Very First Meeting
 

Cockscomb grew from a bush setting, one Railway Camp Wagon and
a small concrete water tank

This page covers a small part of the early history

Cockscomb, a dream that came true...
Cockscomb Veteran Camp came about from an idea that was developed about July 1997, between a number of the Vietnam Veterans in the Central Queensland area. The Veterans came up with a plan to develop an area somewhere in the bush as a reasonably isolated camp. A place where fellow veterans could go, when things were getting tough, or when they felt the need to be out of it and alone for a while, or the need to lean on someone for moral support, or find someone that could walk the walk, talk the talk and understand the service life. It was promoted as an idea amongst interested parties.
After some discussions within our own ranks and with Bruce, he offered us the use of a section of land on some 60 acres he owned in Cawarral.
All was working well, then from unfortunate circumstances one (1.01) Hectaires of land was surveyed off to become a permanent piece of land asigned to Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat Inc, in an area known as Cawarral. An old gold mining and farming community, approx 30 km’s from Rockhampton; half way between Rocky and the Capricorn coast. This was considered to be an ideal location and the gracious offer was accepted.

The 1.01 hectaires of land is owned by Cockscomb Veterans Bush Retreat Inc, surveyed and registered at
Livingstone Shire Council


Les Nicholas 104 Sig Sqn Electronics Tech Vietnam 1966 -1967 helped Bruce set up the railway camp wagon in 1996
The Railwy camp wagon used as a base camp by Bruce and his boys

CAMM's Road was named after the Camm Family who lived in the Cawarral District many years ago. Mrs Camm was a Matron and Mid Wife for the district.
At the time Gold had been discovered in and around Mt Wheeler. The time was about mid 1868. A 12-year-old boy found one of the largest nuggets ever found in the area on the 14th July 1869.  The nugget weighed 258oz. Another boy found a 178oz nugget the following day. 
By 1889, Cawarral was a flourishing township with a population of 1000 - all supported by the Gold mines. Mt Wheeler gold was obtained easily and quickly. The field proved not to be extensive and the population soon dwindled down to less than 100.  Gold is still to be found in the area. There are still open shafts and care should be exercised when moving near these old workings.

We have had a number of Artists visit, one left his impression of the workings of Cockscomb in water colour paintings. Bruce Weightman (Decd) was a friend of Gene Owens and painted us into history.
More recently Catherine Boreham a Fine Artist has painted three Murals in and on the Museum

Looking at the Department of Mapping and Surveying map "Mining Field: Cawarral Plan Ln.2279" the area of Reserve R948 and portions 42 and 111 make up the largest portions. Portion 1628 bound by a road on all sides and to the south of R948 is Cockscomb Farm.
   
 
A not to scale sketch of the aera
   
The holes for the posts on the mountain side of the Railway Camp wagon
Drilling post holes for the shade roof
The first area of shade
The pole uprights were all trees from Bruces Block however, the poles nearest to the deck were power poles with too much of a bend in them
Graham Swadling Has volunteered many Years of Painting at Cockscomb
Bruce Acutt (RIP) sanding down the Railway Camp Wagon
   
Mick Cook master Painter
Jim Drever at the bottom grinding the redlead paint off
Not a very good outing for Vallentines Day said Helen. Nick and Helen Quigley on the brushs
Cookie painting the windows on the nearly finished new camp wagon
Piper Lester Soblusky Ex 42 RQR (RIP)
After the concrete tank this was the first Poly tank
   
We helped Bruce with funds for the rates for the block
Denis Murry (RIP) and Rose drawing internal raffles
   
Kitchen base in the making
Tony Dawes (RIP) Ex 104 Sig Sqn building the kitchen
Kitchen Frame
Building the BBQ in the kitchen
   
Who can remember this open space
The original Ladies toilet and Septic tank being installed
   
Caretaker Ray Stanley built Back to Basics and lived there with his wife and son
Slab table was outside for some time before the extra awning was extended
415V Generator donated by Wilson Hart being readied for its first startup
415V Generator blows the first smoke
The start of the original memorial
Stone Masons from Rockhampton City Council designed and built the first sandstone memorial
This is where And-a-Wakey is situated
Ex 42RQR building became And-A-Wakey
This is the Very Begining of the Caretakers Cottage
External Kitchen and has served very well

Bottom center the Caretakers Cottage
You may notice a few new buildings
The location of Cockscomb on the southern side of Mt Wheeler
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