Carnival organiser Robyn Mortimer, with Hetty and Brian Conlon, who lost all their possessions when arsonists torched their post office. Photo: Shannon Holloway
Dunwich resident Robyn Mortimer, left, with Hetty Conlon, who was bashed during a raid on her home and the Dunwich post office. Photo: Brian Hurst
Some of the donations the Dunwich community auctioned. Photo: Shannon Hollloway
The crowd listen as Hetty and Brian Conlon thank them for their support. Photo: Shannon Holloway
The Straddie community is at Ron Stark Oval, Dunwich, in support of Brian and Hetty Conlon. Photo: Brian Hurst
Dunwich community rallies: Robyn Mortimer with Mayor Karen Williams and Hetty Conlon. Photo: Brian Hurst
Fun day organiser Alison Ninnes, from Dunwich, with Phoebe Carroll Campbell, also of Dunwich, and Jim Campbell of Straddie All Sports Store who was MC for the day.
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Hetty Conlon was at the fair.
Local students painted murals for the Conlons.
The crowd was entertained throughout the day with a broom-throwing competition, a cooee contest. Photo: Brian Hurst
A barometer guages keeps a running tally of how much money was being raised.
Dunwich community rallies: rides for kids were the main attraction. Photo: Brian Hurst
A notice at the fair.
Dunwich community rallies: residents gather inside a tent for a cent auction.
Giant bouncing balls rolling in water were one of the fun rides that helped raised nearly $20,000 for Brian and Hetty Conlon. Photo: Brian Hurst
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich community rallies: Mayor Karen Williams, centre, with Hetty Conlon. Cr Williams kept the crowds entertained with a cooee contest.
Dunwich community rallies: Kids had fun at the fair, which finished at 4pm. Photo: Brian Hurst
Hetty and Brian Conlon look over drawings by local school children. Photo: Shannon Holloway
SWEEPING ACTION: Redland City councillors Division 4's Mark Edwards, Division 2's Craig Ogilvie and mayor Karen Williams at the Straddie carnival to raise funds for Brian and Hetty Conlon who lost their post office business and home when it was torched last month.
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich comunity rallies:
Dunwich comunity rallies:
The North Stradbroke Island community has come together in a sign of solidarity at a successful carnival day to raise money for the local post office licensees, Brian and Hetty Conlon.
The Conlon's were targeted when the post office was raided and then torched last month.
Mrs Conlon spent a week in hospital after being bashed in the face during the raid.
Yesterday, the island residents came together to heal the wounds and try to mend the damage done.
By lunchtime on Saturday, organisers said they had raised about $12,000 for the Conlons and expected that figure to rise over the weekend.
Residents, with some help from Redland City Council, spent the past two weeks organising the carnival, which aimed to lift spirits on the island, where community tensions had been running high.
Carnival organiser and Dunwich resident Robyn Mortimer said locals had banded together to replace items the Conlons lost in the fire.
One of those items was Mrs Conlon's citizenship papers, which residents planned to replace and then present to Mrs Conlon at today's ceremony.
During a moving ceremony, in which the Stradbroke Island Singers sang Stand by Me, Mrs Conlon thanked the community for its support.
She spoke briefly and said she was overwhelmed with the community outcry after the fire.
"Something like this has never happened before and for everyone to come here today, it's just amazing," she said.
"We will rebuild here and I think they're going to bulldoze the post office soon.
"I haven't had a good look at the house, it's just very sad," Mrs Conlon said.
Residents planned to replace and then present Mrs Conlon with new citizenship papers at today's ceremony.
However, the new papers will be presented to Mrs Conlon when she is taken on a special cruise aboard the Big Red Cat next month.
Mrs Mortimer also thanked those who donated and sponsored the event and students from the Dunwich school who did drawings of the proposed post office and home for the Conlons.
Mayor Karen Williams told the crowd of about 300 gathered at Ron Stark Oval, the Conlons played a vital role in the local community.
She said the council would work with the community to help the island build a strong and vibrant economy.
Cr Williams said the post office would be rebuilt "brick by brick" with the help of the community.
