Gundy Remembers

FOR a small village the community response to ANZAC Day is significant and reflects on the strong sense of community in Gundy.

Trish Ferguson, representing her late father Bert Tuckey.

Trish Ferguson, secretary of the Gundy ANZAC Day committee and daughter of the late Bert Tuckey who served in New Guinea during World War II said she is blown away by the community support for the service.

“There would have been more than 350 people who attended,” said Ms Ferguson.

“We are so grateful that we are so supported, I think this little community hub is very personal and the day has a beautiful feel to it,” she said.

“People always say what a lovely feel the service and the hall has and I think that is what keeps them coming back,” Trish Ferguson said.

George Rossington, a returned serviceman from the airforce came back to his childhood home to address the service.

“George grew up here and was absolutely wrapped to make the address in the Gundy Hall,” said Ms Ferguson.

“He spoke about what it means to him to come back to Gundy on ANZAC Day, all of his relatives on the honour roll and the tree planted out the back of the hall for his family the five Rossington boys,” she said.

“The hall was used when servicemen came back, people would put on a big spread and gather to welcome them home,” Trish Ferguson said.

Trish became part of the committee to keep the ANZAC Day committee to keep the service alive in Gundy.

“When my dad was getting older he was worried ANZAC Day wouldn’t continue at Gundy, so I spoke to John Wharton and said ‘we’ve got to go on the committee’, so 18 years ago we did,” said Ms Ferguson.

“We learnt from our fathers how it was run and when my dad died we knew the ropes, otherwise we wouldn’t have known what to do and it may not have continued,” Trish Ferguson said.

George Rossington was the guest speaker at the Gundy ANZAC Day service.