Background

Welcome to the Website of the Willis L. Haenke Historical Foundation.

We aim to promote an awareness of the history of coal mining in the Ipswich region, Queensland, Australia.

NEWS - West Moreton Shaft - 'Jessie Brown' Project

NEWS - "No Easy Field" Book Available to purchase - see detials.

Coal mining was undertaken in this area even before "Ipswich" became a municipality in 1860. Gradually we are losing more and more people who have been involved in coal mining, or who have information regarding it. The Foundation is attempting to preserve as much of this history as possible, and therby promote the understanding of where the Ipswich area has come from and what Ipswich has been through.

You can use the menus on the left to view our projects: completed, underway, and proposed. You can also view some information about us and how the Foundation was formed.

The Other Resources provides links to some of what is available on the web regarding mining history in the Ipswich area and Publications lists the publications we have found which have reliable information regarding Coal Mining history in the Ipswich area.

Background

Main Menu

Obituary - Ray Whitmore

Your Mining Story

Picture Gallery

Events

Other Resources

Web Links

Publications

Background

Willis L. Haenke, formerly Chairman of Directors of Rhondda Collieries Pty Ltd, and who died in 1987, dedicated in his will, funds “for the purpose of preserving, and promoting an awareness of the History of Coal Mining in the Ipswich Region.”

The start of the Foundation would come into effect after the death of his second wife. She passed away in 2006 and so the task of the Trustees, Hugh Taylor, who succeeded Prof Ray Whitmore in 2003, and Wybe Geertsma (the son-in law of Willis L. Haenke) has now begun.

The Foundation is recognised by the Australian Taxation Office as a Charitable Fund. This means that the Foundation is also a Deductible Gift Recipient.

Last Updated ( Tuesday, 09 September 2008 10:51 )