Premium Content THE 2011 floods in Ipswich were not a first for Blair MP Shayne Neumann. As a boy living with his family in Trumper St, East Ipswich in 1974, he experienced the devastation inflicted on a city unprepared for such an environmental disaster. With his own house under more than two metres of water in 74, Mr Neumann s family fled to North Booval, only to be forced to evacuate a second time when the Bremer River rose there. He still remembers the vital contribution made by then-councillor Des Freeman and his wife Colleen in helping flood victims. The ability of the community to help its own is a theme that still resonates.
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AS WE edge ever closer to Christmas it has been great to see the many examples of generosity in the community.
Our Adopt a Family Appeal is down to the last four families, which is great considering we started off with 80 families only a few weeks ago, and the feedback from local charities is that the amount of support out there is as high as ever, despite what has been a challenging year.
We are determined to help The Base Support Services in Goodna find help for the remaining four families, so if you can assist, please check out this free story and get in contact with them.
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A STRAIGHT-SHOOTING and hardworking former Ipswich mayor who left school at the age of 13 is being remembered for his strong leadership of the city for more than a decade.
Labor party stalwart Des Freeman served as Ipswichâs 46th mayor for 12 years after working in coal mines and on his familyâs dairy farm.
He remained active in local politics long after he retired from the top job in 1991. Des (fourth from right) and Colleen (third from right) Freeman had served the Labor party for more than 50 years.
Des passed away on Monday at the age of 95 and is survived by his beloved wife Colleen, herself an important figure in the local Labor movement.