Last week, I was fortunate enough to be invited into the home of John and Marcia Rivett. Many of you reading this, would know John and Marcia because you have probably been to their home at some stage over the last three decades. Why? Because their home is actually the home of Joncia Gardens….
Joncia Gardens has been a breath-taking garden wedding venue for more than three decades now. Since the beginning of 1992, John and his wife Marcia have transformed their acreage property into absolute paradise. John built the Wedding Rotunda and Chapel that stands on the property. I am sure I am not the only one who has had the privilege of attending a wedding there.
Sadly, I was disheartened to receive an e-mail earlier this month, informing me that their land was going to be resumed by Education Queensland for the development of a new high school in the area. John and Marcia’s property, along with other parcels of surrounding land will be compulsory acquired for the project over coming months as negotiations continue with landowners…
When I visited John and Marcia at Joncia Gardens, John admitted that at his age, rebuilding the gardens and the venue on a new site, would almost be an impossible task for them, so they had essentially accepted their fate. However, they were naturally very disappointed to walk away from the venue they’d so lovingly built, which has brought joy and happiness to many people in the process.
Despite the sad nature of this, I trust that the resumption process will ensure those who have already booked their special day at Joncia Gardens in 2024 are not affected, and that John and Marcia can move onto their next chapter stress free. I will continue to work with John and Marcia until this matter is resolved.
