Wednesday, 24 April, 2024
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Kids’ Kokoda challenge
Heritage fest
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Vandalism
Flood land recovers
A vandal deliberately destroyed a soccer field at the Lowood Recreational Grounds, leaving more than 100 children without a place to play. In the early hours of Tuesday 16 April a vehicle entered the facility off Lindemans Road and destroyed the turf and playing field, doing doughnuts across the playing surface. Somerset Regional Council Mayor Jason Wendt described the action as ‘senseless’. “We do not tolerate, and nor should we, this type of destructive behaviour in our towns,” Cr Wendt said. STORY PAGE 2
Flood-affected land was rehabilitated thanks to a tree planting project at Lower Tenthill on Sunday 21 April. More than 700 native seedlings were planted along the bank of Lockyer Creek, helping to bolster native habitat and reduce future flood damage. Community groups and volunteers got their hands dirty planting the 51 species of natives at Lions Park. STORY PAGE 3
Purga party
Lockyer Valley Regional Council catchment officer Chris Hoffmann with dozens of native seedlings ready for planting. Picture: GRACE CRICHTON
Past students from Purga School are being rounded up for a reunion in June. Former students are searching country-wide for their peers in the hope to rekindle friendships and school memories. Marburg resident Shirley Dance attended from 1953 to 1960 with her siblings, including her younger brother Ken Bauer from Peak Crossing (1956 to 1963). Mrs Dance said she hoped as many former students could attend the reunion on Saturday 8 June for a picnic. STORY PAGE 8
After 81 years, RAAF discovers...
Our Clem at rest The discovery of Gatton-born Warrant Officer Clement Batstone Wiggins’ final resting place sparked a great deal of excitement for Kelven Freeman. A team of divers recovered the remains of a Beaufort aircraft in 2022 in the waters south of Gasmata, Papua New Guinea.
A team of specialists recently confirmed the DNA of bone material belonging to WO Wiggins and Brisbane-born Warrant Officer Russell Henry Grigg. This discovery prompted Gatton and District Historical Society vice president and local military expert Kelven Freeman to dive into his own records to share the Wiggins family’s history.
He said the Wiggins family had a rich history within Gatton spanning more than 130 years, beginning as haberdashers and storekeepers. “The original Clement Batstone Wiggins [WO Wiggins’ grandfather] was a JP, and he was also one of the first on the scene of the Murphy murders in 1898, he actually authorised the removal of the bodies,” Mr Freeman said.
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WO Wiggins was born 29 March 1915 in Gatton and began school at Gatton Primary in 1920. He passed his junior exams at Lockyer State High and Technical College in 1931, and later began his teaching career. STORIES PAGES 10, 11