Wondai Remembers, Others Forget

25th/49th Battalion RQR commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Justin Robinson led the wreath-laying ceremony at the Wondai Cenotaph

July 9, 2025

Wondai’s annual tribute to the Reserve Forces troops which have served Australia in conflicts and peace-keeping missions for more than a century attracted current and former Defence Force personnel to town on Sunday.

It is the 20th year that Wondai, home to the 25th/49th Battalion depot, has marked Reserve Forces Day (and the 19th year it has hosted a parade).

Sadly, Wondai is one of the few locations across Queensland to continue to honour the day, despite the fact that more than 1.25 million people have served in Defence Reserves over the decades, including the many soldiers who fought the Japanese in New Guinea and Bougainville during World War II .

More recently Reserve units have served in Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor and the Solomon Islands.

The small Reserve Forces Day organising committee selects a different branch of the Reserves to honour each year

This year it was the turn of the Australian Army, with a focus on 1945 and the final campaigns of World War II.

Wreaths were laid at the Wondai Cenotaph on Sunday morning then, after a small break, current and former Reservists paraded down Mackenzie Street into Coronation Park, led by the Wondai Town & District Band and members of the 5th Light Horse Regiment Gympie re-enactment troop.

A message from Governor-General Sam Mostyn AC was read during the Recognition ceremony in Coronation Park.

25th/49th Battalion RQR commanding officer Lieutenant Colonel Justin Robinson then thanked all Reservists for their shared service and sacrifice, and their families and communities for the support which enabled Reservists to be prepared for service in conflicts and other operations.

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington and South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff also spoke during the Coronation Park ceremony.

The 5th Light Horse Regiment Gympie re-enactment troop is always a popular part of the annual Reserve Forces Day commemoration

Army Reserve troops from Alpha Company 25/49 RQR with the Gympie Light Horse troop

Noel Selway blew Wondai’s historic bugle at the start of the morning ceremony

Wide Bay-Burnett RSL District President – and former Reservist – Neville Tarry spoke at the morning ceremony

Former Reservists stand at attention during the morning ceremony at the Wondai Cenotaph

Allan Chapman and Shirley Chapman, from the Gympie Light Horse troop, with Lorraine Scrimgeour, centre

Cr Ros Heit, Mayor Kathy Duff and Cr Deb Dennien laid wreaths at the Wondai Cenotaph

Attorney-General Deb Frecklington with councillors and official guests at the Wondai Cenotaph

Major Mervyn Ng commanded the troops from A Company 25/49 RQR

Mayor Kathy Duff called Noel Selway to the podium in Coronation Park to receive a special “thank you”

The official party at the Recognition Service in Coronation Park

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Parade Gallery

Parade participants assembled near the Wondai Post Office before heading down Mackenzie Street.

The Wondai Town & District Band peeled off into Coronation Park at first, allowing the Gympie Light Horse troop to lead the marchers the rest of the way down to Scott Street and then turning back into Coronation Park.

The marchers then formed up in front of the Percy Iszlaub soundshell for the formal Recognition Service where the Wondai band played the National Anthem, Last Post and Rouse.