Junior Farmers Park at Glass House

Sign of changing times

Contributed by Elaine Reeves

Glass House Mountains locals may have noticed a new sign at the park adjacent to the Community Hall in Coonowrin Road.

The sign has been erected to acknowledge the involvement of the local Junior Farmers in the construction of the park and to provide a permanent reminder of its name – Junior Farmers’ Park.

In the 1920s a tennis court was built on the grounds adjacent to the then School of Arts building. The work proceeded slowly but eventually the court was finished, a fence was erected and the court was opened in January 1923.

Although the court was well used in the early years, it eventually fell into disuse and became a bit of an eyesore.

In 1958 the Junior Farmers were approached by Mr Bill Fullerton to clear this area as a community project and very soon the ground where the tennis court had been was returned to its original contour and the whole area cleaned up.

This park became known as Junior Farmers’ Park.

In 1959, a large community event, the Golden Pineapple Festival, was held in the park to celebrate the centenary of Queensland’s separation from New South Wales.

A report in the ‘Nambour Chronicle’ said: “On Saturday afternoon, 1000 people joined in the festivities to celebrate Queensland’s Centenary with the Golden Pineapple Festival held at the Junior Farmers’ Park at Glasshouse Mountains”.

Mr Frank Nicklin, along with other Glass House residents, planted trees in the park, although it is not known if any of these remain today.

There was a procession, which included a pipe band, marching girls and floats entered by the Junior Farmers, Scouts and Forestry Department, as well as the Queens’ float.

The photo of the Glass House Mts & District Junior Farmers’ float includes local men Lex Gilvear and Bill Smerdon depicting changing methods of weed control in the pineapple industry. (The truck belonged to the Millburns.)

The Queensland Junior Farmers Organisation was founded in 1947 under the direction of Mr Tom Williams for young people aged 15-25 years.

It provided social and educational resources, and apparently had a great impact on young people – skills were learnt, citizenship enhanced, leaders trained for office, friendships formed and lives enriched.

Glass House Mountains Hall committee president John Winterhoff remembers the Junior Farmers’ fruit and vegetable exhibits at the RNA Show, debating competitions, the silver ploughing competition and the balls held for the Junior Farmers after the show closed each year, as well as annual conferences throughout Queensland.

Trophies for the ploughing competitions were donated by George Walton of Beerwah and John won two of these, which are still in his possession today.

Initially the local organisation was known as the Glasshouse Mts & District Junior Farmers, but later, in the 1960s, became known as the Elimbah Glasshouse Junior Farmers after a merge with Elimbah due to a drop in membership numbers.