Welcome To The Homepage of the Jondaryan Shire Council Historic Website This site is a historical website for the Jondaryan Shire Council which served the community until 14 March 2008. From Saturday 15 March 2008, council staff continue to serve the community and greater region as part of the Toowoomba Regional Council following a merger with seven neighbouring councils. During the transition period for the new council, you may be directed to this site from the Toowoomba Regional Council website for content relevant to the area served by council's Oakey Service Centre (previously Jondaryan Shire Council). For more information visit www.toowoombaRC.qld.gov.au

More News... Check our Press Releases page for more Jondaryan Shire news items.

Mayor's Farewell Message 10th March 2008: Local Government is has come to and end in Jondaryan, being forcibly replaced by Regional Government, imposed by the Queensland Government. Since Jondaryan began in 1880, the role of local government, has expanded greatly over the last century from a focus on roads and weeds to much more involvement in sporting, recreational, tourism, cultural and social issues. Nonetheless the majority of resources still go into road construction and maintenance, water supply, sewerage services, and rubbish removal. Jondaryan Shire Council has served its community extremely well in all these aspects over its long history. Its work has been aided by a very stable workforce and leadership team. Council has a history of good financial management and I believe good value to our ratepayers for their rates. My hope and current effort is to ensure that the philosophy and practice of service to the community by local government can carry on in a larger scale in the new Toowoomba Regional Council. For the full text of the farewell message, go to the Press page .

CEO’s Farewell message 10th March 2008: My father, a Shire Clerk, gave good advice on my appointment as Shire Clerk of Bedourie in 1974 – “Your task is ringmaster of a three-ring circus – the Council, the Community, and your staff”. After 34 years as a Shire Clerk/CEO, 20 of those at Jondaryan, I am opting to retire from the ring, on the amalgamation of Jondaryan Shire into the Toowoomba Regional Council. Over the 20 years, with supportive Councils, we have achieved significant results for this community, which have had broader impacts as well. What we also have is a competent and keen workforce who will contribute greatly to the Toowoomba Regional Council. For the entire farewell message, go to the Press page.

New Oakey Region Touring Guide 5th March 2008: A new Oakey Regional Touring Guide, funded through local sponsorship, is now available. The brochure has been funded entirely advertisements inserted by local business who can see the benefits of increased visitation to the area, and the support of New Hope Coal. The comprehensive brochure organised by Tourism Jondaryan, lists accommodation options, attractions, eating places, wineries, museums, and other services, in an easy to read format, with a detailed local map. It will be distributed through Tourist Information Centres and the participating businesses. Contact Tourism Jondaryan on 07 4692 2229 for supplies of the new guide

Final Meeting Jondaryan Shire Council Tuesday March 11th 2008 And Some History... A long and distinguished history came to an end on Tuesday 11th March 2008 when the Jondaryan Shire Council held its last meeting before becoming part of the Toowoomba Regional Council. Jondaryan Divisional Board came into existence in 1880, changed names to Jondaryan Shire Council in 1903, and was reduced to its current boundaries in 1913, when Drayton, Millmerran and Pittsworth Shires were formed from it. Shire offices were located in Toowomba until 1960, and the 40 year old Oakey office was replaced in 2002 with the current Administration Centre. Read more about the history of the Jondaryan Shire on the Press Page . A Jondaryan Shire Council history display will be at the 100th Oakey Show on Saturday March 15th, the day the Council ceases to exist.

Applications Open for Q150 Community Celebration Fund 2009 marks the 150th anniversary of Queensland's separation from New South Wales. The anniversary celebrations, which will run the entire year, will express the vision - "Reflect on our past, imagine our future" - and be shaped around four themes - history, people, places and future. Applications are being accepted now for the second round of community funding for Queensland's 150th Celebrations grants, with submissions closing on 13 April 2008. Successful applicants will be announced in June 2008. The grants, which range from $2,000 to $10,000, are available to community groups, as well as local councils, educational institutions and incorporated organisations. The fund will provide up to $3.5 million for community groups across the State to help communities celebrate Queensland's 150th birthday in a way that was significant to them. The third and final round will open in July 2008. Submissions close in September. Details on the grants program are available from the Queensland's 150th Celebrations website www.q150.qld.gov.au .

Show Holiday in Jondaryan Shire Thursday, 10 April 2008 has been declared a holiday for the Shire of Jondaryan for the purpose of the Toowoomba Royal Show. Click here to find out about the Toowoomba Show program. Click here to find out about other events in the Jondaryan Shire.

Centennial Oakey Show 7th December 2007:The 100th Oakey Show is coming up on March 15th and 16th 2008, with an exciting range of events and entertainment, along with the 2nd Good Life Expo, at the Oakey Showgrounds. Show Schedules are now available from the Oakey Newsagency, Lorrimer’s, Groom and Lavers and other businesses around town. You can also download a schedule by clicking here . Oakey Centennial Show & Good Life Expo - 15th & 16th March 2008 Program includes: Official opening 11.00 am on Saturday. Grand Parade followed by Old machinery parade 2.30 pm on Saturday. Judging of Livestock sections, Vintage car clubs, Ridgways Circus, Pet Parade, RASQ Outback Riders, Band O Coots Bush Band, Clown Eric Summons, Chainsaw events, Historical Wireless Group, Toowoomba Town Crier Ralph Cockle, Junior & Senior instrumental bands, Fashion parades by Lill's Liberty Lane, Jondaryan Woolshed displays, Dog jumping challenge, Ute muster and much more! There will be no Horse events at the Oakey Show in 2008, due to the Equine Influenza standstill. Direct all Show enquiries to Secretary, Diane Marsh on Ph: 4691 2513, email tmarsh@austartnet.com.au

Latest Council Minutes Now Online Updated 13th March 2008: Jondaryan Shire Council’s confirmed meeting minutes through to the Ordinary Meeting held on 11th March 2008 are now available on our web site. Our minutes are distributed in Adobe PDF format. This means that you can view them and – if you wish – print them out in exactly the same format they were presented to Council. You can obtain copies of all the latest minutes on our Council Meetings and Minutes page.

New SES Emergency Number: 132 500 2 July 2007: From today onwards, the Queensland State Government has introduced a new central call number for the State Emergency Services: 132 500 The change means that Queensland is now part of the National 132 500 State Emergency Service telephone number network. This single telephone number will replace more than 1,200 existing phone numbers used by members of the public to contact their local SES for help during storms, floods or similar emergencies.

Level 5 Water Restrictions 26 September 2006: Level 5 water restrictions will be imposed on all customers of Toowoomba Water from Tuesday 26 September 2006. In brief, the new restrictions have the following effects: No watering of lawns or new turf is permitted. Hand held hosing of gardens is banned. Bucket watering of gardens is not permitted at any time. Council approved drip irrigation systems may no longer be used. Contact Council on 4691 1388 for restrictions on watering public gardens, sports and school playing fields. Vehicles may not be cleaned - water from a bucket can be used to wash windscreens and mirrors. Pools, external spas etc cannot be filled or topped up with reticulated supply. Heavy fines can apply for failing to observe these water restrictions and Council appreciates the co-operation of residents in helping to conserve this valuable resource. If you require further information, please phone Council on (07) 4691-1388 or send us an email. You can also obtain a copy of Council's Water Restrictions Policy in PDF format by clicking here