LIFE & STYLE
RESPONSE : ‘ Jolly Frog is not jumping ”
Below are just a few of the responses we got from Scott Hinks ’ article last month , ‘ Jolly Frog not jumping ’ and all the readers that commented were of the same opinion - either demolish it or fix it up because all are sick and tired of looking at the eyesore .
To the Editor ,
Thank you for writing this article on the Jolly Frog , it is a story that the Hawkesbury people want to know about , and want something done about it .
This was raised once again at the meeting of the Windsor Experience Action Group Inc meeting on 18 January , creating yet another discussion , on what was a beautiful heritage building at the gateway to a beautiful historic township . We have raised this issue with Hawkesbury City Council on numerous occasions before , and have the following information that we would like to share with you .
There is an accessibility problem to the building , as I am sure you are all aware . The State Government has been in discussions with the owner of the Frog who has wanted to refurbish the building , unfortunately due to flooding , the bottleneck of traffic on Windsor Road and Bridge Street makes it almost impossible to access the site .
How can we all help ? Pressure needs to be put on the State Government , write letters or ring Robyn Preston your state member , get her to make representations to the Planning Minister Paul Scully . Something needs to be done about access now ! The state of disrepair of the beautiful old heritage building is unforgiveable .
Our group the Windsor Experience Action group Inc . would like to see the heritage building refurbished and access to be made available for all to enjoy . The vermin mentioned in the article needs to be raised with the health section of Council , also the noxious weeds and vegetation . The hole that has appeared between the fence and the footpath , you mentioned there was a generator there in June / July , I thought it was actually a pump where they were working on blocked drains . Council would be able to let you know who the contractor was , and guide you to having the hole repaired .
The entrance to our township needs to be regularly maintained , rubbish along the sides of the road removed , and some potted colour introduced to beautify the area whilst waiting for the State Government to address the accessibility issue .
Kind Regards , Gae Kelly , Secretary - Windsor Experience Action Group Inc .
After reading your article in the Hawkesbury Independent newspaper I would like to wholeheartedly agree with everything you said .
I just didn ’ t know who would be responsible for this derelict place , it once was a beautiful part of the Hawkesbury history . As you said , it ’ s the first thing you see as you are coming into Windsor and is a disgrace to the beautiful Windsor precinct . Let ’ s hope the right people hear us and start taking action soon . Kind regards , Ann
Deborah Dodds says , “ It has been like that for so long now ; just pull it down as the owners are not doing anything .”
I agree with Scott Hinks ’ assessment of the Jolly Frog . As a resident of the Hawkesbury for over 30 years I have witnessed the decline of this building . Some common sense needs to prevail to reassess the site .
Something needs to be done urgently , especially due to safety and the approach into Windsor is so unappealing because of it . Regards , Julianne Jurd
12 ISSUE 165 // FEBRUARY 2024 theindependentmagazine . com . au THE HAWKESBURY INDEPENDENT