Mr Warren TRUSS [was member of Member for Wide Bay (Qld) 1990-2016/ Also Deputy Prime Minister of Australia 18.9.13 to 18.2.16.]. Mr Truss released a statement of the death of John..
(10.45 p.m.) —Maryborough and district is in mourning following the loss of one of its best loved citizens and strongest advocates, John Craig-Gardiner. John died suddenly and unexpectedly at just 43 years of age on the evening of Friday, 12 September.
John was born in Maryborough and never ceased singing its praises. He came from a show business family, his mother having worked professionally in music theatre and radio productions and his father being one of the radio legends of the 1930s and 1940s as Greenbottle in the famous Yes, What? radio series. His older sister, Diana, was one of the early on-screen personalities when television came to Maryborough. John left school at 15 and, after working with the Bank of New South Wales, joined radio 4IP. He also worked in radio in Longreach, Charleville and Toowoomba before switching to SEQ8 television.
My first contacts with John came through regional tourism. The concept of regional tourism was new and was experiencing a traumatic birth. Everywhere there seemed to be divisions, personality conflicts and a lack of foresight. John soon was appointed manager of what went on to become the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board.
John strongly believed in the tourism potential of the Fraser Coast and was instrumental in convincing the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation and the local community that tourism could be a major industry in the area. He also knew that, while each individual centre possessed notable tourist attractions, the area could not become a major tourist destination unless everyone worked together to promote the region.
I had the privilege of working as chairman of the board with John for four years, during which time he was primarily instrumental in establishing the regional tourism board as a reliable, innovative and hardworking organisation deserving community support. John and the organisation won the recognition and admiration of his peers. Tourism visitations to the Fraser Coast increased enormously, and the region's tourist industry became a major employer.
John Craig-Gardiner had a dynamic enthusiasm for promoting his region and was able to convey his personal excitement to others. He was a true Maryborough boy who had a passionate ambition for his city and wanted everyone else to catch something of his great vision for Maryborough and the district. As his classmate Dr Ian Truscott said in the eulogy:
John has been largely responsible for restoring a tarnished pride in our city. Perhaps that is why Maryborough loved him. He made us feel good about ourselves too, and now when we say "I am from Maryborough", it is with pride.
After John decided it was time to leave the tourism board, he devoted his energies and organisational skills to a new project. This is Maryborough's sesquicentennial year and it was largely John's idea that the year should be celebrated with pride and style. The city council appointed him to coordinate the celebrations and, with his usual dedicated enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail, he put together a program involving hundreds of events spreading through the whole of this year—street parties, a visit by tall ships, freedom of the city, parades, reunions, memorabilia, visits by dignitaries, including a visit last week by the Governor-General, and everything that would make this an extraordinarily memorable year.
Even though he will not see all the events he planned, John has left an enduring legacy in the hearts of the people of Maryborough and, especially, a new confidence and pride in their city. As Mayor Councillor Brown, said at John's funeral:
His enthusiasm, motivation, and friendly nature made it easy for him to achieve a cohesive effort with other people involved with the fulfilment of many projects he was an integral part of.
Robert Olds, on behalf of his father, Peter, said:
His professional manner and presentation was without equal. John would not want us to be sad for long, but rather continue with the work in which he was involved for the city he loved.
It is perhaps difficult to understand how one man could so much change the way in which a city thinks about itself. It was not his own achievements but the people and things around him that he glorified. He gave every building, each place, each event—both past and present—a significance that others had long forgotten or would never know.
John Craig-Gardiner achieved more for his community in his short life than most great people do in a normal lifetime. There are few men of whom it can truly be said that they are irreplaceable, but John Craig-Gardiner was surely one. I have only happy memories of working with John. I admired him enormously, and the whole city and community extends its sympathies to his widow, Val, and to John's mother and family.
(10.45 p.m.) —Maryborough and district is in mourning following the loss of one of its best loved citizens and strongest advocates, John Craig-Gardiner. John died suddenly and unexpectedly at just 43 years of age on the evening of Friday, 12 September.
