October 11, 2014
Descendants of South Burnett pioneers William, Thomas and Michael Carew gathered in Kingaroy on Saturday morning to mark the official unveiling of a new park name to remember the brothers.
Carew Park is located on the corner of Tessmanns Road and Doonkuna Street and overlooks the land where William and Thomas selected land in 1898.
Michael, who went on to serve on Kingaroy Shire Council from 1920-27, arrived in 1908.
Pat McCormack, from Oxley in Brisbane, is a grandson of William (Bill).
He wrote to the former Kingaroy Shire Council in 1986 suggesting that the three brothers should be remembered in some way.
“I was led to believe that they were going to name a street but it didn’t eventuate, and I didn’t follow it up,” Pat said.
“Then last year my aunty Mrs Betty Fenton turned 100 – she is the daughter of Bill. I went to the celebration and it spurred me into action.
“I thought it was not fair that the contribution of the Carews had not been recognised in Kingaroy so I wrote again to council.
“They wrote back within weeks and they made a very quick decision. I almost fell off my chair I was so delighted.”
Betty recently turned 101 and is living in a nursing home in Brisbane.
Sadly, another daughter of Bill, Kathleen Burns, died in Kingaroy in June this year but knew about Council’s decision before her death.
“She was delighted that her parents and our families were going to be acknowledged,” compere for the day, Patrick Burns, said.
South Burnett mayor Wayne Kratzmann officially named the park by unveiling a plaque and sign.
He said it was all about “history, heritage, tradition and family”.
Deputy Mayor Keith Campbell said the Carews were amongst Kingaroy’s earliest pioneers and the park recognised them and the legacy they have left behind.
The family members finished off the day with a tour of William Carew’s old farm “Greenfield”, now known as “Newlands” and owned by Bob and Lorene Green.
- Related article: Park Name Recalls Pioneer Brothers
[UPDATED with corrections]
