weekly hansard - Queensland Parliament - Queensland Government

2644 Adjournment 23 Aug 2005
years. The only other option left was to close down. However, in attempting to continue, they were
intercepted by Queensland Transport twice in one week, thus receiving fines for being over the usual
height limit of 4.9 metres. They were forced to unload vehicles on the edge of the road. They had to
continue to the destination with only half a load. They had to return from some distance to collect the
unloaded vehicles from the side of the road and get them back to the delivery point in order to keep their
customers satisfied.
In order to be able to transport the four-wheel drive vehicles, the only option left to continue their
business was to double the price of transporting the four-wheel drive vehicles as they now carry only
half as many legally, due to the height restrictions placed upon them which previously the permit
covered. The western dealerships have indicated that this will detrimentally affect their businesses as
they are having to remain competitive with the city dealers on the pricing of vehicles. Therefore, they
have advised that they are not prepared to pay this additional cost to transport four-wheel drive vehicles,
as it is uneconomical for them. They will opt to drive these vehicles, instead of having them carried by
their transport company. This is due to the extremely high freight costs because of the height restrictions
they are now required to adhere to.
Regrettably, this action will leave this company with no option but to close down, making six
employees, with families settled to the area, redundant. Closing down City West Car Carriers will greatly
affect the car dealerships they conduct business with. They currently transport 150 cars per week. City
West Car Carriers has successfully transported four-wheel drive vehicles at 4.9 metres from ground
level—
Time expired.
Death of Mr W Carpenter
Mrs CARRYN SULLIVAN (Pumicestone—ALP) (9.49 pm): Bill Carpenter was born at Wallaroo,
South Australia, on 18 March 1921. He was christened William Stanley Carpenter by his parents Robert
James and Ivy Maude Carpenter. Bill began his working life as a carpenter and on 1 September 1938 at
the age of 17 Bill entered full-time service with the Royal Australian Navy. He initially signed up for 12
years and his first posting was on the Cerberus from 7 September 1938 to 26 May 1939, making two
tours of duty. Bill then served on a succession of ships including the Canberra, Penguin, Adelaide,
Voyager, Penguin II, Wilcannia, Platypus, Mountien, Sarangau, Rushcutter and more. Around this time,
Bill qualified as a diver and spent most of his diving career removing mines to ensure safe passage for
other ships. He was also involved in a large amount of underwater salvage work in New Guinea, Cairns
and Yaampi generally.
His service history sheet from that time records that Commander Batterham considered Bill had
shown marked ability in magnetic mine clearance and in conducting searches using the grid method up
to 25 fathoms on both a rough coral and mud base. Bill also assisted in the salvage work on the HMS
Warrnambool using oxyhydrogen gear to cut into compartments. The ship had recently been located
lying on her starboard side in 120 feet of water. At the end of the war, Bill married Roberta Marjorie
Jefferies and they had three children: Glen, Jill and Robert. I did not meet Bill until he retired to
Donnybrook but he was never one to simply relax, so he immediately became involved in the local
community. In fact, most non-profit groups benefited at some point from Bill.
Bill was active in the local bowls club where he was past president and up until a few weeks prior
to his sudden death on 12 May 2005 at the age of 84 years he could be regularly seen selling raffle
tickets at the club on a Friday night. Bill was one of the instigators in getting the community hall project
established and was also active in the local rural fire brigade and Neighbourhood Watch. Every year Bill
played Santa Claus to the children of Donnybrook and had a great deal of respect for the younger
members of the community, helping establish youth discos in the hall. He also made sure that his war
comrades were well remembered at Anzac Day celebrations, and I was privileged to be asked by him to
read the community speech each year. This year when Bill heard about the Caboolture Cadets Unit 123
which formed the catafalque party at the service having to pay for their own transport, he immediately
set out to help raise money to assist them in future years. Bill died before the raffle was drawn, but it
raised $1,200 and he deserves some credit for it.
Bill’s commitment resulted in him being awarded the Centennial Medal in 2003 for service to the
community. Councillor John McNaught, Stephen Beckett, members of the Donnybrook community and I
organised a surprise 80th birthday party for Bill and presented him with a medallion in appreciation of his
tireless efforts. Bill Carpenter was a member of the Labor Party. He was instrumental in many a good
campaign. He worked for many years for Labor candidates like my husband Jon and myself. He was
also dependable. Rain, hail and shine, you knew that you could always rely on Bill to set up an election
booth at Donnybrook! Bill is survived by his children Glen, Jill, Robert and their families and his ex-wife,
Bobby. He will be sadly missed by all of his relatives, friends and colleagues as well as those countless
community members and volunteers he worked with. It was a privilege to have known Bill, and I extend
my deepest sympathies to his family.