Jashar Park Opening

This was submitted by  MARY KOCHI (JASHAR)  and posted with permission. 

PARK NAMING / RENAMING APPLICATION FORM   (MY SUBMISSION 5th March, 2018)   My family were pioneers in the Edmonton area. They migrated from 1928 onwards, settling in the Green Hill area initially, before purchasing their own sugar cane farm in the early 1940’s on Thomson Road, Edmonton. This was the original ‘Thompson Farm’. Enclosed / attached are photographs of the JASHAR Family and Farm.    

My father, SAM (SADIK) JASHAR, was an extremely intelligent and hard-working man who along with his younger brother, HIQMET (ERIC) JASHAR, contributed significantly to the Edmonton community. This included: community assistance, volunteer work, funding and donations, technological expertise, infrastructure and building.  

(Please refer to Testimonials from Lou Piccone, John Lizzio, Jeffre Pezutti, and Angle Mustapha.)   My oldest brother, ALAN (SADIK) JASHAR was the first person accidentally killed at Isabella Falls, Edmonton. This happened in February 1970, and he was 14 years old. 

My grandmother, ZYMBLE JASHAR, drowned on the family property at Thomson Road that same year in September. She was 75.   Regardless of their crippling grief, my father (SAM) and uncle (ERIC) gave what they could to the community; travelling as far as Townsville to assist with the Cyclone Althea disaster. They were S.E.S. volunteers.    SAM and ERIC also built Stoney Creek Bridge in Edmonton. 

This is currently used and minimises heavy farm machinery traffic on the Bruce Highway. SAM and ERIC also assisted with their time, labour, machinery and expertise in the construction of the Edmonton Swimming Pool, the Edmonton Bowls Club, and Saint Theresa’s School.    

My younger brother, ROBERT JASHAR, established the area’s first Pistol Club, and was its inaugural President. He was also a member of the Cricket Club and served as President. Robert was a Sea Cadet and a long-time member of Scouts. He passes away Dec., 2017, aged 58.    

The JASHAR men were members of The Edmonton Fishing Club, Canegrowers Board, Junior Farmers association, Suburbs Football Club, and Mulgrave and Edmonton Cricket Clubs.    The second-generation JASHARS have all gone to school at Hambledon State School, Edmonton. They were members of National Fitness, and also represented school and sporting clubs at State competitions. 

JANE JASHAR (Athletics), CASSIE JASHAR (Athletics), JOHN and GERALD JASHAR (Football and Cricket).  I myself taught at Hambledon State School for 15 years.     MARY KOCHI (JASHAR)  

  THE JASHAR FAMILY   TESTIMONIAL – JEFFRE PEZUTTI   I was born in Innisfail in 1935 and came to White Rock and the Edmonton area in 1951.   

I have known the JASHAR family most of my life; both in a personal capacity, and as a serving Councillor for Mulgrave Shire Council, then the Cairns City Council (1995) from 1979 to 2008.   

Edmonton was included in my divisional duties for many years. As the Local Government representative of this local family, I can categorically state that the Jashar family were always willing and able to help on community projects.    

One such community project was the construction and establishment of the original Edmonton Swimming Pool in Wolff Street. This was achieved totally by volunteer labour, and the Jashar family, along with other community-minded citizens, were actively involved in the building of the pool itself as well as the associated structures around it including the dressing sheds, kiosk and grandstands.    

After brothers Sam (Sadik) Jashar and Hiqmet (Eric) Jashar expanded their agricultural interests in Edmonton with the purchase of the Accatino farm, the Jashar ‘boys’ (in conjunction with the CSR Hambledon Mill) built the bridge and crossing across Stoney Creek which still stands today. This bridge was constructed from Hambledon Mill steel rails and concrete/cement supplied by the Jashars. 

This Stoney Creek bridge is still in active use. It facilitates movement of cars and motor bikes through the area, but more importantly it is especially crucial for access by heavier and slower farm machinery, tractors, trucks, implements, etc., that would otherwise have to travel along The Bruce Highway in order to gain access to and from properties and work sites.    The Jashar family were always ready to assist in the Edmonton community, on any project. Sam (Sadik) Jashar and Hiqmet (Eric) were community stalwarts offering their labour, machinery and resources. This extended to assisting with the construction and development of the Edmonton Bowls Club in Armstrong Street, as well as helping with the erection and establishment of the first Saint Theresa’s Catholic School on the Bruce Highway.    -2-   The Jashar family were a very nice family who provided their services to other organisations, and importantly to other religions. 

They were really multi-cultural in practice and outlook.   I can also testify to the fact that Sam and Eric Jashar assisted as SES volunteers because I was with them when Cyclone Althea hit the coast in December 1971, and we all travelled to Townsville to provide manpower in ‘clean-up, recovery and rescue’ operations. 

There were 3 deaths in Townsville, hundreds injured, and damage costs in the Townsville region reached $50 million (1971 dollars).    

