Tributes are flowing in for the very popular and well-respected mayor of the Lockyer Valley Regional Council, Steve Jones who passed away aged 54, on Friday evening.
Cr Jones was at a joint media interview with Ipswich Mayor Paul Pisasale and Somerset Mayor Graeme Lehmann on Thursday at about 3:30pm.
The trio were outlining a plan for regional cooperation when Cr Jones slumped onto a chair and collapsed during the interview in Cr Pisasale's office.
It was first thought Cr Jones had suffered a heart attack, but it was later revealed he’d had a major stroke.
Cr Jones had been a councillor for almost 20 years and was seeking a fourth term as Lockyer Valley mayor in local government elections being held on March 19.
"It is with a sad heart the Lockyer Valley has had a premature change of the guard with the passing of mayor Steve Jones," deputy mayor Tanya Milligan said in a statement to the media.
"Steve was elected as the inaugural mayor of the newly formed Lockyer Valley Regional Council following council amalgamations in 2008.
"He was a staunch supporter and advocate for the place he called home, and Steve loved all things Lockyer.
"He wasn’t afraid to make the tough decisions, and none more so than his decision to relocate the township of Grantham."
The concept was simple, yet unprecedented, to relocate the community to higher ground, out of the flood zone as part of an Australian first voluntary land swap agreement.
“It was said at the time the project was too ambitious, it couldn’t be done, and he certainly proved them wrong,” Cr Milligan said.
"Steve achieved in four months, what would in normal circumstances take three years to achieve."
Cr Milligan said next to his family, Steve’s real love was transport.
"He loved trucks and the pivotal role they played in helping build and shape Australia as a nation.
"It was this love of trucks and the importance they played locally that saw the Queensland Transport Museum come to life.
"The facility boasts some very rare and unique vehicles and its success is a credit to that little boy inside a man with a huge heart.”
Cr Jones’ unwavering commitment to the region is further evident with the construction of the Lockyer Valley Sports and Aquatic Centre, the Laidley Sports Complex.
He recently campaigned for the long-term stability of the region with the construction of a pipeline connecting the Lockyer Valley to Wivenhoe Dam.
Much like his dream for the Strengthening Grantham project, his vision for the pipeline was simple.
Instead of letting millions of litres of water flow out to sea, to ensure Wivenhoe stays at optimum levels, his plan was to pipe that water to where it was needed most, to one of Australia’s leading agricultural areas, the Lockyer Valley.
The Lockyer Regional Council will continue to fight for the pipeline and would love nothing more than to see it come to fruition in Steve’s honour.
“Steve loved his family, he loved our region, he loved the ability that he could make a difference; Steve spent his entire career in local government, driven by a desire to ensure that the Lockyer Valley would be in a better shape when he left than when he started.
"Steve Jones was our mayor, our colleague and our friend, and our sincere condolences go out to his wife Ann and his family.
"Council asks that the privacy of the family be respected, because behind Steve Jones the mayor, was Steve Jones the man, the husband, father, son, brother, pop and mate."
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk described Cr Jones as one of Queensland's hardest working civic leaders.
"Steve led his community through the devastation of the 2011 floods and into recovery," she said.
"He was an inspiration when Queensland was at its lowest. He lifted us all.
"My thoughts are with Steve's family, many friends and the people of the Lockyer Valley at this difficult time. Vale Steve Jones."
Ipswich Mayor Cr Pisasale said he and Cr Jones had been throwing footballs and laughing after agreeing to funding for a local sporting club, at the time he collapsed.
"So it was a great honour for me to be able to spend that last hour with him and it was a really joyous occasion," Cr Pisasale said.
"So he was fighting and caring about his community right up to the last minute.”
Somerset Regional Council mayor Graeme Lehmann said he was shocked and saddened by the sudden passing of mayor Steve Jones.
"Steve and I worked together for two decades, so I know his loss will be felt throughout the Lockyer Valley, where he worked tirelessly to represent his community.
"Our thoughts and prayers are with his wife Ann and family, at this very difficult time,” Cr Lehmann said.
Meanwhile, Lockyer Valley residents will have to head to to the polls again after next month’s local government elections.
Section 36 of the Local Government act states that if a mayoral candidate dies after noon on nomination day, but before polling day ‘the proceedings for the election of the mayor must start again’.
The state government will have to decide whether it is just the mayoral process which restarts, or councillor candidates as well, and an announcement is expected later this week. .
Residents will be voting in the referendum on four-year fixed terms for the state government on March 19 regardless.
Details on Cr Jones’ funeral service will be announced at a later date.