John was born in Maryborough and never ceased singing its praises. He came from a show business family, his mother having worked professionally in music theatre and radio productions and his father being one of the radio legends of the 1930s and 1940s as Greenbottle in the famous Yes, What? radio series. His older sister, Diana, was one of the early on-screen personalities when television came to Maryborough. John left school at 15 and, after working with the Bank of New South Wales, joined radio 4IP. He also worked in radio in Longreach, Charleville and Toowoomba before switching to SEQ8 television.
My first contacts with John came through regional tourism. The concept of regional tourism was new and was experiencing a traumatic birth. Everywhere there seemed to be divisions, personality conflicts and a lack of foresight. John soon was appointed manager of what went on to become the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board.
John strongly believed in the tourism potential of the Fraser Coast and was instrumental in convincing the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation and the local community that tourism could be a major industry in the area. He also knew that, while each individual centre possessed notable tourist attractions, the area could not become a major tourist destination unless everyone worked together to promote the region.
I had the privilege of working as chairman of the board with John for four years, during which time he was primarily instrumental in establishing the regional tourism board as a reliable, innovative and hardworking organisation deserving community support. John and the organisation won the recognition and admiration of his peers. Tourism visitations to the Fraser Coast increased enormously, and the region's tourist industry became a major employer.
John Craig-Gardiner had a dynamic enthusiasm for promoting his region and was able to convey his personal excitement to others. He was a true Maryborough boy who had a passionate ambition for his city and wanted everyone else to catch something of his great vision for Maryborough and the district. As his classmate Dr Ian Truscott said in the eulogy:
John has been largely responsible for restoring a tarnished pride in our city. Perhaps that is why Maryborough loved him. He made us feel good about ourselves too, and now when we say "I am from Maryborough", it is with pride.
After John decided it was time to leave the tourism board, he devoted his energies and organisational skills to a new project. This is Maryborough's sesquicentennial year and it was largely John's idea that the year should be celebrated with pride and style. The city council appointed him to coordinate the celebrations and, with his usual dedicated enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail, he put together a program involving hundreds of events spreading through the whole of this year—street parties, a visit by tall ships, freedom of the city, parades, reunions, memorabilia, visits by dignitaries, including a visit last week by the Governor-General, and everything that would make this an extraordinarily memorable year.
Even though he will not see all the events he planned, John has left an enduring legacy in the hearts of the people of Maryborough and, especially, a new confidence and pride in their city. As Mayor Councillor Brown, said at John's funeral:
His enthusiasm, motivation, and friendly nature made it easy for him to achieve a cohesive effort with other people involved with the fulfilment of many projects he was an integral part of.
Robert Olds, on behalf of his father, Peter, said:
His professional manner and presentation was without equal. John would not want us to be sad for long, but rather continue with the work in which he was involved for the city he loved.
It is perhaps difficult to understand how one man could so much change the way in which a city thinks about itself. It was not his own achievements but the people and things around him that he glorified. He gave every building, each place, each event—both past and present—a significance that others had long forgotten or would never know.
John Craig-Gardiner achieved more for his community in his short life than most great people do in a normal lifetime. There are few men of whom it can truly be said that they are irreplaceable, but John Craig-Gardiner was surely one. I have only happy memories of working with John. I admired him enormously, and the whole city and community extends its sympathies to his widow, Val, and to John's mother and family.
Mr Warren TRUSS [was member of Member for Wide Bay (Qld) 1990-2016/ Also Deputy Prime Minister of Australia 18.9.13 to 18.2.16.]. Mr Truss released a statement of the death of John..
(10.45 p.m.) —Maryborough and district is in mourning following the loss of one of its best loved citizens and strongest advocates, John Craig-Gardiner. John died suddenly and unexpectedly at just 43 years of age on the evening of Friday, 12 September.
John was born in Maryborough and never ceased singing its praises. He came from a show business family, his mother having worked professionally in music theatre and radio productions and his father being one of the radio legends of the 1930s and 1940s as Greenbottle in the famous Yes, What? radio series. His older sister, Diana, was one of the early on-screen personalities when television came to Maryborough. John left school at 15 and, after working with the Bank of New South Wales, joined radio 4IP. He also worked in radio in Longreach, Charleville and Toowoomba before switching to SEQ8 television.
My first contacts with John came through regional tourism. The concept of regional tourism was new and was experiencing a traumatic birth. Everywhere there seemed to be divisions, personality conflicts and a lack of foresight. John soon was appointed manager of what went on to become the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board.
