{"id":367645,"date":"2025-12-10T20:34:11","date_gmt":"2025-12-10T10:34:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=367645"},"modified":"2025-12-11T23:05:18","modified_gmt":"2025-12-11T13:05:18","slug":"penny-farthing-tribute-unveiled","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2025\/12\/10\/penny-farthing-tribute-unveiled\/","title":{"rendered":"Penny Farthing Tribute Unveiled"},"content":{"rendered":"
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South Burnett Rail Trail Users Association president Michelle Hansen with Wondai Men’s Shed president Jim Rook<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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The late Dafyd Martindale<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

December 10, 2025<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

And the bench had wheels and spokes, much like a pushbike – or a penny farthing, to be precise.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

It was designed and manufactured by members of the Wondai Men’s Shed who installed the bench on Wednesday morning.<\/strong><\/p>\n

The South Burnett Regional Council approved the location of the bench, facing the Rail Trail.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

A plaque will be installed on the bench acknowledging Dafyd as a “passionate advocate of the South Burnett”.<\/p>\n

Dafyd’s sister Sandee had the opportunity to inspect the bench at the weekend ahead of its installation in the park.<\/p>\n

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.<\/strong><\/p>\n

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.<\/em><\/p>\n