Vale Jack Ruxton
Last week the Logan community lost a good man, Jack Ruxton, who passed away at 95 years old.
Jack was a member of the Greatest Generation, those men and women who fought to defend our country in the Second World War before returning home to build a better Australia.
Jack was a great bloke with a great sense of humour.
He had a quick wit and a ready smile.
He was always up for a yarn, and was happy to throw in a bit of advice for local MPs along the way.
Jack was a larrikin of the old school. I’ll miss his fair dinkum, knockabout style.
Jack was one of the last surviving ANZACs from World War II because he was one youngest who served.
Incredibly, Jack joined the Merchant Navy in Sydney in 1942 as a boy sailor, just 14 years of age.
He served on Australian and British ships in the Merchant Navy during WWII, working on the east coast of Australia, he sailed to England, and served on a troopship in the Indian Ocean.
That troopship was taking British troops from India to Burma to take over from surrendered Japanese troops.
Jack ended up in England in late 1945 and ships going back to Australia were few and far between.
To get home he took a job on a ship heading, to the US, when he got to he US east coast he travelled to the west coast and got another job as a cook on a ship heading to Australia and home.
I first met Jack in 2015 when he was sprightly 87.
He was driving his old truck around the area picking up donations of bread, milk, meat and vegetables, and delivering them to people who gave the food to others in need.
Every few days he would come into my electorate office, for a chat, offer some advice and be a friend.
I’m thankful for his many years of friendship and support, and for the positive impact he had on so many in the Woodridge electorate and our Logan community.
I send my heartfelt condolences to Jack’s loving wife, and to his family.
50 Cent Bus Fares
Commuters have been counting day the days and it is almost here.
Next Monday, our government’s 50 cents public transport fares will begin.
Commuters who travel from Woodridge Station to the City on a train five days a week will save more than $38 a week.
As a result, motorists should see less congestion on the road allowing them to spend less time in traffic and more time with their families.
They will also be counting down until car registration fees are reduced.
From September 16, car registration fees will be reduced by 20 per cent.
No matter if it is four cylinders, six cylinders or eight cylinders, motorists will save 20 per cent on their vehicle registration.
Drivers of a four-cylinder vehicle will save about $85 on a 12-month bill, bringing registration fees down to $338.75, excluding CTP.
For vehicles registered on a pensioner concession the reduction will be nearly $50 and will reduce registration fees down to $194.50, excluding CTP.
These reductions will apply in addition to existing concessions.
It is all on top of our nation leading cost of living concessions program.
For example, every household in the Woodridge Electorate, Logan and all of Queensland has already received a $1000 credit towards their energy bill.
Concession card holders have received a $1372 credit.
And on top of that the Federal Government is adding $300.
This will mean many households won’t pay anything for electricity for a year at a time when I know families are feeling the pinch from global cost of living pressures.
We also beefed-up the Fair Play Voucher program, making it available for all children aged five to 17 years of age.
The vouchers have been increased from $150 to $200 and the number of vouchers has increased from 50,000 to 300,000.
To make sure children from vulnerable families are still able to take advantage of the program, 50,000 of those vouchers will be means tested.
Berrinba Bus Service
I had a meeting with Translink representatives earlier this month to discuss the progress of our Government’s Bus Service Growth Package.
As part of our recent Budget, $70 million was allocated to the Bus Service Growth Package to increase services in Logan and Ipswich.
One of the key elements of this package is delivering bus services to Berrinba for the first time.
I was happy to see that Translink had been in discussions with Logan City Council and had progressed its planning for these important services with new services planned to start from early 2025.
A lot of work still needs to happen around traffic flows, bus stop locations and integrating the Berrinba service into the existing bus routes.
I know how important these services will be for people in the Woodridge Electorate with so many people living and working in Berrinba.
That’s why I am looking forward to getting another update on this program shortly.
Also, as part of the Bus Service Growth Package there will be new services to fast growing residential areas including Logan Reserve, Bahrs Scrub and Park Ridge East.
Route 587 service levels will be improved to link to rail services in Loganlea, responding to ongoing population growth in Yarrabilba.
A new On Demand service within the Yarrabilba priority development area, will improve connections to route 587 and local access to retail and other community facilities.
Plus, we will increase service frequencies on east-west corridors between Springwood, Loganholme, Woodridge, Loganlea and Browns Plains.
