COUPLES are often honoured by having a public building named after them when they’ve put in a lot of effort to help a local cause.
It’s generally along the lines of the “Jack and Jill Whoever” building, with the man’s name listed first.
The Beenleigh Showgrounds is an exception to that rule, with the main exhibition building, which was built in 2018, called the Annette & Lionel Mundt Exhibition Pavilion.
Annette, who has been a member of the Beenleigh Show Society for 51 years and CEO/secretary for the past 15 years, was awarded an Order of Australia Medal in the recent Queen’s Birthday Honours list.
Among many other duties she organises the market held at the showgrounds every Sunday, arriving at 4.30am to start setting up.
It’s not only the show society that has benefitted from Annette’s organisational expertise.
For 48 years she has been Beenleigh’s delegate to the South-East Sub-Chamber of Queensland Chamber of Agricultural Societies as well as being the south-east delegate to the Queensland-wide group.
Annette said she could not have devoted so much time and effort to the show society without help from her family.
“In the early days my children Heidi and Darren as well as my husband Lionel delivered show schedules, reports and other correspondence by hand in order to save money,” she said.
“At show time Heidi works in the office and Darren looks after the soft drinks stall.”
Before becoming heavily involved with the show society Annette worked for 10 years in the office at the Rocky Point Sugar Mill.
When she was initially involved at the showgrounds she would take her kids with her, installing a cot in the office.
“I probably should be in the annual show schedule, listed as part of the furniture,” Annette said.
But it’s not only the show society, with Annette’s medal also awarded for 40 years working for the Beenleigh Embroiders’ Guild where she is a life member and was secretary and treasurer.
The Beenleigh Garden Club, where she has been a member for 35 years appreciated Annette’s 12 years as treasurer and she has been a member of Beenleigh Quilters for 25 years.
Altogether she has put in a lot work for her community which makes Annette’s Order of Australia award well deserved.
