live long enough to see his

dream realised.

The 38-year-old driving

force behind the Lake Wen

douree Foundation is dying of

cancer.

The Buninyong father of

two set up the foundation in

2001 to help protect and

preserve Ballarat's most pro

minent landmark for future

generations.

The foundation's largest

project so far will be a large
scale enhancement of the

lake in October.

Terminal cancer, a gastro

intestinal stromal tumour,

could prevent Mr Jamieson

from seeing the work he set

in motion fulfilled.

He has been battling the

cancer in his digestive sys

tem for the past 10 years.

Six months ago he learned

the condition had become

terminal.

"It's only been the last six

months it's been a struggle,"

he said.

"It's beyond treatment

now, they are just making me

comfortable basically for as

long as they can."

Mr Jamieson has a young

family, with sons Jai, seven,

and Flynn, five.

He and his wife, Erin,

started the family after they

moved to the area from Mel

bourne 10 years ago after he

was diagnosed with cancer.

"I often think it's tougher

on them," Mr Jamieson said of

his family.

"We don't really know how

it's affecting (my children)."

Mrs Jamieson is continuing

to represent her husband's

views at foundation commit

tee meetings, and helps keep

him up-to-date with news

about Lake Wendouree.

He said some ideas in the

past four years had failed but

the foundation had now

joined forces with the Ballarat City Council and the Balla

rat Tourism Association.

They will release a

masterplan for Lake Wendou

ree in early March.

Details about the foun

dation's October "blitz" will be

unveiled, and the community

will be encouraged to lend a

hand to the project.

"It's quite a significant plan

being put together," Mr

Jamieson said.

"This project's going to

make an impact."

Mr Jamieson has also been

pleased with the amount of

attention Lake Wendouree

has received recently, with

Ballarat Mayor David Vendy

calling 2005 "the year of the

lake".

"In four years there has

been a shift in the focus from

the public," Mr Jamieson said.

"In the last six months

more has been said about it

than ever before," he said.

Lake Wendouree attracts

about 600,000 people to Bal

larat each year, generating

$39 million in retail revenue,

according to a Business Bal

larat study.

Mr Jamieson considers the

lake priceless.

"It doesn't look as good as

it should," he said.

"There are not too many

places in Australia that have

a lake if this size, with the

economic and recreational

value, in the centre of the

city."

Unsure of his future, Mr

Jamieson is confident others,

including his wife, will be

there to "fly the flag".

"I now doubt whether I will

see the final thing in Oct

ober," Mr Jamieson said.

People wishing to con

tact the Lake Wendouree

Foundation can call David

Edwards on 5331 5016.