr Ros Heit with padre Vic “Chappy” Chapman, who spoke at the memorial service
