Vera weaved love and magic
Family farewells a woman with real zest
By MIKE GARRY
THREE rows of uniformed Coolum Lionesses, families and friends from all over southern Queensland and re- presentatives from the busi- ness and sporting worlds packed the Gregson and Weight chapel at Maroochy- dore last Friday to farewell Coolum community volun- teer Vera Edwards.
Emotional tributes from Vera's children told of a lov- ing family environment and a strong, positive and deter- mined woman who had to be mother and father after her beloved husband Cyril died in a tragic accident in 1970.
Ken Edwards said he and his siblings benefited from Vera's love, "her discipline, her encouragement and her work ethic" while she "weaved her love and magic over us to get the outcomes she wanted".
The second eldest daught- er of a family of 10, Vera loved her childhood farm life at Middle Ridge in Toowoomba. She excelled at vigoro and swimming and represented Darling Downs in backstroke at the state championships.
After leaving school, Vera met the love of her life, Cyril, nine years her elder. Vera's dad did not approve of the union and refused to give her away on her wedding day. In- stead, she was given away by her uncle Jack McCafferty, the lord mayor of Toowoom- ba at the time and the foun- der of the transport company McCafferty's.
Vera and Cyril had four children, Ken, Shane, Russell and Anne, and set up a taxi business. Life was good.
Then Cyril died and Vera had to raise four children on her own. The "original Iron Lady", as Russell described her, acquired her driver's li- cence and took over the fami- ly business.
Russell said that despite struggling and juggling so many duties, Vera never complained about the cards she had been dealt.
"None of us suffered, and all felt the most special chil-
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THE countdown is on for all the fun of Noosa's steepest mountain climb, the King of the Mountain Festival at Po- mona on July 26.
The 37th running of the major drawcard to the Noosa hinterland has been boosted by one of the town's newest arrivals - the Pomona agen- cy of Bendigo Bank.
The agency's parent com- pany, Sunshine Coast Com- munity Financial Services Ltd, has again committed $6000.
Bendigo Bank manager Geoff Edwards said King of
the Mountain was "always a special time of year" and the locals were getting excited.
"It's only June, but it feels like July 26 can't come soon enough. I think we all recog- nise how important this event this is for Pomona," Mr Edwards said.
"The festival remains one of the best opportunities for our community to get togeth- er in the hinterland.
"Who would have thought a simple bet in a pub in 1958 would see us all here in 2015 preparing to cheer on amaz- ing athletes and celebrate
hard-working volunteers, particularly the Cooroy Po- mona Lions Club?"
Pomona King of the Moun- tain chair Heather Manders is delighted by Bendigo's on- going support.
"Bendigo Bank and Lions Club have a strong philoso- phy in supporting local or- ganisations such as schools and sporting clubs to conti- nue their good works in the community and this partner- ship fits well with both or- ganisations," she said.
Visit kingofthemountain- .com.au.