2..WHITE-ANT DEMOLITION……Brisbane Courier Mail…Village Green Editorial…13/9/08….. Quote..”TERRIFIC  to see Heritage Minister Andrew McNamara forcing the owner of heritage-listed Keating House at Indooroopilly to secure the building so it is not damaged by weather and vandals. That issue aside,  we’ve heard developers joke about so-called demolition by white ants where buildings in Brisbane City Council character precincts are left to rot to the point an engineer’s report recommends their removal”… Unquote.

JFTAG COMMENT:- The Queensland Heritage  Act has failed to protect the Heritage Listed Jimna Fire  Tower and is in urgent need of review. 

 

STOP PRESS :- Somerset Regional Council has invited JFTAG to make a presentation on behalf of the Jimna Fire Tower at Council  meeting Kilcoy 8/10/08 .

 

Thirty one people representing visitor information centres throughout Somerset Regional Council (SRC)  recently participated in a Family bus  Tour of the northern area of the Somerset Region. After a browse through the Photo Gallery and Historical Museum at the Jimna Visitor Information Centre and morning tea, the party set off on a guided tour of the former timber town, followed by an on site inspection of the Jimna Fire Tower and an invigorating  walk through the Peach Trees Camping Grounds. Feed back from the visit has been extremely positive with participants highly supportive of the tourism potential of the region and in particular the magnificent Jimna Fire Tower. The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG)  remains optimistic that the ever increasing public  call for a tourism attraction/destination feasibility study, to be carried out on the tower, may inspire one of  our Government bodies or Tourism agencies  into taking the driver’s seat on this issue.

In preparation for promised consultation with current owners, Forestry Plantation Queensland (FPQ),  regarding future ownership of the Tower, JFTAG  has requested Somerset Regional Council to facilitate a meeting with JFTAG for the purpose of putting relevant information and material before councillors and council  officers. JFTAG  is of the opinion  that  the viability of preserving this Heritage Listed Australian Icon not only  deserves  to be thoroughly investigated, but that it’s evaluation needs to be driven  by Local Government.

The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) invites our decision makers within Local Regional, Queensland State and Australian Federal  levels of Government, who hold the future of the Heritage Listed Jimna Fire Tower in their hands, to take a close look at how the Department of Conservation And Land Management  (CALM)in West Australia  has successfully integrated the management of  commercial, environmental and public use of State Forests and National Parks into a highly lucrative tourism venture. The question begs of course is ……WHY can’t we do these things in the smart state of Queensland? ….. This kind of inspirational and innovative management of our National Treasures and nature based assets, only magnifies JFTAG’s determination to continue the campaign to ensure that our adopted mission statement
“To ensure that all structural and public safety matters are assessed and costed for the purpose of evaluating the feasibility of redeveloping the Jimna Fire Tower into a self funded tourist attraction/destination” is carried out.

MEMBERSHIP FUNDING APPEAL REMINDER …. JFTAG sincerely thanks those who have responded to the Friend of the Jimna Fire Tower  Membership Appeal and can do no more than appeal to those who have not, to take a minute from their busy lives and return or request the  membership application form. MORAL SUPPORT is comforting but unfortunately does not pay the bills, FINANCIAL SUPPORT is not only support of substance but imperative for a successful outcome.

Membership Fees are :-……. $10 Single …….. $15 Double ……… $20 Business …….and/or……… $………..Donation.

Since the March 08 amalgamation of the former Esk and Kilcoy shires there has been unprecedented focus on tourism in the Kilcoy and Jimna areas, with particular  regard to upgrading the administration of the relevant tourist information centres. Recent events such as the presentation to tourism volunteers function at Yowie Park Kilcoy followed by the volunteer training workshop at Fernvale Futures Centre, was not only thoroughly appreciated by all who attended, but sends a strong message that the new Somerset Regional Council SRC is serious about promoting tourism throughout the entire Somerset Region. The Jimna Fire Tower Action Group JFTAG has for some time been calling for all levels of government to be more proactive in the promotion of regional tourism, and after several recent visits to the Jimna area by SRC tourism officers, JFTAG extend’s deep appreciation for the sharing of information, assistance offered, and the expert advice and encouragement. JFTAG remains hopeful that these events are signs of increasing recognition for nature based tourism and forest recreation in the Jimna Ranges and adjacent Conondale National Park, which helps to create a positive platform for imminent discussions with SRC regarding future ownership of the Jimna Fire Tower.

