{"id":328199,"date":"2023-01-24T15:59:27","date_gmt":"2023-01-24T05:59:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=328199"},"modified":"2023-01-25T17:13:31","modified_gmt":"2023-01-25T07:13:31","slug":"obituary-lillian-gray-1947-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2023\/01\/24\/obituary-lillian-gray-1947-2023\/","title":{"rendered":"Obituary: Lillian Gray 1947-2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Aunty Lillian Gray’s smile always lit up a room … and she always enjoyed a chance to get up on stage to sing!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

January 24, 2023<\/strong><\/p>\n

Cherbourg’s AIM Church was filled to capacity last Friday (January 20) for the funeral service of much-loved Birri Gubba Elder – and popular local singer – Aunty Lillian Gray.<\/p>\n

Lillian Jean Gray (nee Fisher) was born in Cherbourg on December 12, 1947, but spent her early years in Wondai.<\/p>\n

Her parents were Frank Fisher and Kitty Fisher (nee Williams).<\/p>\n

Aunty Lil was one of 11 children.<\/p>\n

After her mother died, she moved to Eidsvold to live with her aunt and grandfather.<\/p>\n

She attended State Schools in Cherbourg, Wondai, Eidsvold and Rockhampton.<\/p>\n

As a teenager, Aunty Lil got a job in Brisbane doing housework at a doctor’s surgery. She later worked at Eidsvold Hospital.<\/p>\n

She met her future husband, David “Boxy” Gray, from Quilpie, while in Eidsvold.<\/p>\n

Over the years, Aunty Lil also lived in Gympie, Mackay, Bundaberg, Ipswich, Rockhampton and Woorabinda before moving back permanently to Cherbourg.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Her singing career began almost by accident.<\/p>\n

The funeral service heard how Aunty Lil had always loved karaoke, and, in fact, was known as a “karaoke queen”.<\/p>\n

At a wedding in about 2000, she was asked to sing and performed what would become her theme tune, “Harper Valley PTA”.<\/p>\n

She was so good that word was passed on to Muddy Flats’ musician Robert “Rocko” Langton (who also, sadly, died recently).<\/p>\n

Aunty Lil then became a special guest singer with the Muddy Flats band for 23 years.<\/p>\n

But there was much more to the diehard Broncos fan than just singing …<\/p>\n

Aunty Lil loved to ride horses, go fishing and enthusiastically supported Golden Oldies events in Brisbane and Cherbourg.<\/p>\n

But it was her community work – much of it voluntary – that she may be most remembered for.<\/strong><\/p>\n

A long list of the organisations that Aunty Lil was involved in at Cherbourg during her later years was shared at her funeral: Jundah Women’s Shelter, Barambah Aboriginal Community Care Agency (BACCA), Ny-Ku Byun, Wunjuada, Skills Development Network Workforce, Beemar Yumba, The Ration Shed, Us Mob Radio, So Fresh, CTC Diversionary & Night Patrol, Relationships Australia, Health Action Group, Queensland Women’s Health Network, Growing Deadly Families, Child Safety, SPAN and the Starlight Foundation.<\/p>\n

She was also a long-serving member of the Barambah Justice Group, as a director and then chairperson.<\/p>\n

Along the way she studied to become a Justice of the Peace, and then a JP Magistrate so she could sit on the Murri Court.<\/p>\n

Aunty Lil also served four years on Cherbourg Council (2004-2008).<\/p>\n

It’s a wonder that she could still fit in time to sing on stage … which she did enthusiastically at events across the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

Aunty Lil died on January 5.<\/p>\n

She is survived by 10 children and one step-child, 36 grandchildren and 58 great-grandchildren.<\/p>\n

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“You’ll Never Find Another Cherbourg Girl Like Me” … Aunty Lillian Gray singing at Cherbourg Golden Oldies in 2018<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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A video interview with Aunty Lil, made by Torkit Business Solutions, which was launched at Cherbourg’s NAIDOC Week celebrations in 2018: <\/strong><\/p>\n