Oatlands,
Tasmania
Failure
to Act under the Cemetery Act of 2002
Allowed
a Crypt to become Rubble
Restoration
of the Thomas Jillett Family Crypt
It
Took a Mound of Rubble to Connect A Family
A
Family Whose Role is to Ensure the Protection of those Graves
Writing
this historical account of the Restoration of the Thomas Jillett Family Crypt
is for several purposes.
Firstly,
to allow the Jillett Family Members to understand the reasons behind the
Historical Research, website, blogs, and other social media resources
associated with the bringing together all different members and branches of the
Jillett/Bradshaw Family, and to connect cousins who otherwise would have no
idea just how they slotted into the extensive family. It is the reason that the Jillett/Bradshaw
Reunion is occurring.
Secondly, to demonstrate to the Premier
of Tasmania, and those associated with reviewing the laws associated with
Cemeteries, in particular the Cemetery Manager's role in managing and
maintaining those memorials and monuments under their care, of the dangers of
the role of the Manager.
Thirdly to reveal to the Premier of
Tasmania, that the Anglican Church failed totally in their responsibilities
under the Cemeteries Act 2002, whereby they failed to ever make contact with
any of the family of Thomas or John Jillett, to notify them of the dangerous
position that the Family Crypt was during the period that the Act has been in
force.
The photos and the evidence show
how easy a Monument can be desecrated and turn into rubble. The photos of 2000, do not appear to show
significant damage. The photos of 2010,
clearly show the destruction over a ten year period.
Is
this an indication of how cemeteries under the control of a Cemetery Manager
will be allowed to deteriorate? It will
take much more thought into the equation to ensure that Tasmania's History is
not lost forever. Shades of St David's
in 1926.
Fourthly to provide a Historical Record of
a more contemporary aspect of the lives of Thomas and John Jillett in Oatlands,
and in conjunction with the presentation of new name plaques to be erected on
the John Jillett Family Crypt, and to be presented to Mayor Tony Bisdee at 4.00
on 5th October 2018, where a small ceremony will take place at the crypt in St
Peter's Church Williams Street Oatlands.
Lastly
to ensure that St Peter's Cemetery in Oatlands, NEVER is allowed to have a For
Sale Sign over the graves of Australia's pioneers.
Kristine
Herron
e
jillett1800@gmail.com
Growing
up in Queensland, as kids in the 1950's we learnt very little history about
Tasmania, other than some stories about convicts, Queenstown and Zeehan, and
the importance of mining and fruit growing that happened in that far off place.
And
little else! My father-in-law Dale
Herron, was quite proud of his convict heritage, and while he really could
never fit all the family jigsaw pieces together, he had a fair idea of his
mother and her sister, and not one inkling or clue about her older or younger
brothers.
Unfortunately,
even though he and Ethel travelled all over the place, they never went to
Tasmania.
Mum was
the photographer of the two, she took great photos of half a person!!! Often as kids we then are influenced by their
deeds and actions.
Maree
and Randy DeGraw (sister in law and brother in law) visited in early 2003. Randy' is a fantastic artisan who does wonders
with wood, so his interest in the timber and the natural aspects of Tasmania
was heightened by his passion about working with wood.
In 2010,
we decided to come to Tasmania to have a look, and along the way, we decided to
call into Oatlands and see if we could find the family grave.
We found
them on 29th April, 2010. You could say
that day changed forever my focus on historical research.
After
traipsing around the cemetery, and it has numerous headstones, there was none
that indicated Thomas Jillett. Just
before we left, I decided to have a look at one which was surrounded by tape. There it was, Thomas and Mary Ann Jillett
crypt, and it was nothing more than rubble.
A
concrete box, balanced precariously on broken concrete base, and with two
coffins visible underneath.
After
the initial shock came the realisation that it had to be repaired, it was a
danger to the public, the coffins were lead lined, what more could go
wrong. So a bit of door knocking, and a
visit to a house or two, and we came across Val Hill, and her husband. Now this was promising, he had a digger. I remember asking "can you dump some
gravel over the hole?' Quickly I
estimated about $2K, that should see a new concrete base and the concrete box
looking reasonable, but at least safe.
Then
someone mentioned "I think it is Heritage Listed". All the plans went out the window. I got phone numbers and contacts, and we had
to then leave to go to Evandale to our accommodation. The only thing that was certain was that the
family had to pay to restore this mess.
That
night on the ABC there was a story about the restoration of the Callington
Mill. It was another shock, we had seen
the dilapidated buildings at the Mill site, and looked at the information at
the Historical Centre, but had no idea that there were plans for a
multi-million dollar restoration.
Back
home, and I began a witch hunt, or should I say a "cash" hunt. I sent emails to everyone and every Department
I could think of, and resourced any place that was offering grants. During that month, the estimates of the cost
of the work rose expediently. From $2K
to $25K. Then we had to make a decision,
do it and wear the cost, or would I be able to find the family to share the
cost? I truly believed the latter.
So we
went ahead.
Along
the way, I "connected" with many of the people who lived in
Oatlands. On Friday 28th May, 2010 I
received a letter from the Department of Environment, in Canberra who suggested
that the restoration might be considered under the Historic Sites Programme of
Grants.
Overjoyed,
but then the fine print. The application
forms were online, but I had to have the whole submission in Canberra by 3.00pm
on 31st May, 2010, 3 days time.
That of
course was physically impossible, Australia Post are not that reliable. I rang, and while the prospect of putting
together the submission, in the guidelines they suggested, which in many cases
were way over anything I had ever dealt with, and explained the situation. So they allowed me to email the submission by
2.00pm on Monday 31st and to have the package date stamped at the post office
before 2.00pm.
Despite
all the odds, that submission was sent to them at 2.00pm, and mailed. How that was achieved is only due to the
amazing support I had from people I had never met, who lived in Oatlands, and
who were so willing to see another historical project come to fruition, and to
preserve another item of history.
The next
obstacle to overcome was finding the family.
To this
day, I really do not remember how it all fell into place. How did I find all these people?
Then
from one or another, I began to be given all the previous research from
different people. John Jillett in New Zealand, and the
family tree, Tony Jillett who could never fit his family into the overall
scheme of the family, the John Jillett family, and the research from Joan
Jillett. in Oatlands.
The next
logical step was a website. That was one
of the most challenging things I have ever undertaken, and totally out of my
comfort zone. All these names of people,
and this one married that one, and it just seemed to be forever, and never make
much sense, and I would never have questioned the information I was given.
