November 21, 2012
The SBRC today approved three more grants from its Community Recovery Flexible Funding Program – a program whose guidelines are “so hard” that in September the Council took the extraordinary step of asking the Department Of Communities to loosen them.
The council approved the following grants:
- Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails Inc – $10,421
To produce a “Memento Book Of Flood Images” capturing photos and stories about the impact of the 2011 floods on the South Burnett
- Blackbutt Tourism & Heritage Association – $4633
To produce a documentary which would detail the history, flood damage to, and reconstruction of the Taromeo Cemetery
- Blackbutt Tourism & Heritage Association – $7100
To organise a community celebration and ceremony which would commemorate the reconstruction of the Taromeo Cemetery. It would be held in or around the anniversary of the 2011 floods
Cr Debra Palmer, speaking in favour of Brisbane Valley Heritage Trails Inc’s submission, showed councillors a book the group had made for another project.
“This is really beautiful. Something like this about the 2011 floods would be an asset to our region that I think most people would like to have,” she said.
Cr Palmer said the group would try to source not only local photos for the proposed book but also first-hand stories about the impact the floods had on people in all parts of the South Burnett and how they’d recovered after the event.
“I think this is a very good project,” she said.
Cr Damien Tessman asked why Council had approved $7100 for the Blackbutt Tourism & Heritage Association to hold a party commemorating the reconstruction of Taromeo Cemetery.
“I’ve been a member of Rotary for three years and from experience I think $7100 would pay for one heck of a party,” he said.
“Could someone please explain to me where this money would be spent?”
General Manager Communities Eleanor Sharpe said that according to the Heritage Association’s submission, $2000 would be allocated to the construction of permanent signage which would show visitors what the cemetery looked like before the floods, during reconstruction and afterwards, as well as the history of the cemetery.
“And because the cemetery is located on Taromeo Station – which is private property – all materials for the community celebration would have to be transported in and out of the site,” she said.
“The organisers have budgeted for the hire of tables, chairs and marquees as well as catering for 200 people at $10 per head and related things. I can show you the figures if you like.”
Cr Tessmann said he was satisfied with the explanation.
Cr Barry Green asked how much of the original $250,000 Community Recovery Flexible Funding Program grant pool was left to be spent.
“There’s still about $80,000 left and the State Government says it has to be spent by June 30,” Ms Sharpe said.
Cr Green suggested someone should submit an application similar to one recently approved by the North Burnett Regional Council from their own Community Recovery Flexible Funding Program.
This was for a “disaster cookbook” that showed how to prepare meals without electricity from odds and ends commonly found in refrigerators or cupboards.
* * *
November 23: Taromeo Cemetery Update
South Burnett Regional Council says the headstones have been repaired, reinstalled and cleaned. The stone walls have been reconstructed stone by stone with only the final capping layer to be completed.
Amazingly, the stonemason, Geoff Welling, has even been able to place some of the significant stones back in the same position where they were, thanks to the amazing photographs that had been taken some years ago by the local photography club.
Council anticipates that the cemetery will be fully restored by the end of this month (weather permitting) and an official celebration and ceremony will be held in the New Year.
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