Qld: The man who modernised Brisbane

AAP General News (Australia)
12-16-2007
Qld: The man who modernised Brisbane

BRISBANE, Dec 16 AAP - Modern-day Brisbane owes much to the work and vision of Clem
Jones, the city's lord mayor from 1961 to 1975.

Born in Ipswich, on January 16, 1918, Dr Jones studied at the University of Queensland
and worked as a surveyor and town planner, building the largest survey practice in the
commonwealth.

He is credited with turning Brisbane from Queensland's conservative and somewhat provincial
capital into a modern and cosmopolitan city during his 14 years in office as head of the
Brisbane City Council.

Dr Jones came to office in 1961 when Brisbane was a city with no town planning, many
unpaved streets, limited water supply and few areas with sewers.

Residents relied instead on outhouses or septic tanks.

Through the 1960s he led the council to develop a town plan, seal roads, improve drainage
and connect sewers to most of the city.

Under his stewardship, the city bought properties to build underground car parks, which
were then topped with public parks and gardens.

In the suburbs, land was acquired for open space and parkland and work started on the
development of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha.

But Dr Jones also closed the city's large tram and trolley-bus network, replacing them
with buses, a move which attracted widespread controversy.

Dr Jones was also known for his devotion to sport, especially cricket. He had been
curator at the Gabba cricket ground - which has a stand in his name - during his time
as lord mayor.

In 1976, his services to the community were recognised with an Order of Australia.

He also was awarded honorary doctorates from the University of Queensland, was named
Queenslander of the Year in 1990 and given the keys to the City of Brisbane in 1998.

Dr Jones was politically active and a long-time member of the Australian Labor Party;
and was one of several senior members of the Queensland branch to mount a legal challenge
to its attempted takeover by the federal ALP.

Briefly expelled for his involvement, Dr Jones was later reinstated to the party and
given life membership in recognition of his achievements in Brisbane.

He was elected as a delegate in 1998 to the Australian Constitutional Convention as
the head of the Clem Jones Constitutional Republic Team.

After attempting to exclude monarchists from participation on the first day of the
convention, he favoured a republican model in which the head of state was directly elected,
rather than being chosen by parliament.

A tireless worker, Dr Jones worked for charities and on community projects, including
the Western Queensland Flood Appeal in 1990, Foodbank - which feeds the needy, as well
as care for the aged and disabled and youth centres.

He was responsible for the rebuilding of Darwin following Cyclone Tracy in 1974 when
he was appointed chairman of the Darwin Reconstruction Commission.

More than 300 people, including Deputy Premier Paul Lucas, Police Minister Judy Spence
and former deputy premier Terry Mackenroth, this year attended an annual Christmas Party
Dr Jones hosted at his home in the southside suburb of Camp Hill.

Dr Jones, seated in a wheelchair, greeted guests but did not make a speech.

Clem Jones Group of Companies chairman Dell Townsend said Dr Jones died at the Wesley
Hospital about 4.30am (AEST) on Saturday from pneumonia.

Mrs Townsend said a state funeral had been offered by Premier Anna Bligh and was being
planned for Friday in Brisbane.

Dr Jones's wife Sylvia died in 1999. They had no children.

AAP nm/apm/bwl

KEYWORD: JONES OBIT (RPT)

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