Among
the many people I met was Graeme and Jill Salmon. Along with Steph Burbury, they held so much
history about Oatlands, and they cared about the place. The Mill restoration was now underway, and we
planned another visit, particularly for the Mill Opening in October. Things are as they are, and the opening was
delayed for 6 weeks. So we were the
first guests to the Mill, and had a special viewing.
I had no
idea how to repay them for their help and assistance, so I did a Jillett Family
History Scrapbook, and which is now at the Oatlands Historical Society.
Thomas Jillett Family Crypt
It is
unknown when exactly the gravesite of Thomas and Mary Ann Jillett and their
three children fell into disrepair. Possibly
far too many years to ago to remember, and the local parishioners attempted to
minimise the destruction by placing dirt into the ever-growing hole, and
finally by installing a safety barrier.
It was
said that bones were discovered, possibly placed there by some daring
youngsters but the coffins buried beneath could be seen.
Maintenance
of graves located in parish church grounds is the responsibility of the
decendants of the deceased, and there are thousands of graves across the land
that requires attention.
In the
past locating the descendents was very difficult. With modern technology that task has become a
lot easier, however with many old cemeteries being Heritage Listed, the costs
involved with the repair can become very expensive.
Each
State or council have strict guidelines as to how to undertake restoration of
Heritage Listed property.
Unfortunately
restoration of many components required to achieve those results, can become
quite expensive.
St Peter’s Anglican Church,
Oatlands, Tasmania
Thomas was an important citizen of
Oatlands. He owned many houses and
properties in the main street, probably adjacent to the Callington Mill. It is no wonder then, that he chose a rather
impressive grave site for his children, and indeed to erect a monument chest on
top of the sandstone plinth.
Local
sandstone was sourced at the time from around Lake Dulverton. Iron fencing was often made from the ballast
from ships, or imported from either Melbourne or England.
The
crypt under the sandstone would have been accessed by a set of stairs.
In April
2010, we were holidaying in
Tasmania, and stopped at Oatlands just to see where the family has lived and
died.
On a
cold and windy afternoon they searched nearly every grave in the St Peter’s
Anglican Cemetery.
No grave
could be found.
There was
however a site surrounded by orange protective tape, and as a last resort, we looked at the names. It was the one we had been searching for.
What a
mess! The worst site in a well kept
cemetery!
I knew
that the family would be responsible for repairing the mess. Lots of questions were asked around the town,
and people were so helpful. “We should just put some dirt underneath it
and cement the base, we don’t need all that sandstone”, I decided.
But
along the way someone suggested that the site may be Heritage Listed.
Next
stop the Council chambers, trying to find who to contact. Everyone was so helpful, and eventually we knocked on the door of one of the parishioners whose husband had placed the
tape.
We then met the grave-digger and discussed with him the possibility of “just
removing all the sandstone”, and filling in the hole. We thought a nominal figure would be required
to make such repairs.
Unfortunately
24 hours in Oatlands was just not enough time to carry out any works.
The
holiday ended, and the quest to repair the crypt began.
We left
Oatlands, and the following night prior to leaving Tasmania, they by chance,
saw a documentary about the restoration and the significance to Tasmanian
tourism of the Callington Mill.
I was
determined that the crypt would be repaired.
I had no idea how, but when it was discovered that it had been Heritage
Listed, I realised that it would then be no easy project,.
Sourcing Funding
For the
next three weeks after returning home, I sent copious letters to government
departments, organisations and Members of Parliament, trying to secure some
sort of funding to help with the cost of restoration.
On
Friday 28th May 2010, a letter was received from Hon. Peter
Garrett’s office, the then Minister for the Department of Sustainability,
Environment, Water, Population and Communities, advising that there was funding
for such a project, available through the Historic Sites Program. The only problem was that the submission had
to be received in Canberra by Monday 31st May, 2010, a very short
timeframe!
Thankfully
the Department then allowed for the submission to be emailed to them by 3.00pm
on Monday, 31st May. Remarkably, and with so much positive support
and assistance from members of the local Oatlands community, including, Brad
Williams, Heritage Officer of the Southern Midlands Council and Ian Boersma
from Heritage Tasmania, the submission was emailed and posted to meet the
critical timeframes.
Over a
three day period in May 2010, a lot of work was undertaken in order to prepare
a submission for the restoration. Not
one thing could have been done without the support and assistance of Tony Bisdee, Mayor of Oatlands,
and Brad Williams, Historical Officer.
Of all
aspects of real estate, I had never tackled Heritage Listed Properties, it was
a learning experience.
Politics
in that time in Australia was quite rocky, and there was no word forthcoming
about the submission for many months.
Hopes were dashed!
A Crumbling Memorial to
the Children
Thomas
and John Jillett buried their children, in the cemetery of St Peter’s Anglican Church. and they decided
to erect a memorial to the children.
However,
Thomas apparently chose to build his monument differently and more ornate than the
one his brother erected. But with the ravages of time, surviving the harsh
elements of the extreme cold weather, and land subsidence, Thomas’s monument
deteriorated very badly.
Parishioners
tried their best to secure the crumbling site.
They erected safety fencing around the perimeter, to prevent accidents,
and they watched as the sandstone slowly cracked and crumbled. Panels of ornate fencing disappeared and the
“chest” became coated in mould. The
monument had “died”.
Broken
sandstone, broken plinths, broken fencing the list just went on and on.
Discussions
were made with a contractor, and it soon became very apparent that the nominal estimated
cost had thought had suddenly ballooned!
The cost could be $25,000 or more.
The only
way to achieve the restoration was going to be if some co-funding was found.
A second
visit to Oatlands in October 2010, to coincide with the opening of the
Callington Mill, revealed that the ground had opened more, and that the crypt
was in fact on the point of imploding into the open ground beneath.
A desperate call was made to Brad , who came within minutes.
Further discussions with Greg and it was decided to monitor the
imploding. Rob agreed to remove
the “chest” and it was dismantled and placed in storage until the works could
be done.
Meanwhile
I continued researching the family, and uncovered some amazing stories. Relatives that were unknown to each other,
and shared stories with each and every one of them. For some reasons unclear, the family seemed
to hold many family secrets and grudges, through modern technology those barriers
came down, and I put all the research together in a website to tell the amazing
story of the Jilletts and their contribution to Australia.