 

MEMBERSHIP FUNDING APPEAL REMINDER
By the time this news update is released, each and every one of the Jimna Fire Tower email supporters would have received their personal invitation to subscribe to the Friend of the Jimna Fire Tower Membership Funding Appeal. JFTAG sincerely thanks those who have responded and can do no more than appeal to those who have not, to take a minute from their busy lives and ask this Question. 

Q…. IS THE CAMPAIGN TO SAVE THE JIMNA FIRE TOWER WORTH THE PRICE OF A SIX PACK OF STUBBIES ???? 
If your answer is YES then please spend a minute and return your membership application form.  

 

FRIENDS OF JIMNA FIRE TOWER MEMBERSHIP FUNDING APPEAL: For membership application forms please utilise any of the contact options below.

To:-…. ALL WHO VALUE THEIR COUNTRY’S HERITAGE. …..

Visit  www.jimna.bravehost.com  to view the Historical significance of Australia’s only Heritage listed Fire Tower and all previous news updates concerning the public campaign to preserve it. In brief, much has been achieved since initially halting demolition threats, culminating in negotiating the current Queensland State Government  moratorium, which includes an offer from Forestry Plantations Queensland (FPQ), to transfer the ownership of the Tower to the recently elected Somerset Regional Council (SRC). To enable the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) to present a compelling case to SRC, it is imperative that  JFTAG’s submission is supported by the financial  capacity to obtain professional assessments of  vital  public safety and structural issues required to achieve our ultimate aim of  redeveloping the tower into a self funding tourist attraction/destination. The submission must also  demonstrate  overwhelming public  support for  this membership funding appeal, so as to deliver a strong and rock solid  message, while also  vindicating JFTAG’s long held belief that “PEOPLE POWER WILL SAVE THE TOWER”.

To;-… ALL SUPPORTERS AND THEIR FAMILIES  ……. May the many thousands of  families who have experienced the exhilaration of climbing this Heritage listed icon do so again, and their children, who’s lives will be enriched by the inspirational sacrifice of our Forestry pioneers such as the legendary Arthur Leis who, with his son Gary, built this wonderful example of human endeavour without the aid of modern day equipment.  May your  patriotism afford a  multitude of future visitors and tourists with the opportunity of admiring the panorama from the tower cabin, while  providing the ongoing operational  funding, that will preserve the  Tower for perpetuity. May the Jimna Fire Tower stand as a future symbol of our respect for Australian Heritage and our willingness to preserve it. May you and your friends add your  shoulders to the campaign  wheel, by promptly responding to this impassioned plea to become a
FRIEND OF JIMNA FIRE TOWER.

As JFTAG has resolved to make a formal  submission to the new Somerset Regional Council for the purpose of  having council consider taking ownership,  it  is imperative that JFTAG’s submission is supported by the financial capacity to obtain  professional assessments of vital public safety and structural  issues required  to  redevelop the tower into a self funding tourist destination. The submission must also demonstrate  overwhelming public support for this membership funding appeal, so as to deliver a strong and rock solid message, while also vindicating JFTAG’s long held belief that “PEOPLE POWER WILL SAVE THE TOWER”.

MEMBERSHIP AIMS AND GOALS:

1…To build a strong and committed public supporter base..

2…To demonstrate that support to government at all levels.

3…To preserve the Jimna Fire Tower by redeveloping the Tower into a valuable and viable tourist attraction/destination.

MEMBERSHIP ENTITLEMENTS:

1…Members become full members of the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG).

2…Members may attend  JFTAG meetings.

3…Members will vote  and determine  major future Jimna Fire Tower decisions.

4…Email and Postal members will receive monthly and Bi-Monthly Tower news updates respectively.

MEMBERSHIP FEES:  $10 Single… $15 Double .. $20 Business .. per year from the date of joining … (Please Note.. add $5 per membership category for postal members).

MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION PROCESS:- To make processing  as orderly and  as easy as possible, all  supporters will soon  be sent  a  personal  appeal message  which will contain a membership application section. To apply for membership by email simply….

1.. Reply to sender.

2.. Complete details  in the spaces provided…. and then

3..Send. When fee payment is confirmed the same email will be returned to each member with

1…A receipt number….and…

2..A membership number…This final email return may then be kept for both JFTAG accounting and members records….(Please Note: Postal applicants please use mailing address below).

MEMBERSHIP FEE PAYMENT OPTIONS:- 1…Bank Transfer  .. 2…Cheque via Post…3… Money Order by Post…or..  4….Cash at Jimna Info Centre

THE JFTAG COMMITTEE  EXPRESSES SINCERE THANKS IN ANTICIPATION OF STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT FOR  THIS VITAL FUNDING APPEAL.

