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COCKSCOMB
VETERANS BUSH RETREAT Inc |
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2001 to 2009 in Cockscomb Chronicles

https://www.facebook.com/groups/160082967403579/
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2020 - 2021Committee and Jack
GPS
Camp Info
South 23degrees 14minutes 13seconds
East 150degrees 40minutes 49seconds
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Susan
and Chris Rensonnet
Caretaker
Phone
04 7559 1027
EMAIL
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A
Free Service - You can learn at home by going to
GCF
Learning
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What Cockscomb is all about.
Set in the hills on the southern side of Mt Wheeler. All weather
road access via two-wheel drive and only 30 minutes from Rockhampton.
Cockscomb provides a quiet place away from the city, a relaxing
place to go when you want to get away and get back to some basic
living and quiet quality time.
When staying overnight, you will require your sleeping bag, camp
stretcher, swag or hammock if you intend to sleep outside and
a torch, matches, food and a rubbish bag, mosquito repellent and
your medication.
Sign the visitors book,
ask the caretaker about camp standing orders and make a donation
to help keep the running costs down.
Clean up after staying
we ask you to clean up any rubbish and ask the caretaker where
you should deposit it.
The main Kitchen use is restricted
in that when there is a function on only the camp cook has access.
It means also that food stored in the refrigerators may need to
be removed to eskys. Cooking
can either be done on an open fire in the fire
pits below the Hasty Tasty kitchen depending on Open
Fire Restrictions at the time.You can use the main
camp kitchen which has some restrictions see above
The amenities
provide hot shower water 24 hours of the day.
When
function and dinners are booked NO
unleashed DOGs are allowed in the function area
and the kitchen.
Queensland Animals in food premises
Clean up all areas used,
ie; the kitchen and the toilet / shower facilities you may have
used before you leave.
Fixed accommodation
is provided in Uc Dai Loi House a Log Cabin
and Andawakey cabin for overnight stays. 4
single beds in each.
There is also a 5 single bedroom Donga close
to the amenities
Electricity
We are finalising the instalation
of fixed mains electricity supply from Ergon. This supply will
maintain our solar battery system and feed 240volts AC to all
buildings on the site. The old 12V system has been removed.
Digital LED lighting and other services are installed to bring
the site up to a new standard.If you have a CPAP, every
bed has a double 240V AC power point
Both Bore and Tank Water
is a available and stored in bulk storage 15,900 litre
poly tanks and various smaller poly tanks. This water
is tested regularly
There is 4G digital mobile phone
access in some areas on the site.
Various
tables and chairs are available to eat at and there are plenty
of log seats to sit on.
Cockscomb
is not a Caravan Park,
there is no reticulated power or water and No Dump Point

Veterans
& Ex ADF Entitlements &
Concessions
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Bruce Acutt RIP
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One
Hectare of land forms Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat. Had
it not been for Bruce Acutt RIP and his dedication
it would not exist. Bruce Acutt was a local Consultant Psychologist.
Cockscomb was part of a parcel of land originally called Cockscomb
and owned by Bruce and his ex wife.
Cockscomb
has been on the go since July 1997, built by Veterans and
other volunteers and it is now open to all Veterans and Serving
Members of all Defence Forces and their Families and to all
Emergency Services and their families and the more you use
it the better it will be.
Don’t
think that because you haven’t had any input into the
construction that you don’t have a place in the Cockscomb
community.
Local
Veterans or visiting Veterans, and Emergency Services you
are ALL most welcome to visit, stay over night, or stay for
a maximum of 5 days or make arrangements with the committee.
Please
remember to do the right thing by the signing the register
on the railway camp wagon bench.
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Thank
you Vanessa and TMB on the 19th Feb 2021 12:00am VANESSA
JARRETT
A group of Central Queensland businesses have rallied around
the Cockscomb Veterans Retreat, donating their time and services
to help
the not-for-profit organisation become compliant with council
– saving them thousands of dollars in fees.
The Cawarral retreat has been in the works since 1997 and
over time it has added buildings over the years, not realising
it wasn’t complaint.