Way out
of comfort zones, I tackled a website and created the story, of all the
characters in the family in a way that told of their life. www.jillettfamily.com
The Restoration Begins
January
2011, I received an email, advising we had been successful with the grant!
One day
in February 2011, an email arrived from the Historic Sites Funding programme
advising that the Jillett Family Crypt Restoration Project had in fact been approved
for a grant of $12,500, which was the 50% funding that had been sought.
What an
achievement, more so, that the Federal Government had recognised the importance
of Thomas Jillett and his family, as an early and important part of Australia’s
history. The project had to be completed
by 31st October 2011.
Adverse
weather conditions and a lack of competent tradespersons resulted in lengthy
delays in trying to commence the project.
Brad’s unfailing dedication and assistance throughout this time was
unquestionable. He became frustrated with his inability to get quotes, and
finally in desperation, he submitted the Jillett Restoration Project into a
tender for other works which was being called by The Southern Midlands Council.
Finally
with trepidation, I requested a further six months extension of time from the
Historic Sites Program, to do the project, and it was granted.
After receiving notification that the Australian Government had
recognised the significant contribution that Thomas Jillett and his family had
made to the fabric of early Australian history, I was very fortunate indeed to
have the full support from the Mayor Tony Bisdee and the Heritage Officer Southern
Midlands Council, Brad Williams. While not able to contribute in monetary
terms the Southern Midlands Council certainly did so in kind.
The help and support from Brad, as the on-site Project Manager was invaluable. He is very dedicated to his role and very keen to ensure that Heritage projects are carefully restored to preserve their life. Along the way, we certainly hit some rough patches. Firstly the project had to be completed within 12 months. However, we had to request an extension of a further 6 months, as the weather had turned rather nasty, and stonemasons were extremely busy on other works including sandstone that had been flooded, at Port Arthur. Even getting a firm quote for the work was rather difficult.
After running around Australia via the internet, looking for suppliers of the fencing, I made a decision not to even attempt the one section of fencing that had been stolen. As usual, to comply with the Heritage Requirements the fencing had to be identical. It appeared that Thomas had the fence pieces brought from England, and the cost to replace the 11 posts would be around $16K.
Then Brad arranged it all. We had a quote, and the works of dismantling the "box" began. After approval from Tasmanian Heritage we were permitted to create a solid base for the return of the "box". Contrary to belief, the box does not contain anything but was more of the custom of the day. Subsequent photos of the St David's Cemetery in Hobart, revealed many, many such "boxes", prior to their destruction in 1926.
The help and support from Brad, as the on-site Project Manager was invaluable. He is very dedicated to his role and very keen to ensure that Heritage projects are carefully restored to preserve their life. Along the way, we certainly hit some rough patches. Firstly the project had to be completed within 12 months. However, we had to request an extension of a further 6 months, as the weather had turned rather nasty, and stonemasons were extremely busy on other works including sandstone that had been flooded, at Port Arthur. Even getting a firm quote for the work was rather difficult.
After running around Australia via the internet, looking for suppliers of the fencing, I made a decision not to even attempt the one section of fencing that had been stolen. As usual, to comply with the Heritage Requirements the fencing had to be identical. It appeared that Thomas had the fence pieces brought from England, and the cost to replace the 11 posts would be around $16K.
Then Brad arranged it all. We had a quote, and the works of dismantling the "box" began. After approval from Tasmanian Heritage we were permitted to create a solid base for the return of the "box". Contrary to belief, the box does not contain anything but was more of the custom of the day. Subsequent photos of the St David's Cemetery in Hobart, revealed many, many such "boxes", prior to their destruction in 1926.
Through
this process, Brad was able to secure a quote for the works, and the project
got underway. During this time another
of Thomas’s granddaughters, Fiona , who lived in Longford, became involved
in the hunt for the restoration of the fencing. Works commenced, and updates
were provided once again by Brad who made the day to day decisions.
The
replacement fencing became quite an issue, but not unexpected. After a great deal of research and assistance
from ironmongers throughout Australia, a decision was made to not replace the
missing 3 metres of fencing, including 11 ornate spearheads. It seemed that Thomas may have brought the
different styles of spear heads out from England.
The cost
to replicate the missing spearheads was prohibitive. Almost $5K just for the moulds, and then
around $895 per spearhead, as each one had to be handmade, making it a rather
expensive exercise to replace some missing fence panels, and $16,000 that we
just did not have.
The
project was completed on 10th February, 2012. The memorial stands proudly on its stone
plinths, and the openness allows access for descendants and tourists alike to
view the inscriptions and the reasons for the restoration.
The
project was the first joint venture restoration done together with a private family partnership
and the Centre for Heritage Projects, a division of the Southern Midlands
Council, and should provide other families hope and inspiration that it is
possible to undertake such works, even when not residing in Tasmania.
The works were completed in February 2012. One hundred and fifty years after the deaths of Thomas and Mary Ann's children.
The Restoration of the Thomas Jillett Family Crypt has been the ONLY restoration to have been
done in a Heritage Listed Cemetery in Tasmania, something only recently learnt.
The Importance of the
Restoration?
The Family Crypt Restoration was vitally important to preserve the
crypt, which stands alongside its brother, as a proud monument not only to the
seven young children whose remains lie inside, but as a standing memorial to
all the young children who died at an early age, and for their families who
suffered accordingly.
The crypt was built in 1859, from local sandstone sourced around the area, and from Lake Dulverton. The sandstone had crumbled, and the ground beneath Thomas's family crypt has sunk due to the extensive drought in the area, the prevailing weather conditions and the ravishes of time. The lead coffins were visible underneath.
Rather than complete a temporary repair under the Heritage Tasmania guidelines, we could have done of two things. Just sit back and do nothing, and let the crypt crumble into the ground beneath, or we could be pro-active and try for a full restoration which would be beneficial not for the remaining family members of Thomas and Mary Jillett, who nearly all live on Mainland Australia, but for the tourists and visitors to both Oatlands and Tasmania, and the descendents of the young children whose gravesites cannot be traced. We chose to follow the second option.
Hopefully a visit to Oatlands will become a must for tourists, and while they can experience the historical significance of the Mill, it's owners, and their lives, that experience can be completed by viewing the final resting place of one of the town's successful business men, his forefathers and his family.
