HORSHAM Town Hall was overflowing on Friday afternoon as almost 600 people turned up to pay respects to Rotary Club and Girl Guides leader Sue Williams.
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The venue was so packed that dozens of people had to be accommodated in the town hall’s lobby and watched the service via a video link.
Mrs Williams died on January 4 and had spent decades volunteering and leading community organisations in the Wimmera.
Telstra Victoria and Tasmania network operations manager Mike Robins, Annette Swaffield and Sue Heggie from Girl Guides, Chris Sims and Brian Trenery from Rotary and Horsham Rural City Councillor David Grimble paid tribute to Mrs Williams.
Mr Robins said Mrs Williams played an important role in developing Horsham’s telecommunications and stood up for staff welfare and jobs, often siding against management.
“The world is a better place for having Sue in it,” Mr Robins said.
“The Lord has called her back to prove to us that he only takes the best.”
The service was led by Father John Mathes and included the hymn The Lord’s My Shepherd and Mrs Williams’ favourite poem, Footprints in the Sand by Margaret Fishback Powers.
Girl Guides
Ms Heggie said she was an old friend of Sue’s and they met through the Girl Guides Association.
“Sue was Girl Guide in the UK before moving with her family to Nhill,” she said.
“She reopened the Girl Guide company there, where she was a leader for three years.
“And then she moved to Horsham, where over the next 50-odd years she was involved with the association as a ranger guide leader, district leader and unit leader- the latter for a total of 35 years.”
Ms Heggie said Mrs Williams’ long association with the guides was a testament to her love for and dedication to the organisation and Horsham and the Wimmera.
Ms Heggie said she first met Mrs Williams in 1976, where she rushed in to a guides meeting like a whirlwind.
“Sue gave completely of her best, no matter what the circumstances,” Ms Heggie said.
“We went for our camp licences at Dimboola, and I was her first aider.
“We had to have everything set just perfect. The pegs all had to be in a line and the ropes had to be taught.”
Ms Heggie said the night before the assessment Mrs Williams received a nasty burn on her leg at the campfire.
“I raced with a great big bucket of water and threw it over her,” Ms Heggie said.
“That did manage to relax her a bit. We bandaged her leg lightly but we did want her to go to hospital but Sue would not have that.
“She stayed at the camp until it was over and she had achieved her camp licence. Only then did she go to hospital and she had a third degree burn.
“That was Sue. Sue never gave in. She had a job to do and she did it.”
Community Leader
Cr Grimble said Mrs Williams made a significant contribution to the Wimmera Community over a long period of time.
“Those that knew Sue well would no doubt have understanding of her passion., enthusiasm, leadership and sense of community, for which she gave freely,” he said.
“We as a community are saddened by our loss, however we can take comfort in the friendship and enduring legacies that Sue has left behind.
“Sue contributed 55 years in service to the Girl Guides, 16 years to the Rotary Club of Horsham, 20 years to the Fire Brigade Auxillary and numerous other fundraising and charitable organisation including Horsham community radio.”
Cr Grimble said volunteers like Mrs Williams never sought praise for they work they did, and the community did not thank them enough.
“Sue was a strong advocate for youth and the development of future leaders,” Cr Grimble said.
“She recognised the value in encouraging and supporting young people to grow their personal development and leadership skills.
“This was evident in her involvement in the Rotary youth exchange program and during her time in the Horsham west and Horsham High School councils.”
Cr Grimble said Mrs Williams once considered running for council.
“I’m sure of she had pursued this path, the community would have supported her,” he said.