In an effort to become compliant, the group went to Livingstone
Shire Council to do so only to find out it was a much bigger
problem than it had anticipated.
“We didn’t realise it was so much involved and
when the council staff came we got a rude shock because there
was so much work to be done,
” Cockscomb Veterans Retreat president Bob Holmes said.
The group reached out to Rockhampton mining company Manuplex
for help, which was more than happy to assist.
“We thought it was a good cause,” Manuplex’s
Luke Hanna said.
“We understood how much the area assists the returned
veterans and their mental health.
“We would hate see them disappear because of a compliance
issue.”
Mr Hanna then reached out to Gideon Town Planning
and Rockhampton Building Approvals, for the help
of their services.
“We put together a team and had multiple site meetings
to figure out the best course of action,” Mr Hanna said.
“We project managed but it wasn’t a single effort,
it was a joint effort.
“It’s astronomical, the partnerships we have done
with these guys, they have done the grunt work and the hard
yards.”
The site was officially approved for a material change of
use for a veterans retreat by Livingstone Shire Council last
month.
“We knew it was going to be a long process and it will
continue to be, there are still things to work with but we
partnered with these guys
so we are in for the long haul,”
Mr Hanna said.
“For what they do mental health wise, you couldn’t
pay money for it.”
Gideon Genade of Gideon Town Planning was
also heavily involved with the project.
“It’s good to work with other Central Queensland
businesses on local projects that provide a much-needed facility
for our veterans,” he said.
Livingstone Shire Council also waived fees for the project
and were understanding in the situation.
“It was also great to see Livingstone Shire Council
so supportive of the project,” Mr Genade said.
Rockhampton Building Approvals donated their
services of building approval and certification.
When Bruce Krenske was approached to assist he said he didn’t
hesitate.
“It’s for the firemen, policemen and war veterans
who look after us so we have look them,” he said.
Steer Environmental Consulting also lent some assistance with
a bushfire management plan.
Mr Holmes, of Cockscombs Veterans Retreat, said it was overwhelming
how many organisations helped them.
There was also help from Yeppoon Electrical Group
and patron former councillor Rose Swadling.
“They have just been fantastic, we would never be able
to afford to keep going the way we have,” he said.
If it wasn’t for the business’ generosity, the
retreat may not have been able to stay open.
“We would have been sitting back scratching our heads
figuring out what to do,” Mr Holmes said.
“We still have a road to go to get everything done.
“It has been a lot of backwards and forwards work over
the last couple of years, it’s been horrendous.
“Now that we have this through, it’s a load off
our mind.”
There are some compliances issues that need to be fixed.
“We need to put a water treatment plant in, the disabled
toilet is not big enough for council requirements, put in
different drains and sewerage and
a lot of the buildings don’t meet requirements, some
need beams put in and strapping,” Mr Holmes said.
The group hopes it can get some funding and grants to do the
work.
“Our members we are all in our 70s and we don’t
get too many young people,” Mr Holmes said.
Post Script - We do need Young Veterans and their families
to come and enjoy Cockscomb. You don't need an invitation,
just arrive.
That also goes for ALL Emergency Services and your
families too. Tuesday every week at 10am come for
smoko and a tour
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Cockscomb
Fees
POA
PER PERSON PER OVERNIGHT STAY
staying in your own tent or van
and POA PER PERSON PER OVERNIGHT STAY
in one of the cabins
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The 5
bedroom unit was picked up and turned around and placed on
the foundations by Comiskey
Mining Services
along
with JAK
Heavy Diesel helping out, they had a large bobcat
cleaning up for us also they organised the
crane, a 60 tonner from QWEST
Cranes who provided the crane for no charge.
Many Thanks to all concerned for a job well done.
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TC
Marcia Damage - Community
Cleanup 22 March
Herbie
talks to The Morning Bulletin
after Cyclone Marcia
Building
Progress
Flyer
A4 - A3
size
Kerri
- The Morning Bulletin
Visit by US and Australian troops to Cockscomb
ArmyNews
Page 6
30 July
2013 US Navy from VRC-30 Det 5 at Cockscomb
Progress
2015 - More
in 2016 |
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Now Called Open
Arms
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TOP |
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