Every person in Beaudesert, whether you’ve been here five minutes or five generations, will be welcome at the 70th annual Beaudesert Reunion on 12 March.
For the first time, the anticipated yearly event will be held at Stationmaster House on Brisbane Street, in partnership with Beaudesert Rotary.
Under a broad welcome, Beaudesert Reunion, previously called ‘Back to Beaudesert’ attracts past locals and current residents alike to catch up for a local chinwag each year.
Never underestimate the power of a few women getting together for a chat.
That is one moral of the story behind Beaudesert Reunion – a quirky annual small town gathering that will mark 70 years on 12 March 2022.
This year, for the first time, Beaudesert Reunion will be held at Stationmaster House with Beaudesert Rotary after being held at local locations including St Thomas Anglican Church Hall.
It started circa 1952, in Brisbane’s Botanical Gardens with five young women from Beaudesert, and snowballed as they spread the word.
Mark McCabe.
That small town spirit lives on in people like committee members Judy Balmer, 77, whose mum Georgy Lade (nee Pert) attended the second reunion, and Shirley Antcliff, 74, who has been involved for 20 years.
“Each one of those first women asked someone else to come, then they transferred to the Canberra Hotel, then the 25th year they came to Beaudesert,” Judy said.
“Then when they brought it to the Civic Centre, they hired a bus from Brisbane back to Beaudesert and that’s where it got the name ‘Back to Beaudesert’.”
Between them, Shirley and Judy have carefully kept attendance books dating back to the 1950s and volunteered countless hours across decades, including Judy as treasurer and Shirley as scribe since 2005.
This year’s team effort with Beaudesert Rotary came about after the volunteer committee which runs Beaudesert Reunion wasn’t sure if they would have the event in 2022.
Beaudesert Rotary President Elect Mark McCabe said Rotary was happy to be involved and provide the new venue and catering, with funds raised going to community projects.
The event will go from 9.30am to 1.30pm Saturday, 12 March at Stationmaster House, 100 Brisbane Street, Beaudesert. Entry is $5 and includes tea, coffee and biscuits.
Affordable lunch will be available from the Rotary catering van as part of community fundraising efforts, or guests are welcome to BYO lunch.
Raffle tickets will be available, with proceeds going to the QCWA Public Rural Crisis Fund.
For more information, look up ‘Beaudesert Reunion Day – 70th Anniversary’ or ‘Beaudesert Rotary Club’ on Facebook, phone Mark McCabe on 0412 629 377 or email beaurotary@outlook.com