The completed project now stands as a permanent memorial to the lives of all the young children whose remains are buried in cemeteries throughout Tasmania, and whose headstones and markers, have also decayed over time.
The crypt was built in 1859, from local sandstone sourced around the area, and from Lake Dulverton. The sandstone had crumbled, and the ground beneath Thomas's family crypt has sunk due to the extensive drought in the area, the prevailing weather conditions and the ravishes of time. The lead coffins were visible underneath.
Rather than complete a temporary repair under the Heritage Tasmania guidelines, we could have done of two things. Just sit back and do nothing, and let the crypt crumble into the ground beneath, or we could be pro-active and try for a full restoration which would be beneficial not for the remaining family members of Thomas and Mary Jillett, who nearly all live on Mainland Australia, but for the tourists and visitors to both Oatlands and Tasmania, and the descendents of the young children whose gravesites cannot be traced. We chose to follow the second option.
Hopefully a visit to Oatlands will become a must for tourists, and while they can experience the historical significance of the Mill, it's owners, and their lives, that experience can be completed by viewing the final resting place of one of the town's successful business men, his forefathers and his family.
The completed project now stands as a permanent memorial to the lives of all the young children whose remains are buried in cemeteries throughout Tasmania, and whose headstones and markers, have also decayed over time.
6937 children under 10 years of age died in Tasmania between 1850 and
1860, an incredible number of deaths.
No-where was there a memorial to
them. This project changed that.
The Thomas Jillett Family Crypt
recognises all those children who died.
The Dedication was carried out in April, 2012. On rather a cold, damp day but a very rewarding one for all of Thomas and Mary Ann's descendants who braved the conditions to pay their respects to some very brave ancestors. Many of those family members had never met and it has only been the research for this website that has resulted in cousins meeting others for the very first time.
Family secrets were very guarded in those times.
On the crypt it indicates that Robert and Elizabeth are buried there. That is not so. We have researched and came to the conclusion that they were buried in New Norfolk.
To the family members who gave willingly to help with the costs, to those who came to the dedication, to
Dick Adams who opened the restoration, and sponsored the lunch, to the Southern Midlands Council, to those clever stonemasons who completed the work, and to Brad Williams, a huge thank you.
The
project would not have been able to be carried out without the assistance of
the grant from the Federal Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment,
Water, Population and Communities, under the Historic Sites Programme.
The
descendants of Thomas and Mary Ann Jillett are responsible for the co-payment
of $12,500; they would like to express their sincere thanks that the Jillett
Restoration Project was selected as a recipient of funding under the Historic
Sites Programme.
Thomas Jillett and his family have been firmly
weaved into the fabric of Australia’s history, and the monument also recognises
the lives of so many children who are buried in often unmarked graves across
Tasmania. Those children, who suffered
horrible illnesses during the mid 1800’s, never, had a chance at life.
The
family hope that the restoration adds another dimension to the History Trails
of Oatlands. Visitors to the Callington Mill can trace the footsteps of one of
the owners, from the Mill precinct with its old houses down to his restored
crypt in the St Peters Anglican Cemetery.
Sincere thanks go to Brad
Williams, Heritage Officer at Southern Midlands Council, and to the Federal
Government, Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and
Communities, who recognised the importance of Thomas Jillett and his family,
through the Historic Sites Programme, and to all those who have assisted with
and supported the project, and who worked
on the restoration, and to Hon Dick Adams for his contribution to this
dedication ceremony.
To the people of Oatlands, the Federal and
State governments, Dick Adams MHR and Mayor Tony Bisdee your enthusiasm and
commitment to recognising the achievements of the Jillett Family to your town,
with the restoration of the Callington Mill is very much appreciated.
On a historical note the crypt
indicates that Robert Jillett and Elizabeth Jillett are buried within. That is not the case, as both are buried in
the old cemetery in New Norfolk, Robert having died many years before the
church and the cemetery in Oatlands were established.
Appendix
Sent: Monday, 31 May 2010 12:31 PM
To: herronjk
Cc:
To: herronjk
Cc:
Subject: Jillett family crypt/monument - St
Peters Anglican Church and Cemetery, Oatlands [our ref: 06-96-78THC, ID5548,
Job # 1446]
To: Ms.
Kris Herron
Cc: Mr.
historical archaeologist.
Dear Ms.
Herron,
I wish
to offer my support for your bid to secure funding for the conservation of the
Jillett family crypt and monument in the St Peter’s Anglican Church cemetery at
Oatlands, Tasmania.
The
crypt is surmounted by a monument commonly known as a “chest tomb”, and the
substructure of this tomb has in part collapsed into the void of the
crypt. Remedial works are urgently required to prevent irreparable damage
to the significant elements of the monument. I note that the crypt has
been cordoned off because of the public safety risk that it poses.
We would
anticipate that the conservation works that this project would entail be exempt
from the requirement for formal approval from the Tasmanian Heritage Council
(THC). An exemption certificate can be provided upon confirmation of the
schedule of conservation works.
I
recommend that your funding bid include an allowance for the preparation of a
Conservation Management Plan for this monument (consistent with the ICOMOS
Burra Charter). As I see it, such a plan need not be a lengthy or complex
document, but rather would be a brief document containing the following:
-
Historical
evidence relating to the place (St Peter’s churchyard and the Jillett family
crypt). Much of the information for this can be derived from the THC
datasheet for the place. It is possible that some of the recent research
undertaken by Greg may also inform this section.
-
Description
of the existing fabric of the crypt and monument. This section should
contain a measured drawing of the monument, with all components numbered; a
photographic record, and notes on the existing condition of the crypt and
monument. The description would note the deterioration characteristics
and any factors that are apparently causing the decay.
-
Statement
of significance. A brief statement that explains what is important about
this crypt/monument.
-
Constraints
and opportunities. A short list of those factors that pose constraints to
the conservation of the place. Eg: funding, ownership of the cemetery,
family interests (ie: stakeholders), those approvals that may be required for
different types of work (THC and SMC), funding, and factors contributing to the
deterioration of the elements.
-
Policy.
This would set out, in a series of short policy statements, what should be done
(or not done) to the place in the short, medium and long term; with the object
of conserving the historic cultural heritage values of the place.
Whereas
a conservation management plan for a churchyard as a whole might be a document
of some 50 to 100 pages in length and cost in the order of $15K to $25K, what I
am envisaging is a report of some 5 to 10 pages length which may cost in the
order of $1000 to prepare.
