MATT Jamieson might not
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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.