{"id":374148,"date":"2026-07-09T16:28:17","date_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:28:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=374148"},"modified":"2026-07-09T16:28:17","modified_gmt":"2026-07-09T06:28:17","slug":"wondai-salutes-selfless-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/07\/09\/wondai-salutes-selfless-service\/","title":{"rendered":"Wondai Salutes Selfless Service"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"\"<\/a>
Former reservists march down Mackenzie Street in Wondai carrying a banner recognising the World War I and World War II battle honours of the 49th Battalion<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

July 9, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Wondai might not have a very strong connection to the ocean but that didn’t stop the 2026 Reserve Forces Day commemorations last Sunday from honouring the service of naval reservists.<\/p>\n

The annual service and march is believed to be the only commemoration of Reserve Forces Day in regional Queensland.<\/p>\n

Reservists and ex-reservists gather in Wondai every year for the event which recognises the 1.25 million men and women who have been served as reservists in the Defence Force since Federation.<\/p>\n

It was the 21st time Wondai, which is home to the 25\/49 RQR depot, has marked Reserve Forces Day and the 20th time it has hosted a parade.<\/p>\n

The focus changes every year, from Army to Air Force to Navy … and 2026 was deemed a Navy year.<\/p>\n

Guest speaker was Mr Patrick Ringold OAM, president of the Queensland section of the Naval Association of Australia.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

Mr Ringold said reservists put their regular lives “on hold” to support national or international operations.<\/p>\n

He reminded guests that 2026 was the 125th anniversary of the Australian Navy, which was granted the title “Royal” in 1911.<\/p>\n

“The Navy has been present wherever Australia’s interests, value and people have needed protection,” Mr Ringold said.<\/p>\n

Former Petty Officer Heather Selway read a message from the Governor-General, Her Excellency Ms Sam Mostyn AC.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She said the day was a reminder of the selfless service of reservists who have helped defend Australia and support peace-keeping, disaster relief and humanitarian operations around the world since Federation.<\/p>\n

A small committee organises the annual Reserve Forces Day commemorations in Wondai, headed by local residents Noel Selway and Wally Knight, who compered the event.<\/p>\n

The morning began with a flag-raising and wreath-laying ceremony at the Wondai Monument, followed after a short break by a parade down Mackenzie Street and a service at the Percy Iszlaub Pavilion in Coronation Park.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>
Adrienne Feeley and Allan and Shirley Chapman, from the 5th Light Horse Regiment re-enactment troop<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Bailey Woodrow, from Brisbane (ex-49th Battalion RQR) with Jim Klein, from Highfields (ex-25\/49 RQR and 51 FNQR) and “Annie”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Peter Grogan, from Wellington Point; Graham Smith, Redbank Plains; Paul Woodward, Kedron; and Wayne O’Callaghan, Redbank Plains<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
South Burnett mayor Kathy Duff with Cr Ros Heit<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Noel Selway sounded the bugle ahead of the flag-raising ceremony<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ian “Jock” Reid, ex-31\/42 RQR, came down from Townsville to take part in Wondai’s Reserve Forces Day commemoration<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Nanango’s Bruce Webb (ex-49th Battalion) with Cr Jane Erkens<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ex-reservists assembles in ranks at the front of the Wondai monument<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Ian Reid played the bagpipes as wreathes were laid on the Wondai monument<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The Wondai Town & District Band led the parade and played the National Anthem during the commemoration service<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
5th Light Horse Regiment re-enactment troop in the parade<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Zoe Andersen, from the Wondai Band, played the Last Post and Reveille<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
The official party … Heather Selway, Deputy Mayor Linda Little, Noel Selway, guest speaker Patrick Ringold, Wally Knight, Cr Jane Erkens, Mayor Kathy Duff, Cr Ros Heit and Damian Knight,<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"\"<\/a>
Lest We Forget … one of the wreathes laid at the foot of the monument<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Wondai might not have a very strong connection to the ocean but that didn’t stop the 2026 Reserve Forces Day commemorations last Sunday from honouring the service of naval reservists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":20,"featured_media":374149,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[1901,3],"tags":[26],"yoast_head":"\nWondai Salutes Selfless Service - southburnett.com.au<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Wondai might not have a very strong connection to the ocean but that didn't stop the 2026 Reserve Forces Day commemorations last Sunday from honouring the service of naval reservists.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/07\/09\/wondai-salutes-selfless-service\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Wondai Salutes Selfless Service - 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