Lockyer Legends project launched
The nine month long project that has been the Lockyer Legends project culminated in a cocktail function to announce the people included at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre on Saturday December 12 last year.
Families of those nominated received an invitation to the evening with many attending. The Lockyer Legends project was an initiative of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council to find people who have contributed to the Lockyer Valley region through their achievements or involvement.
The project involved a public nomination process and a large media campaign. Council received Q150 funds to help with the project and further Regional Arts Development Fund monies which contributed to the portraits and albums which are located at the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre.
An independent panel decided on who became a Lockyer Legend and who was to be included as a Lockyer Champion. Acclaimed photographer and artist and former Lockyer Valley resident Robyn Hills put together the portraits of the Legends which hangs on display in the Lockyer Valley Cultural Centre.
Ms Hills also put together the Legends and Champions albums also displayed at the centre. The historical document tells the story of the Lockyer Valley’s best and brightest and the contribution made by them to the Lockyer Valley community. Writer and local historian Jim Nicholls helped to compile the story behind each of the Legends and Champions.
The Lockyer Legends are:
• Robert Sinclair (Bob) Beeton - Environmentalist
• Andy Bichel - International cricketer
• Kerrilyn Bichel-Hoger - International softball player
• Raymond Dart - Anthropologist
• William (Bill) Gunn - Farmer and Deputy Premier
• William (Baron Huntingfield) Vanneck
• Charles (Charlie) Jamieson - Politician and community servant
• James (Jim) McGarrigal - Outstanding athlete
• Derek) Pingel - Champion racing driver
• Katherine Raymont - Talented sportswoman
• Philip Raymont - Sportsman and academic
• Bob Risson - Soldier and civil engineer
• Frank Schultz - The Forest Hill Flyer
• Paula Sivyer - World renowned radiologist
• Ricky Thornberry - The Gatton Tiger (boxer) .
Many people nominated in the Lockyer Legends project became Lockyer Champions for their input to the Lockyer Valley community.
• William Drayton Armstrong - Member of parliament
William Armstrong was born in Drayton on 28 March 1862. He died on 2 June 1936 at Gatton. He managed Lake Clarendon Station and then bought the property, Adare. He was appointed a Justice of the Peace on 29 February 1891.
Known as Armstrong of Lake Clarendon and Adare, he was the Member for Lockyer from May 1893 until August 1904 and from May 1907 until March 1918. He was Speaker in the Legislative Assembly from 1911 until 1915.
He drew national attention when the Australian Federation Enabling Act came before the Queensland Parliament in 1899. As the Member for Lockyer, Armstrong spoke in the House, arguing strongly against Federation. An eloquent and persuasive speaker, Armstrong travelled his electorate speaking forcefully against the Federation Bill. But, despite the protest vote in the Lockyer Valley, the colony generally accepted the Bill and Armstrong again addressed the House, this time to pledge his loyal support for Federation.
• Don Bichel - Cricketer
Don Bichel ranks with the best sporting representatives the Lockyer Valley region has produced.
In 1963-1964, he played three games for Queensland. In his first match against NSW at the Gabba, he scored 47 with the bat and took 4-87 with the ball.
• Alan Brimblecombe - Father of the Queensland cotton industry. Alan’s practical education in agriculture led to an outstanding and distinguished career in the cotton industry.
• Neil Briton - Educator
Neil Briton advocated the need to maintain agricultural education in Queensland during World War II. He also oversaw the transformation of the Gatton College campus during the 1960s and 1970s.
• Father Jim Cahill
A friend to all Father Jim served the people of Gatton gladly, not in the hope of gain, but generously and always as an example for others to follow.
• Sharon Davson -Renowned artist
Sharon is Gatton’s first internationally accomplished artist. Her art is represented in many public galleries as well as in some 60 corporate collections in Australia and overseas.
• Win Davson
Community worker and arts patron
In addition to establishing the Gatton Mercury Theatre, Win also brought professional theatre to Gatton.
•Mary Finbarr
A Sister of Mercy well-known figure around Laidley, Sister Finbarr brought joy to the lonely, the shut-ins, the sick and those in need.
•Tony FitzGerald
Farmer, sportsman and politician
Tony served the people of Lockyer for 18 years as their state government member.