If the
funding bid is unsuccessful, Heritage Tasmania would cede the preparation of
this report and do the best we can with the provision of advice from our
officers and what input Mr. Jackman is prepared to provide in a voluntary
capacity.
At this
point in time, although without the benefit of the conservation management
plan, I would anticipate that the construction of a concrete ring footing below
ground level would be an acceptable solution for ensuring the long term
stability of the monument.
If
funding is secured, the schedule of works is thus likely to involve:
-
Prepare
conservation management plan.
-
Record
existing condition (as per conservation plan point 2).
-
Carefully
dismantle components, down to the level where the structure is stable
[involve archaeologist at this stage].
-
Replacement
stone (for missing or irrepairably damaged elements) to be carved.
-
Rebuild
damaged portions of crypt walls.
-
Construct
concrete ring footing to carry superstructure.
-
Re-assemble
monument, using lime mortar / putty for jointing (no cement).
-
Repaint:
limewash on tomb, inscriptions in oil paint [if this is found to be consistent
with the CMP policy].
I wish
you success in your bid to secure the necessary funding.
Yours
sincerely,
I
HERITAGE TASMANIA I 'Protecting Tasmania's Historic Environment'
Department
of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment (DPIPWE)
Kris Herron,
127 Long Street,
Point Vernon,
Queensland. 4655.
Dear Kris,
Thank you for your
email regarding the life of Thomas Jillett.
His association with the Callington Mill at Oatlands is certainly
important, as he introduced the steam plant which breathed new life into the
Mill but failed to avoid its closure.
The Mill is
presently being re-constructed and I am the community representative on the
board of three as well as being a member of “The Friends of the Mill”. I was appointed by the local Council and the
other two board members are firstly the Mayor and secondly a representative of
the State Government which provided funding of $1.2 million and that was
matched by the Federal Government. The
local Council is also providing in kind, funding of several hundred thousand
dollars. This is a huge project and will
lift the tourist numbers to our town to over 100,000, so it will be a noted
attraction for many visiting our island.
I support your
application for funding to repair the grave of your forbears family vault at St
Peters Church of England at Oatlands.
The funding we have received has been carefully budgeted and
unfortunately we are unable to provide funds and fear the same result from the
church and local council bodies.
Considering Thomas Jillett’s association with the Mill, no doubt many
tourists will seek to know more of the Mill story and wander around our
beautiful Georgian village and be disappointed when confronted with the fallen
stones of the Jillett vault. I do hope
some agency will come to the party with a grant to restore this important site.
Your family will be
amongst the guests of honour at the opening of the Callington Mill in October,
so will stay in touch by email.
Regards,
Graeme Salmon.
The Submission for the Grant
1: THE PROJECT
Project title: (Please
include heritage place name and its location in the title, limiting to 12
words)
Thomas Jillett Family Vault in St Peters Anglican Church Cemetery Oatlands Tasmania
2: APPLICANT
Applicant
(see page 2 of the Guidelines,
“Who can apply”)
The
applicant is the individual or organisation that is applying for a National
Historic Sites grant.
Legal name of
organisation/applicant
|
...........Herron
|
3: CONTACT DETAILS
3.1 Official contact
|
|||
The official contact would be the
person to sign the Funding Agreement with the Australian Government and be
held legally responsible and accountable for it.
NOTE: The official contact must sign
this application form in Section 16.CERTIFICATION found at the end of the
application form. If there is no signature the application will be considered
ineligible.
|
|||
Title
|
Mrs
|
||
First Name
|
Kristine
|
||
Last name
|
Herron
|
||
Position
within organisation
|
|||
Work Phone | |||
Mobile Phone
| |||
Facsimile
| |||
Email
| |||
Postal address for
official contact/correspondence
|
||||||||
Street number and name/PO Box
|
||||||||
Town/Suburb/
City
|
Hervey Bay
|
|||||||
State/Territory
|
Queensland
|
4655
|
||||||
3.2 Project officer
|
||||
The project officer will manage the
project and be our contact for information about detail or day-to-day aspects
of the project. The project officer may be the same person as the official
contact.
|
||||
Title
|
Mrs
|
|||
First name
|
Kristine
|
|||
Last name
|
Herron
|
|||
Position
within organisation
|
||||
Work Phone
|
||||
Mobile Phone
| ||||
Facsimile
|
||||
Email
address
|
||||
Postal address for
project officer
|
||||||||
Street number & name/PO Box
|
||||||||
Town/Suburb/
City
|
Hervey Bay
|
|||||||
State/Territory
|
Queensland
|
Postcode
|
4655
|
|||||
4:
ORGANISATION DETAILS
4.1
Type of organisation
(Please
tick the appropriate circle)
¡ Organisation
that is legally incorporated in Australia
¡ State or
territory government
¡ Local
government
x¡ Private owner/ Crown lease holder
You must attach copies of the organisation’s
Constitution, Certificate of Incorporation or an extract from an appropriate
legal document. Only organisations incorporated in Australia are eligible to
apply. Individuals must be Australian
citizens.
|
4.2 Organisation Identification
Australian Business Number (ABN) or Australian Company
Number (ACN):
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4.2a Is the organisation GST registered?
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Yes
|
No
|
x
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Please provide the incorporation number and year of
incorporation.
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Incorporation
number
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of
incorporation
|
||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
4.3
Ownership of place
As the applicant, are you also the
owner of the place: YES / NO No
If you answered “no”, please
provide the name of the owner/ owning organisation:
| The Anglican Church |
7: PROJECT PERSONNEL: MANAGEMENT
AND OTHER EXPERTISE
Please attach a letter of
endorsement for the project from the owner.
5: PHYSICAL LOCATION OF PROJECT
5.1. Where is the heritage place located?
Street number & name
|
Williams Street
|
||||
Town/Suburb/
City
|
Oatlands
|
||||
State/Territory
|
Tasmania
|
||||
Postcode
|
|||||
6:
PROJECT DESCRIPTION
What activities do you propose to undertake with the grant funding?
Restoration of
the family vault which has been damaged due to ground subsidence. Required works include infilling of rock to
base under the crypt, relaying existing sandstone to the plynth, any further
necessary restoration to make the vault stable, cleaning/restoration of
sandstone inscriptions and replacement/restoration of damaged fencing.