I believe, and I support and encourage the Cairns Regional Council to honour the name of Jashar by naming a community street or a significant place by that name; especially since the current Edmonton and Southside District Men’s Shed on Thomson Road is the original shed built by Sam (Sadik) Jashar and Hiqmet (Eric) Jashar, and still houses their original hoist, bench and vice.             Mr. Jeffre Pezutti 17 Sundew Close Mt. Sheridan Q 4868   Ph. 4036 2384 Mob. 0417 648 954  

John Lizzio Testimonial

  The Jashar Family I knew, what their name means to Edmonton and why the family name deserves to be preserved. 1928 was a year of tension an upheaval in many parts of Europe. In Sicily it was Mt Etna, in Italy poverty in Albania Political tensions and poverty. Sadik Jashar in 1928 left his Albanian home mother, father, siblings and a wife and 2 small sons and migrated to Australia to find work and create a better life. Sadik Jashar found himself in the Gordonvale area. 

He had no English but he did have a big heart, a willingness to work, a gentle, inquisitive and self-starting spirit that was appreciated and admired by those for whom and with whom he worked. After 10 years of blood, sweat, tears, loneliness, saving and supporting his family in Albania, just before World War 2 broke out, Sadik Jashar, while working for the Thompson’s brought his wife and two sons Sam and Eric on a 6 week journey by boat, from Albania through Greece, first to the Thompson’s barracks and later to the Drexal Barracks , both in Gordonvale.  

It was Mrs. Drexal, a local matriarch, who saw to it that Eric aged 10 went to school. Eric completed Grade 4, and Sam aged 15 took on the role of supporting the family. And later perhaps in 1940’s, because of the Mr. and Mrs. Drexal’s admiration and appreciation of the hard work of Sam Jashar that they made it possible for Sadik, Sam and Eric to get a precarious start on a small 100 acre farm at Thompson’s Road Edmonton. 

It was 1948, the small reunited family lived in the old farm house on the property and with willing hearts worked from daylight into the darkness with the most primitive of implements to clear the land and make it ready for the planting of sugarcane.  It was in this new small Edmonton Village Community, at this time little more than a rail motor stop, that the Jashar family became pioneers. First by clearing the land through the sweat on their brow, the calluses on their hands, the nights of worry and fitful sleep, then by successfully growing the smallest of small crops. Slowly the local community, butcher, baker, post office got to know the gentle, hardworking Jashar family. There was little time for entertainment. 

They were quietly and unostentatiously faithful to their daily prayers.  Sam married June in 1952, and the extended family Sadik, his wife Zymble, Eric, Sam and June and later their 4 children all continued to live in the farm house moved (from the back of the farm) to Thomson Road. 

Eric married Jackie a New Zealand lass in 1963. And by 1964 they were living at 201 Pacific Highway next to the Catholic Presbytery where I met them in 1966.  Sadik Jashar the first of the Jashar’s to bequeath his body to the area died in 1976. His wife Zymble died tragically in 1970. The Jashar’s have experienced joys as well as much sadness. A beloved son of Sam and June, Alan when only 13 years of age was killed at the Isabella falls. Robert another son who died in 2016 was also community minded and was president of the Rifle and Cricket Clubs.  Sam and Eric were born in hardship. They grew up in hardship.

 They struggled to carve out a live for themselves as good citizens of a new land. One thing they were certain about their children would have every opportunity to live a better life. That meant education that meant involvement with the school, working bees, P and C and other Community activities.  

The Jashar’s did not discriminate; they supported all Community activities whether of Mosques, Churches, schools, sporting or other activities. When St Therese’s school was being built one paid person and the rest volunteers, Sam and Eric were among the many many volunteers who assisted.  I recall when Cyclone Althea hit Townsville in 1971—and a group of some 20 men and several women volunteered to go to Townsville to assist where possible, Sam who was an SES volunteer immediately put his hand up.  Edmonton was good to the Jashar’s AND the Jashar’s were good to, for and with every Community activity in the growing Edmonton village. In those days Edmonton was small enough for all to be on a first name basis. 

There was great personal and mutual respect among the whole community. Edmonton was a special place. 

The Jashar’s by their gentle demeanor, friendly personalities, genuine generosity contributed to making Edmonton one of the most successful Multicultural areas in the whole of Australia. I believe and I support and I encourage the Cairns Regional Council to honour the name of Jashar by naming a street or a significant place by that name.  If we do not remember and honour our past we are in danger of being diminished in our present and future.   

JASHAR FAMILY 

TESTIMONIAL by LOU PICCONE

I am truly honoured to have been asked to present this small testimony in support of a well-deserved honour for the JASHAR family, as pioneers and community-minded members of the Edmonton area. 

I was born here in 1934 and have known the Jashars all of my life. My years of experience with the family gave me the opportunity of recognising their goodness and growing in appreciation and admiration for the whole extended family over three generation’s contribution to Edmonton and the Edmonton community. 

I know that I was not alone in this, and that the Jashar families were appreciated and admired by many, many people in the Edmonton community. 

The Jashars have always been a respected family. They were good citizens, and promptly paid any debts. The Jashars “would not owe anyone anything”.  They have always been gracious, friendly, and hard-working. 

I am more than happy to verbally confirm any of the above, or elaborate further if required.