December 10, 2025
Visitors to Wondai’s Coronation Park may have noticed an unusual sight on Wednesday morning … a new park bench was springing up at the rear of the Wondai Art Gallery.
And the bench had wheels and spokes, much like a pushbike – or a penny farthing, to be precise.
The penny farthing bench was commissioned by the South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association in memory of the group’s inaugural president, the late Dafyd Martindale who died in September 2024.
It was designed and manufactured by members of the Wondai Men’s Shed who installed the bench on Wednesday morning.
The South Burnett Regional Council approved the location of the bench, facing the Rail Trail.
But why a penny farthing? This harks back to the opening of the South Burnett Rail Trail in October 2017 when penny farthings were part of the celebrations.
A plaque will be installed on the bench acknowledging Dafyd as a “passionate advocate of the South Burnett”.
Dafyd’s sister Sandee had the opportunity to inspect the bench at the weekend ahead of its installation in the park.
Both Sandee and Dafyd’s widow Anne would sincerely like to thank the SBRTUA and the Wondai Men’s Shed for the beautiful tribute to Dafyd.
Footnote: Dafyd was the founder of South Burnett Online (this website) and was involved in many other community groups including South Burnett Events (Wine & Food In The Park), South Burnett Arts, the South Burnett Wine Industry Association and the Kingaroy Peanut Festival.
- Related article: Bench To Honour Dafyd’s Legacy
