KENILWORTH ________________________ VALE ERIC LINDSAY GLASSOP 1949 ‒ 2015
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ric Glassop was born to Montague and Joyce Glassop in 1949, and is survived by his siblings Allan, Hilary and Alison. His mother Joyce is still going strong at 102 years of age. Eric grew up in Taringa in Brisbane, and Mackay, north Queensland.
Eric became a forest ranger early in life. At the age of 16, he went out to forest camps in the bush and started to learn the ropes from older forestry blokes who he respected. Eric worked on Fraser Island in the 1970’s. Fraser Island always had a special place in his heart. In his early twenties Eric built a road on the north-west side of the island, aptly named “Eric’s Shortcut”. (pictured below) Eric returned as acting senior ranger at Fraser Island in 2000, and enjoyed the chance to again work and live there. Eric arrived in Kenilworth in 1979 with his wife Patricia and two eldest children Steven and Julie. Soon after, his third child Jonathan was born. Eric lived at the “Forestry House” and his home on Booloumba Creek Road for the rest of his life. The Conondale Ranges were also a special place for Eric. He was the head Forest Ranger in Kenilworth from 1979 to 1999. In the early days the forestry at Kenilworth was a hive of activity and a major employer in the area. Eric continued on in his work role through various changes in Queensland government departments: Department of Forestry, Department of Primary Industries, Department of Natural Resources, and finally Queensland Parks & Wildlife Service, as the industry moved from timber production towards parks and recreation. Eric was not particularly impressed with the continual restructuring and increased bureaucracy in his work. In 1988 Eric met Ann Worsley and they got married. Ten years later Ann suddenly disappeared from the home
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where she cared for her elderly parents. That morning Eric searched frantically and soon raised the alarm to police. Exhaustive searches were made by police and SES, to no avail. Initially, Eric was a person of interest for Ann’s disappearance, but detectives quickly ruled him out. Around the same time Celena, a British backpacker, went missing, last seen walking along Booloumba Creek Road. Another girl, Jessica, went missing in the area, and a man was later convicted of her murder. This man had been working on a property up Booloumba Creek Road when Ann and Celena went missing. To date, there has been no resolution of what happened to them. Obviously, their disappearances have been devastating for their families. Eric was heartbroken, as he had lost the love of his life, Annie. Eric retired from QPWS in 2006. Despite two hip replacements, he remained as active and independent as possible during his retirement. He had interests in native plants, bird watching, home maintenance, gardening, reading, a decent dry red, online shopping, trivia, and word games. He delighted in visits by the tawny frogmouths who frequented the trees in his yard. He enjoyed sightseeing and four wheel driving in the bush. He travelled throughout Australia and New Zealand with his dear friend Barb. Eric was also very close to his motherin-law Joanie, and spent a lot of time with her until her death in 2013. In 2012 Eric was diagnosed with an acute type of leukaemia. A seemingly successful bone marrow transplant held the disease at bay for a while, however he eventually succumbed on Saturday 5 December 2015, with Steve, Julie and Barb by his side. Eric was farewelled by family and friends at a memorial service at Yabbaloumba in December. His final wishes were for his ashes to be laid across the Mary Valley and Fraser Island. QPWS and Eric’s family are discussing a permanent local memorial in his honour. Eric was well loved by many. He was friendly, intelligent, hard working, supportive, had a quick wit and irreverent sense of humour. He was a good bloke, a cherished friend, a great Dad to his kids, and beloved Pappy to his grandkids. He was taken from us too soon, and he will be sorely missed.
GHEERULLA HALL COMMUNITY MEETING 14 MAY
ince the last public meeting regarding the future of Gheerulla Hall we have had interest in the Hall from others in the commuinity and another meeting has been scheduled for Saturday 14 May, 2016 at 5pm. We invite every one interested in helping out or in any rental enquiries to please feel welcome to attend. Hopefully we will have a more positive result for the Hall going forward. All enquiries to Heather on 5472 3297 or 0419 761164.
MOY POCKET RAINFALL ‒ MARCH 2016 by Graham Brennan MARCH 2016 129mm, LAST MARCH 23mm. 15 year average 114mm. March had 23 days of rain, 15 yearr average 18 days of rain.
The Mary Valley Voice
July April15, 13,2015 2016 |5