As everybody knows yours truly has been engrossed in a Somerset Regional Council election campaign, which unfortunately was unsuccessful, however a great deal of exposure has been achieved with the entire new council area well aware of where Jimna is and the plight of the tower, especially the newly elected councillors upon whom the tower’s future is now largely resting. Please be advised that the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) has decided to launch the Join Friends of Jimna Fire Tower Membership Drive on Sunday 30th March 2008 at our Annual General Meeting which will commence at 12 noon. This initiative, which embraces present Jimna Hall Historical Association members, is vital to the continuation of our campaign to cover ongoing costs, as well as to demonstrate to our new Somerset Regional Council and the State Government that the public have a strong commitment to give the tower every possible opportunity to be preserved by being financially viable. Annual fees are $10 Single…$15 Double and $20 Business…… Membership forms will be available on the day and will be sent out via email with our next JFTAG News Update 31/03/08 and posted on our web site.

 

PLEASE NOTE;- If you are planning a day or camping trip to Jimna please consider dropping in at the Jimna Visitor Information Centre on Sunday March 30th to enjoy a good time for a good cause. …
DETAILS BELOW
SAFE AND HAPPY EASTER TO ALL. 

 

JIMNA HALL HISTORICAL ASSN. INC. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

With the new local council election campaign in full swing and the State Government moratorium regarding any demolition threat to the Jimna Fire Tower in place until the new Somerset Regional Council has had the opportunity to take ownership, public support steadily increases. While local awareness has been the focus for the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG) it has been extremely important to deliver the message that the proposed redevelopment of this Heritage listed tourist icon will not impact on local council rates, but will be funded by State and Federal Government grants.

JIMNA TOWER STANDS ABOVE  THE CATCHMENT HEADWATERS and commands a panoramic view of the Somerset and Wivenhoe dams, which emphasises the significance of the Jimna area as a major contributor to the protection and supply of clean water for the future population of South East Queensland. Just as Jimna was a major contributor to the economy of Queensland through massive timber production in the past, Jimna is now set to be recognised for it’s production of clean water and air in our environmentally sensitive future.

PROTECTION OF PRISTINE AREAS AND FOREST RECREATION  are now vital  issues that will command intense consultation between local council and state government departments and agencies so as to formulate policies which can effectively accommodate commercial and public use of these magnificent forests while at the same time ensure that they are maintained in their natural condition. JFTAG is confident that modern technology associated with  a growing desire to work together in search of the correct balance, will showcase the Jimna area onto the world stage.

As the Jimna Fire Tower Action Group (JFTAG)  campaign to save this Heritage listed tourist icon, moves south throughout the Esk Shire,  overwhelming support from community groups, business houses and the general public alike has been strongly evident. The pending inclusion of the Jimna Range/Conondale National Park  areas into the new “Somerset Regional Council”, has generated  a genuine desire for residents to visit or revisit  the area, as a timely reminder of the valuable  nature based recreational pursuits on offer and to see first hand the potential of this  historically significant  local  landmark the Jimna Fire Tower. The need to attract higher visitation numbers and to create added business opportunity, demands that persons  intending to nominate for the March 15th 2008 Local Council Elections, are prepared to be actively concerned about every avenue of possible business potential, wherever it may be located throughout the entire Somerset Shire, from Jimna to Minden and including all outlying rural areas.

The current State Government moratorium, which effectively postpones any threat to the tower until after the new Somerset Regional Council has had the opportunity to establish a forum of stakeholders  “to evaluate all alternative options to demolition”, has effectively placed the future of the tower firmly in the hands of the electorate. JFTAG now clearly has the task of encouraging would be future councillors to demonstrate their commitment to the preservation of our Australian Heritage, by publicly declaring their support or otherwise for the fore mentioned highlighted goal. As such JFTAG extends a personal invitation to intending councillors, to visit Jimna for the purpose  of becoming aware of the facts while  allaying persistent negative, ill-informed and destructive  rumours, circulated by those who chose to expeditiously evade responsibility, or have the simplistic out of view out of mind attitude.

As this will be the final news update for year 2007, JFTAG wishes to extend sincere thanks for  the multitude of support and encouragement extended by so many from all sections of the general  community over the past 18 months, it has truly been a rewarding journey, which hopefully will take us by gods grace  to our ultimate destination, that being the successful redevelopment of the Jimna Fire Tower into a “self funding, must visit, tourism destination” for our future generations. Wishing one and all a very MERRY XMAS and a happy and safe NEW YEAR.

Please treat your family and friends to a camping or off road experience or maybe a day trip to the high country over the holiday period.