7: PROJECT TEAM
Please provide a list of
the people and/or organisations that are expected to undertake the project
activity. This list should include their qualifications, relevant experience
and contact details. This provides the Department with information about the
experience of your project team.
Name
|
Qualifications/Experience
|
Contact details
|
Kristine Herron
|
20 Years in the real estate and building industry
|
0411645558
|
8: PREVIOUS GRANTS
Provide details of any Australian Government, State or Territory grants to your place
awarded in the last 5 years and advise if the project has been successfully
completed and acquitted.
Previous
grants
|
Completion
status
|
Nil
|
|
9:
DUPLICATION/OVERLAP OF PROJECTS
Provide details to illustrate that the proposed
project is unique and does not duplicate or overlap with any other Australian
Government or State or Territory funded projects.
The Jillett
Family Vault is of primary importance to the early history of Oatlands.
Thomas Jillett
was the son of a convict Robert Jillett, transported on the Hillsborough to
Sydney in 1789 and then subsequently sentenced to death but reprieved and
sent to Norfolk Island. At the time
he was indentured to Elizabeth Bradshaw, a free settler who also arrived on
the Hillsborough. She sold her
business holdings in Sydney and followed Robert to Norfolk Island, with their
children. On the closure of Norfolk Island
1808 they were sent to Tasmania, where she was granted land in lieu of land
forfeited on Norfolk Island. He was
granted his ticket of leave and they married in Hobart in 1812, and had
several more children, one of whom was Thomas. They settled in the New Norfolk area and
their sons became landholders and business operators within the Midlands
district mainly York Plains and Oatlands area.
In 1852 Thomas
Jillett bought Callington Mill in Oatlands Tasmania. It is of such considerable historical significance
being the only one in Tasmania, and one of only 4 in Australia, that it is
currently being restored .
Thomas was
also a member of the council and the family became local identies. His brother later took over the running of
the mill.
The vault then, is linked directly to the Callington
Mill, and to the town of Oatlands. Itwas erected as the family crypt at the
time that Thomas and Mary Ann Jillett lost 3 young children within 3 weeks of
each other, in 1859, due to scarlet fever epidemic. Adjacent to this crypt is one that his
brother John built at the same time when he lost 2 of his children.
Thomas and his family are buried in the
crypt. Robert Jillett and Elizabeth
Jillett’s names are inscribed along with other family members on the crypt.
|
10: COMPLETION OF PROJECT
Please include details to
support your estimate of how long it will take to complete the project.
It is hoped that work will be completed prior to the
opening of the Callington Mill project which is scheduled to be completed by
October 2010.
Discussions have taken place with the Council
Planning Department, the Anglican Church, and Heritage Tasmania.
A stonemason has been approached to provide an
estimate of the cost.
11:
FUNDING CRITERIA
IMPORTANT
NOTE: ALL applicants must complete Part A of the Funding Criteria
section.
If
you are applying for funds for management planning, you must complete
Part A and Part B.
If
you are applying for funds for implementation of works, you must
complete Part A and Part C.
Please
limit responses to 300 words each.
Part A: Gateway criteria – must be completed
11.1. Heritage listing
Important: To
be eligible, the place for which you are seeking funding must be listed on the
National Heritage List, or actively considered for National Heritage listing;
or a historic heritage place of national significance (generally already
included on a state heritage list or the Commonwealth Heritage List.)
Yes
|
No
|
Is the place listed on the National Heritage
List?
Yes
|
No
|
Is the place listed on the Commonwealth Heritage
List?
Yes
x
|
No
|
Is the place listed on a state or territory heritage
list?
Please
specify: Heritage Tasmania
11.2. How do the proposed activities contribute to conservation or
enhancing appreciation of the National Heritage List, Commonwealth Heritage
List or state or territory heritage list values for which the place is
listed?
The Southern
Midlands Council recognises the unique heritage value of their town, with the
Callington Mill as it’s centerpiece.
Visitors to the town/mill can extend their heritage experience by then
visiting the owners burial site, and reading of his family’s ordeals. Additionally they can then follow further on
the family’s history with the links to his brother John, who owned the Jillett
Railway Inn at York Plains.
Preservation
of historic grave sites and headstones
provide the future generations with a factual first hand look at how
difficult life was in the very early days.
With this family vault it re-inforces the hardship that families
encountered in the early days.
This family lost 3 young children within 3
week s of each other, as well as 2 nephews/nieces. For the family to value those lives lost by
erecting such a monument which suggests their strong links to the town of
Oatlands.
11.3. Does the applicant organisation have the capacity for on-going
maintenance of the place? (Please provide details and evidence of capacity).
There
has been a strong desire within the Jilletts to research their history
commencing more than 40 years ago. Many
family members have visited Oatlands and some have seen the state of the vault,
and wanted to do something about repairs.
In the
past twelve months – by use of internet genealogy services - we have been able to create a significant
amount of family history, which has generated an immense interest in the
descendents of Robert and Elizabeth Jillett. An extensive database of descendents
has been compiled, and is being constantly updated.
We are
aware of at least one previous attempt to contribute towards repairs of the
vault, however that person has since passed away.
Several
family members have indicated that they
should contribute to ongoing maintenance.
11.4. Has
the applicant organisation committed or arranged for co-contributions to the
project of at least 50% of the overall project budget? (Please provide details
of sources, amounts and evidence of commitment ie supporting letter).
At the time of our discovery
of the vault, we personally were willing to undertake some repairs in order
maintain its integrity. However we were unaware that the site was listed by
Heritage Tasmania and their requirements under their Act.
In discussions
with several family members they have indicated their willingness to contribute
to the restoration, and in this regard, we will undertake to contact more
family members to ensure that the project is able to be completed. It is a very large family, with extensive
research already available to enable us to connect with more members. Our initial plan was for 10 members to
contribute, however the cost of the estimate of the work is now much higher
than what the contractor had initially indicated, so we will require more
members to support the project.
11.5. How does the place provide appropriate public access?
The
Anglican Cemetery has open access to the public
11.6. Does a current heritage conservation management plan exist for your
place? (Please provide an electronic copy)
Heritage
Tasmania advise that there is no conservation management plan in existance for
the cemetery. The property is listed as
Permanently Registered.
Part B: Additional criteria
related to management planning projects
Must be completed if your proposal includes management planning.
11.7. Do personnel within the managing organisation have the capacity to
develop and implement management plans? (Please provide evidence).
