War widows find solace at Leonie’s Anzac Day luncheon

By Bree Harding

Apr 25, 2025

Leonie Wilson has been adding to her Corio St fence display for Anzac Day each year since the COVID-19 pandemic, when Greater Shepparton residents held private observances in their own driveways to mark their remembrance. Photo by Bree Harding

As Leonie Wilson opened the door to her charming Corio St home on Anzac Day, the comforting smell of freshly-baked scones drifted out.

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I introduced myself and asked if she might tell me about her extravagant remembrance display along her picket fence line, which several passers-by had stopped to admire.

Despite busily preparing for a luncheon that her guests were due to start arriving for any minute, she welcomed me warmly inside to chat.

A former employee of Legacy House and now the treasurer of Legacy’s war widows club (for the past nine or so years), Leonie tells me this is the third year she’s hosted the luncheon at her home for war widows.

War widows (from left) Bev Thorn, Yvonne Taylor, Yvonne Austin, Dorothy Newman, June Zelley, Dorothy Price, Rita O'Brien and Beverley Jamieson enjoyed their annual luncheon at Leonie Wilson’s home. Photo by Bree Harding

She said the women, whose late husbands served in World War II and the Vietnam War, looked forward to the event on her outdoor deck each year.

“A lot of them have told me if they didn’t have this to come to, they would just be sitting around at home doing nothing,” Leonie said.

Among the women was Bev Thorn, who laid Legacy’s wreath at Shepparton’s morning Anzac Day service.

Her husband, Rupert Thorn, fought on the frontline in New Guinea during World War II.

Bev lost Rupert 12 years ago.

Bev Thorn was at an annual luncheon for Shepparton Legacy's war widows wearing an outfit of remembrance, with poppies on her cardigan, and a scarf and bag she made to honour her late husband, Rupert Thorn. Photo by Bree Harding

She showed me a beautiful scarf she’d made to honour his memory, complete with his official military portrait stitched lovingly front and centre.

She recalled some of the lighter and more amusing stories he had shared with her about his time in service, but agreed with Beverley Jamieson, who was sitting next to her, when she said none of the veterans liked to talk too much about their experiences.

The women ranged in age; one turned 99 last week and another will turn 99 in June.

They often enjoy excursions with the war widows club together, having recently visited Gargarro at Girgarre.

Leonie’s annual Anzac Day luncheon has become a much-anticipated event on their calendar.

Leonie’s father also fought in World War II.

He was captured by Japanese forces and became a prisoner of war, being put to work on the Thai-Burma Railway.

Leonie honours his memory and that of Australians who fought for their country with her extensive fence display.

The knitted and fabric flowers along the plinth were handmade by Leonie and friends. Photo by Bree Harding

There’s about 360 flowers, handmade by Leonie and friends, some knitted, some crafted from felt and buttons, lined along the plinth.

As a centrepiece, two soldier silhouettes cut from acrylic bookend a large ‘Lest we Forget’ plaque that sits below a striking red pod of poppies.

Leonie made the ‘Lest We Forget’ plaque on her fence. Photo by Bree Harding

Leonie said she had fine-tuned the installation of the display after years of trial and error.

It took her and a friend about a day to put up after they started last Sunday, but she said it probably took a little longer than it would have if they didn’t break for a few “conferences” with neighbours in the street.