April 29, 2020
Members of our Clermont Lodge in Queensland have celebrated the life of member Rodney ‘Rocket’ Jarro with a motorbike ride to raise money for Rocket’s son Jai.
Rocket was a coal miner at Clermont Coal since 2008 and a Member of the Lodge since its formation in 2014. He died in a tragic accident in February last year.
Clermont Coal CFMEU Lodge Secretary Shane Grattan said Rod was a proud Unionist who advocated for his fellow indigenous mineworkers and a wonderful father to 13-year-old Jai.
The ‘Ride for Rocket’ was initiated by friends of Rod’s and sponsored by the Clermont Lodge and National and Queensland District CFMEU Mining and Energy offices.
The organisers, Lodge members Glenn Davies, Hilary Jane and Ned Marks said:
“After many months of planning it all came together on the 14 March 2020. The weather was perfect, and a large turnout of family, friends and workmates came together for a 9.30am departure from John Scott Park Samford Village Queensland for the ride/drive to Maleny.
After a lunch break at Maleny, the ride headed back to Samford Village via Kilcoy and over Mt Glorious down into Samford Village where the ride/drive finished.
Family, friends, school mates, and work mates all gathered at the Samford Village Hotel for a night of celebration and further fundraising from sales of raffle tickets for the chance to win a hand painted helmet, a Brisbane Broncos fully signed jersey and a massive
food hamper.
Everyone that attended the ride/drive and the night celebrations had a great time.
The Jarro family would like to thank everyone involved on the day for their support and generosity. The organisers Hilary, Glenn and Ned would especially like to thank the CFMEU State and National, Shane Grattan the Secretary of the Clermont Lodge for his support and input, the members of the Clermont Lodge for approving the sponsorship, Rod’s family for giving us permission to hold the event in Rod’s honour and his friends and workmates for their support. A special mention to Theresa Anderson for her outstanding artwork, design on the t- shirts and helmet, Kieran Nolan for organising the signed Broncos jersey, Rodney’s family friend for the unexpected donation of the hamper worth $300 and our hard-working raffle ticket selling girls.”
food hamper.
A final tally of $6,676 was raised and the Ride for Rocket will be an annual event. Well done to all involved.