December 4, 2019
by Dafyd Martindale
A small plaque attached to a bench in Drayton Street, Nanango has marked the end of one of the South Burnett Regional Council’s most extraordinary infrastructure naming decisions.
The plaque – which simply says “Green Family Place” – recognises the contribution of one of the town’s pioneering families to the local community over the course of more than a century.
But the decision to affix the plaque saw councillors ponder the matter for more than six months, as well as put out a call for public input that unearthed no objections.
And when it was finally unveiled, the first the Green family knew of it was when a family member walked past the bench and saw the new sign.
The idea of naming one of the Drayton Street shelters after the family was suggested to the Council by former Mayor Wayne Kratzmann.
Mr Kratzmann suggested the shelter should be named “Barry and Mary Green Place” to recognise the contributions the well-known couple have made to the Nanango community over the course of their lives.
The proposal was discussed at the Council’s September 2018 meeting where councillors were told no similar name was in use anywhere in the South Burnett and the proposal conformed with Council’s Infrastructure Asset Naming Policy.
However, Mayor Keith Campbell said Nanango’s streetscape was a community asset and Council had no prior experience renaming parts of a streetscape, so he thought public consultation was the correct way to approach the issue.
The question then lay on the table for six months until the February 2019 meeting, where councillors were told public consultations had unearthed no objections and voted unanimously to adopt the proposal.
During the interval, however, Barry and Mary Green made it known that if the Drayton Street feature was to be renamed at all, they preferred it be renamed to recognise the Green family rather than themselves.
Last week, former Councillor Barry Green – who served two terms on Nanango Shire Council and another two terms on the South Burnett Regional Council – said he was surprised at how the decision was arrived at.
He said there had been no public consultation when the Council decided to name its meeting room after former Kingaroy Mayor Warren Truss, or a playground in Glendon Street after another former Kingaroy Mayor, Roger Nunn.
Nor had any been undertaken when Byee farmers wanted to name a bridge over Barambah Creek after Deputy Mayor Kathy Duff.
“Still, I’m glad we can finally rule a line under this and get on with other things,” he said.
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Excellent news Barry Green. Even though you didn’t get your and Mary’s name on that plaque, it is a great honour for you both and your family. Thank you both for your huge contribution to Nanango and surrounds over many years. And I applaud Cr Kathy Duff, Warren Truss and Roger Nunn being honoured with infrastructure naming – so well deserved.
I now await further ‘community consultation’ via Landcare, who have kindly offered assistance to make much-needed improvements to Carew Park (Cnr Tessmanns Rd and Doonkuna St, Kingaroy), named 5 years ago in honour of my pioneering grandfather William Carew, his brothers Tom Carew, and former Councillor Mick Carew.
The then Mayor Wayne Kratzmann and several of the current Councillors were present for that momentous day in the lives of the Carew family decedents. The park has been on hold for the last 5 years with only mowing done. Fingers crossed, there will be progress.
Congratulations to Barry, Mary and family – it has been a long time coming, but hopefully worth it in the end.
Your family has stayed in the town and hasn’t moved away like a lot of others who have been recognised for their efforts. Well done!
I think you’ll find most of the community feedback was ‘why is this taking so long’. To Roz F credit she did submit my feedback and respond in a timely fashion. I probably knew before Barry that it was approved. The irony is not lost.
Re The Carew Park upgrade. Bunya Valley Landcare has developed an amazing plan and are all ready to swing into action when approval is given. If all goes well, the community will not be disappointed.