Yes, have been
the manager of our own in small business for 30 years
Part C: Additional criteria related to implementation
of works
Must be completed if your proposal includes implementing works.
11.8. Do personnel within the managing organisation have the capacity to
implement management plans? (Please provide evidence).
Over 30 years
experience in building and real estate industry, including project managing
several residential building project, the last being the construction in 2007
of our home.
We envisage
that maintenance would encompass regular inspections and reporting from the
Anglican Church
11.9. Please provide a brief summary of how your place’s heritage values
will be maintained under its management plan. (Please refer specifically to its
official listed values as per NHL, CHL or state/territory listing.)
The cemetery
is Permanently Registered on the register.
As this is a
burial crypt it is static display, which is totally enclosed by a fence.
As such there
would be no direct access to the vault.
12: PROJECT
BUDGET
Your detailed
project budget must be submitted in the format below. You must also provide copies of all quotes/estimates
received from relevant professionals. Please attach copies of quotes at the
end of this form.
You should
include a provision for the cost of the preparation of audit reports at the end
of the project. Please note that this cannot be paid for with grant funds.
All
amounts must be GST inclusive.
Expenditure
Item
|
National
Historic Sites Funding Sought
|
Other
Contributions
|
Applicant
Contributions
|
Total
(inc GST)
|
||
Cash
|
In-kind
|
Cash
|
In-kind
|
|||
List all expenditure items associated with the project here
|
List the amount of National Historic Sites funding for each
expenditure item
|
List the cash contributions from other sources for each
expenditure item.
|
List the in-kind contributions from other sources for each
expenditure item.
|
List the cash contributions from your organisation for each
expenditure item.
|
List the in-kind contributions from your organisation for each
expenditure item.
|
The cost of each item should include GST.
|
Sandstone/carving
replacement for missing segments
|
||||||
Iron Fencing
repairs and replication
|
||||||
Rock/fill/foundtion/
excavation
|
||||||
Crane/Jack for
lifting
|
||||||
Labour
|
||||||
Total
|
25000
|
12500
|
25000
|
|||
Total project cost: $____25000__________incl GST
Total National Historic Sites funding sought:
$_____12500________incl GST
Auditing fees to form part of applicant
contributions.
13: PROJECT PLAN
Please
address all the key headings in this Project Plan template.
PROJECT
PLAN TEMPLATE
|
|||||
Number
of Weeks and Dates
Number
of weeks required to complete each project stage
|
Activities
Explain
exactly what activities will be done in each stage
|
Project
Resources
Indicate
the resources required at each stage, including
|
Total
Project Costs
Enter
the cost of each item provided in the ‘Project Resources’ column
|
Other
contributions
Provide
details of any project funding your organisation is contributing or any
funding you have applied for or secured (including in-kind)
|
National
Historic Sites funds
sought
What
National Historic Sites funds are sought against each cost
|
Stage
1: Planning, Approval and Risk Management
|
|||||
1st
Aug
1 week
|
No
approvals are required, contractor able to commence works within 4 weeks of
notification
|
||||
Stage
2: Arranging contractors and/or materials
|
|||||
3
weeks
31st Aug
|
Contractor to supply labour and materials,
iron fencing to be completed in Launceston by specialist fabricators
|
25000
|
25000
|
12500
|
12500
|
Stage
3: Undertaking the project
|
|||||
14th
Sept
6
Weeks
|
List each activity to be
undertaken and include what each activity will achieve when completed
Erection of fencing
|
||||
Stage
4: Final report preparation and acquittal
|
|||||
30th
Sept
|
Audited Report to Dept
|
250
|
|||
Total
|
$25000
|
Total
|
$12500
|
||
Note
that the National Historic Sites funds sought within this table must match the
budget table in section 11.
14: INSURANCE
Do you hold appropriate insurance to cover the
proposed activities/works?
¡No
|
Successful applicants will be required to provide proof of appropriate
insurance prior to signing the Funding Agreement.
|
|||||
¡Yes
|
Please provide insurance details and attach a certificate of currency
at the end of this form.
|
|||||
Type
of cover
|
Amount
$ (AUD)
|
Policy
number
|
Company
|
Start
date (dd/mm/yyyy)
|
End
date (dd/mm/yyyy)
|
|
15: CONSULTATION, APPROVALS AND
EXEMPTIONS
Please indicate which
approvals/exemptions will be required for this project:
·
Local approval for heritage places ¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
·
State approval for heritage places ¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
·
National approval for heritage places ¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
·
Development approval
¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
Please detail:
 |
Have you obtained the
approvals/exemptions for the project?:
·
Local approval for heritage places ¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
·
State approval for heritage places ¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
·
National approval for heritage places ¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
·
Development approval
¡Yes ¡No ¡N/A
Please attach
written evidence that the appropriate approvals for the project have been
acquired.
16: CERTIFICATION
I the
undersigned, certify that:
Ø I have read and understood the National Historic Sites Guidelines
Ø All the details in this application are true and correct to the best
of my knowledge
Ø The application is submitted with the full knowledge and agreement of
the Board/Executive of the applicant organisation
Ø I acknowledge that the application will not be accepted if it does not
have all required supporting information attached
Ø I have completed all questions on the application form
Signature of person authorised to sign on behalf
of organisation;
(official contact – see Section 3 CONTACT DETAILS)
Print name:
_________________________________________________________________________
Signature: __________________________________________________________________________
Official title in organisation:
____________________________________________________________
Date : ______________________________________
|
Not
only did all the criteria need to be met, but we had to have an accountant, and
insurance cover.
Sourcing
Funding from CATCH Grants
CATCH
Grants 2010-08-09
Name of
organisation
What
does the organisation do?
What
would you like the Grant for?
Oatlands
is a unique Heritage Town almost half way between Hobart and Launceston. The town was developed in the 1820’s. It holds the largest number of Georgian style
homes in any other town in Australia, and most of the properties in the main
street are Heritage Listed.
It also
is the home of the Callington Mill. This
mill was built in 1830’s and one of the owners, Thomas Jillett, who owned it
between 1850/60, became very successful with sheep properties in Victoria, NSW
and Queensland.
Thomas
and his family lived in Oatlands, and in Jan/Feb 1859, he and his brother John
lost 7 children between them, within 6 weeks to scarlet fever. The brothers each built a family crypt as a
memorial to these young children.
