Car returns ‘home’ after 100 years A CAR that was seen around the streets of Herberton 100 years ago has been returned to the town by the company that sold the vehicle as it prepares to celebrate a century in business. The five-seat 1924 Chrysler Tourer was the first car sold by Francis R. Ireland MBE and has now been gifted to the Herberton Historic Village. The car was very advanced for the times and had plenty of room for passengers and luggage and a folding back hood with a decent coat of enamel paint. The model sold in huge numbers. Back in 1924, the Chrysler Queensland distributors entrusted Mr Ireland with the job of demonstrating the new car. He travelled via the recently opened Range Road through Yungaburra to Herberton, a real feat in those days. He had to carry extra water and engine oil to replenish the engine along the way because the steep inclines made the motor overheat and oil leak out of the rear main bearing. While in Irvinebank, Mr Ireland heard that a local school teacher might be interested in the car. It turns out the whispers of the town were correct, and Mr Pienegar bought the vehicle after several demonstrations by Mr Ireland. Before Mr Pienegar took ownership of the vehicle, Mr Ireland had to borrow the car to return to Cairns. The car was passed down to Mr Pienegar's
sons. The vehicle was then restored in the 1980s by Keith “Snowy” Liekefett of Innisfail, who offered it to Irelands in 1991. The car has been at the Ireland dealership since then but often had to be hidden away in a shed due to lack of floor space. Richard and David Ireland decided the car deserved better and should be more accessible to the public, so as part of the family's preparations for celebrating 100 years of business in Cairns, the brothers contacted one of the Far Northern region's best historical displays to see if they would take it in. Now, the car will have pride of place at the Herberton Historic Village. Historic village curator Darryl Cooper said the 1924 Chrysler was the perfect complement to the vintage vehicle collection already on display. “While the Chrysler was a mid-range priced vehicle, they were considered a prestige vehicle and rather special for the time,” he said. “It is very fitting that in the year this longstanding local business celebrates 100 years in Far North Queensland, we are able to display the first car ever sold, and that this car was actually used right here in the local area.” Mr Cooper said the vehicle, which was in excellent condition, would be exhibited in Day’s Garage, alongside its big sister, the Chrysler 60 Tourer as well as the Village’s 1923 Model-T
Herberton Historic Village curator Darryl Cooper with the 1924 Chrysler Tourer that has been gifted to the town.
Ford, 1923 Harley Davidson and 1925 Indian Prince motorcycle, 1934 Packard Super 8, 1933 Continental Flyer, 1927 Morris Cowley Van (from The Sullivan’s TV series) and the 1937 Chevrolet Master Deluxe sedan, which operated the Atherton/Cairns White Car passenger service. “Car enthusiasts love visiting the Village –
we have a very special collection that is meticulously preserved and looked after by our team of people here.” He said the vehicle was in running condition and would soon be exciting visitors as a working interactive display on special occasions and events.
Mayor speaks at public Granite Creek bridge works underway hearing into crime crisis
MAREEBA’S crime crisis was in the spotlight last week when Mayor Angela Toppin spoke strongly at the public hearings on the State Government’s Community Safety Bill of the need for legislative change and more resources to address the “root causes” behind the criminal behaviour of young people. “The crime crisis is causing fear and division across Queensland communities and change are needed, now,” she told the hearing in Cairns. “As Mayor of a Local Government Authority, I enjoy the privilege of working with the Queensland Police Service, Youth Justice and local support services and agencies, but I also suffer the heartbreak of being directly connected to the community; connected to victims of crime; connected to bereft families and lost young people. “Sadly, many of these young people are suffering the dire impacts of domestic and family violence, homelessness, and intergenerational trauma. “This is a familiar story, shared by Mayors across Queensland and, while these young people need significant support, it is clear the current youth crime laws, programs and solutions are not having the desired effect.” She made it clear that the community was fed up with the ongoing crime plaguing Mareeba. “Put simply, the increase in the level and frequency of youth crime and anti-social behaviour in our community is not acceptable,” she said. “Community sentiment has been rising in
recent years and the message is clear, that the current consequences for youth offenders are minimal and serve as no deterrent.” Mayor Toppin said it appeared the proposed changes in the Bill and the amendments to the Bail Act 1980, the Queensland Criminal Code, the Youth Justice Act 1992 and the Police Powers and Responsibilities Act 2000 would go some way towards addressing the issues which are most prevalent in youth offending. But she also pleaded for more resourcing for police. “The local Queensland Police Service does a remarkable job with the resources that are currently available, but I suggest that more resources are required, now,” she said. She also welcomed the inclusion of multi-agency collaborative panels (MACPs) in the legislation and warned that a “solely punitive approach” would not create the lasting change that was needed. “It is widely recognised that youth crime is often a manifestation of socio-economic disadvantage experienced by young people and their families and I expect that by providing for genuine collaboration and the sharing of information, the children and families will have the best chance of receiving support which addresses their specific needs,” Mayor Toppin said. “I urge the Queensland government to start thinking outside the box to identify new solutions that will have the long-term effect of reducing offending.” Mareeba Shire Council introduced a mo-
tion at the 2022 LGAQ Annual Conference calling on the Queensland Government to introduce diversionary facilities on more remote state-owned properties where young people who had started falling foul of the law could be sent to gain both social and technical skills rather than be sent to youth detention facilities. “This option could not be available to hardened recidivist offenders but, this sentencing option would give certain young people a chance to learn both social and technical skills so when they are released, they can pursue meaningful employment and become a productive member of society,” Mayor Toppin said. “Mareeba Shire Council calls on the Queensland Government to explore this option as a potential solution to addressing the state-wide crime crisis – an additional string in the bow.” The public hearing into the Bill was welcomed by Member for Hill Shane Knuth who says the Far North had suffered escalating crime rates across all communities for years. “Queenslanders are now rising up and have had a gutful,” he said. “They have been warning the government for eight years and now it has gotten to the point that it will take a decade to pull it back to where it was. “The reality is the Bill, in its current form, will nowhere near go far enough. It needs to be strengthened and harsher penalties put in place to correct the issue.”
Races
REPAIR works will be carried out on the Mareeba-Dimbulah Road near Granite Creek bridge, with motorists advised there will be temporary speed limits and lane closures while the works are undertaken. The Department of Transport and Main Roads is doing the works which will involve repair to a roadside slope which was damaged during the wet season. Works are expected to be carried out until mid-March between 6.30am and 5pm, weather permitting. Motorists should expect minor delays.
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WHAT’S ON
ST PATRICKS’S DAY
■ 5 Race program ■ Fashions on the Field ■ Live Band
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The Express, Wednesday, March 8, 2023 PAGE 5