•Hec Freeman - Local identity
Hec donated part of his property, now know as Freeman’s Lake, to the people of Gatton for parks and recreational purposes. Throughout his life he was heavily engaged in the community.
• Charles Hooper
The man who saved Laidley
After the great fire of 1926, most of the town’s valuable documents survived in Charles Hooper’s new strongroom, enabling speedy insurance claims and the re-establishment of lost businesses.
•Bill Kemp - crop dusting pioneer
Following distinguished service during World War II, Bill introduced the practice of aerial crop spraying to the Lockyer and for many years was the area’s sole aero crop duster.
•Roy Kleidon - businessman and community servant
Roy established Lockyer Electrical Service. He demonstrated a concern for the needs of other people and shared in the development of Gatton through his involvement in many community organisations.
•Ted McCormack - Visionary and father of modern Gatton
Gatton Shire chairman for 25 years, Ted is generally regarded as the “father” of modern Gatton.
•Terry Nolan - Transport operator
Terry and Daphne are the owners of Nolan’s Interstate Transport. Nolan’s, one of the largest family-owned and operated transport businesses in Queensland, has always had a very high reputation for quality service. The business is well known and also highly regarded by the business community and the transport sector.
From its humble beginnings back in the early 1900s to its present expansion, the company now
operates approximately 100 vehicles, a mix of Volvos and Kenworth.
• Michael O’Keeffe
Dairyman’s champion and politician
Michael was chairman of the Queensland Farmers Cooperative Dairy Association. He entered state parliament in 1904 and during his term of office was responsible for improvements in the local area.
• Allan Muller - Businessman
Allan became managing director of Muller’s Industries Pty Ltd at age 27. The company, one of Gatton’s largest, employed up to 130 staff and trained more than 100 apprentices and trainees.
• John O’Brien - Sportsman and businessman
John has made an outstanding contribution to the Lockyer community in many ways, including through sporting bodies such as the Gatton Leagues Club and the Gatton Golf Club. John O’Brien Toyota has won three President Awards - Toyota’s highest national honour.
• Rusty Pitt - The life and breath of Laidley
Rusty became a Laidley Shire councillor in 1958 and served as chairman from 1973 to 1991. He was also president of the Laidley Show Society for 24 years.
• Peter Ryan - International footballer
In December 1989 Peter was contracted to the Brisbane Broncos rugby league team where he remained for 11 years before switching to rugby union.
• Bernie Sutton - Eternal optimist
Bernie served as Gatton mayor of 12 years. His eternal optimism, among other things, resulted in saving the Gatton College campus from being closed.
The Council engaged well known artist Robyn Hills to work on the project.
A true visionary, Robyn Hills firstly is an artist.
With her ability to see light, shapes and textures, Robyn then puts her photographic skill to use and looks beyond the surface to capture the essence of her client’s true personalities and inner beauty.
Blending her love of art and people, Robyn’s images are created with stylish pizzazz. Her sense of humour makes it easy to ‘be yourself’ and allow the artist to do what she does best – make photographs that are treasured for their emotion and beauty as masterpieces for generations to come.
One of the select few in Australia to be awarded the distinction of Master of Photography, Robyn has earned this title four times over. At the recent judging of the Australian Professional Photography Awards, she received two Silver with Distinction Awards for her portraiture.
Robyn has been bestowed with the highest honour the AIPP can give – ‘Fellow of the Australian Institute of Professional Photography’ and has previously been voted by her peers to be crowned ‘Australian Professional Photographer of the Year’ and ‘Queensland Landscape Photographer of the Year.’
Success for Robyn is about how happy she is doing the things she wants to in life: Walking on the beach, playing the piano, flying a helicopter, adventure travel to Africa and Antarctica, being a property developer, enjoying her clients and business.
Robyn is an invited lecturer in photography around Australia, writes for professional photography magazines and has a long list of solo exhibitions.
Specializing in portraiture, weddings, landscapes and art photography, Robyn combines all of these styles into pieces of art work that clients hang proudly on their walls.
Photography is a natural talent for Robyn and her enthusiasm, passion and vision are happily shared with everyone she meets.
Robyn was 2009 Qld Photographic Artist of the Year.