One crypt is in good condition, but
unfortunately the harsh elements and the passage of time has caused the crypt
housing Thomas’s children to fall into serious disrepair. The crypt is Heritage Listed with Heritage
Tasmania, and all repairs have to be within their guidelines. The estimates to date for the repair are $25K
however that could also change when the archaeologist commences dismantling the
sandstone etc.
It is
hoped that the restoration of this crypt will become a memorial not only to the
3 buried underneath it, but as an everlasting memorial to all the young children
who died not only of scarlet fever, but of other horrible conditions. These poor souls can be found in numerous
graves around the country, however, by
incorporating their plight with the restoration of the crypt, there will be the
opportunity for thousands of tourists to show their respect.
The
Callington Mill has been restored to the value of over $4 million and will be
the only working flour mill in Australia, if not the world. The mill is set to become a major tourist
attraction not only for the town of Oatlands, but for all visitors to
Tasmania. The mill opens on 3rd
October, 2010.
The
crypt is located across the road, a short distance down from the Mill prescient
in St Peter’s Anglican Cemetery. The
mill will be featuring via interpretative panels, the life of Thomas Jillett,
and key people in the town understand the historical significance of restoring
the crypt.
As the
crypt is on private property, permission has been sought from the Church for
the works to be done.
From research
it seems that none of Thomas’s family live in Tasmania, and as a family we
could just sit back and let the crypt crumble into more rubble, or we could be
pro-active and try to help the Oatlands community by providing a project for
their skilled workers, and to add to the tourism experiences.
No doubt
funding from a grant is being sought, and currently there is a funding
application under the Historic Sites programme.
The family itself, will of course be committing to some of the costs,
however, the family will gain absolutely no benefit from the project.
Recognition
of the countless young lives lost, has been overlooked. Over 1200 children alone died in the Female
Factory in Tasmania, countless others died before they ever were given the
chance to be part of development of Australia.
Extensive
research has been done over the past three months into the Jillett family, building on some that was commenced over 15
years ago. That research has resulted in
a website dedicated to all the members.
I will
have the website live from 1st September, 2010. This website coupled with information about
the family and the tragic and sad lives of these young children, will be
available to anyone in the world.
It will
also assist the Oatlands Tourism office to be able to give life to the stories
of the mill and its owner.
Thomas
and Mary Ann Jillett also owned several dwellings on the mill site, and his
house is being converted to the local Tourist office.
Added to
that information and something that is particularly relevant to the story, is
that his parents Robert and Elizabeth Jillett came from Norfolk Island and
settled in the area. Elizabeth Bradshaw
as she was at the time, arrived on the Hillsborough as a “free” settler., with
a 2 year old daughter.
Her
husband died either on the voyage or on arrival in Sydney. She was assigned the convict Robert Jillett
presumably to build her shelter. She had
her home in Chapel Row. They formed a
de-facto relationship and she had two children to him. Then in 1803 he stole ½ pig from the
commandants store and was sentenced to death, but was saved from the hanging at
the last moment. Presumably she paid for
the stay of execution. He was transported
to Norfolk Island, and she quickly sold her property and with her now 3 young
children, went with him to Norfolk Island.
On
Norfolk she purchased land, and set about farming. She had several farms on the island, and in
1804 she was the only woman out of 80 settlers, to sign a petition to the
Governor. To purchase land on Norfolk
Island, she appears to be the only free woman settler. Quite an achievement.
In 1808
the family with more children came to Tasmania on the Lady Nelson. In 1812 they married and had a total of 9
children together. They settled in the
New Norfolk area, adjacent to Oatlands.
So this
family is firmly woven into the fabric of Tasmania. They suffered the loss of countless numbers
of children, but the 7 grandchildren in Oatlands within a six week period
paints a very sad picture.
It also
gives the public of today, an insight into just how hard conditions were for
all our pioneering ancestors.
As one
who has suffered scarlet fever, I know firsthand how terrible the disease is,
and as a mother grandmother, I can understand how it is to lose one child, but
certainly not 7.
On
behalf of all the young children who died in those unfortunate circumstances I
hope that you will consider this application.
How
much will it cost.
The
scope of the works will determine the exact cost of the project.
Delays
National
Historic Sites Program
Round
One (2010 to 2011)
Project
Progress Report
Notes to
the documentation:
Approvals
and exemptions:
No approvals are required.
Subcontractors/consultants:
During
the period that the application was still with the Department, an onsite
meeting was carried out with the preferred contractor Rob Whitney. That meeting was in October 2010, and also
present was Brad Williams, Heritage Officer with the Southern Midlands Council,
who is the on-site consultant for the project.
Rob
Whitney promised he would do a quote for the work, in October 2010.
When the
grant was awarded, there was constant communication with Brad Williams, and
again Rob Whitney promised faithfully almost every month to provide a
quotation.
During
the winter months no work could have been done, due to the flooding and extreme
bad weather in the area.
Brad
Williams has been trying to source local stonemasons, unsuccessfully since the
beginning of the project.
He has
met several contractors on site, without ever receiving quotations.
In
desperation he included the project in a tender for works required by the
Southern Midlands Council.
Other
contractors were approached, including Les Kulinski of Argus Stone, PO Box 384,
Rosny Park and Endri Stanton. At this
stage neither have provided a quotation.
On 21st
September, 2011, an email was received from Brad Williams advising that the
tender price from Rob Whitney was around $20K plus the fencing.
During
the period of time, from the submission of the project in May 2010, a website
was created to generate interest and to locate additional family members.
That has been extremely succesful, and has
brought together many relatives who were previously unknown.
Project
Plan
As
reported
Is
the activity proceeding on time?
No
The
delay in the project has been caused by:
Unwillingness
of contractors to commit to the project.
Attempts
have been made for almost 12 months to obtain pricing from the preferred
contractor.
His
price has now been received and is around the orignal estimate of the works,
and that price was only received via a tender process conducted by the Southern
Midlands Council.
Many
contractors have inspected the works, without showing any willingness to
complete the project
Currently
there are two additional contractors who have expressed a willingness, but to
date have not submitted any price.
The
success of the project depends on the quotations. If three quotations are not forthcoming the
project will appoint Rob .
Adverse
weather conditions
The
weather in Oatlands during the winter period, resulted in adverse conditions
which would have made undertaking the project impossible. During the time Oatlands experienced flooding
and snow. It is rare for snow to fall in
Oatlands.
But it was done. And stands now as a Monument.
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