John strongly believed in the tourism potential of the Fraser Coast and was instrumental in convincing the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation and the local community that tourism could be a major industry in the area. He also knew that, while each individual centre possessed notable tourist attractions, the area could not become a major tourist destination unless everyone worked together to promote the region.
I had the privilege of working as chairman of the board with John for four years, during which time he was primarily instrumental in establishing the regional tourism board as a reliable, innovative and hardworking organisation deserving community support. John and the organisation won the recognition and admiration of his peers. Tourism visitations to the Fraser Coast increased enormously, and the region's tourist industry became a major employer.
John Craig-Gardiner had a dynamic enthusiasm for promoting his region and was able to convey his personal excitement to others. He was a true Maryborough boy who had a passionate ambition for his city and wanted everyone else to catch something of his great vision for Maryborough and the district. As his classmate Dr Ian Truscott said in the eulogy:
John has been largely responsible for restoring a tarnished pride in our city. Perhaps that is why Maryborough loved him. He made us feel good about ourselves too, and now when we say "I am from Maryborough", it is with pride.
After John decided it was time to leave the tourism board, he devoted his energies and organisational skills to a new project. This is Maryborough's sesquicentennial year and it was largely John's idea that the year should be celebrated with pride and style. The city council appointed him to coordinate the celebrations and, with his usual dedicated enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail, he put together a program involving hundreds of events spreading through the whole of this year—street parties, a visit by tall ships, freedom of the city, parades, reunions, memorabilia, visits by dignitaries, including a visit last week by the Governor-General, and everything that would make this an extraordinarily memorable year.
Even though he will not see all the events he planned, John has left an enduring legacy in the hearts of the people of Maryborough and, especially, a new confidence and pride in their city. As Mayor Councillor Brown, said at John's funeral:
His enthusiasm, motivation, and friendly nature made it easy for him to achieve a cohesive effort with other people involved with the fulfilment of many projects he was an integral part of.
Robert Olds, on behalf of his father, Peter, said:
His professional manner and presentation was without equal. John would not want us to be sad for long, but rather continue with the work in which he was involved for the city he loved.
It is perhaps difficult to understand how one man could so much change the way in which a city thinks about itself. It was not his own achievements but the people and things around him that he glorified. He gave every building, each place, each event—both past and present—a significance that others had long forgotten or would never know.
John Craig-Gardiner achieved more for his community in his short life than most great people do in a normal lifetime. There are few men of whom it can truly be said that they are irreplaceable, but John Craig-Gardiner was surely one. I have only happy memories of working with John. I admired him enormously, and the whole city and community extends its sympathies to his widow, Val, and to John's mother and family.
(10.45 p.m.) —Maryborough and district is in mourning following the loss of one of its best loved citizens and strongest advocates, John Craig-Gardiner. John died suddenly and unexpectedly at just 43 years of age on the evening of Friday, 12 September.
John was born in Maryborough and never ceased singing its praises. He came from a show business family, his mother having worked professionally in music theatre and radio productions and his father being one of the radio legends of the 1930s and 1940s as Greenbottle in the famous Yes, What? radio series. His older sister, Diana, was one of the early on-screen personalities when television came to Maryborough. John left school at 15 and, after working with the Bank of New South Wales, joined radio 4IP. He also worked in radio in Longreach, Charleville and Toowoomba before switching to SEQ8 television.
My first contacts with John came through regional tourism. The concept of regional tourism was new and was experiencing a traumatic birth. Everywhere there seemed to be divisions, personality conflicts and a lack of foresight. John soon was appointed manager of what went on to become the Fraser Coast South Burnett Regional Tourism Board.
John strongly believed in the tourism potential of the Fraser Coast and was instrumental in convincing the Queensland Tourist and Travel Corporation and the local community that tourism could be a major industry in the area. He also knew that, while each individual centre possessed notable tourist attractions, the area could not become a major tourist destination unless everyone worked together to promote the region.
I had the privilege of working as chairman of the board with John for four years, during which time he was primarily instrumental in establishing the regional tourism board as a reliable, innovative and hardworking organisation deserving community support. John and the organisation won the recognition and admiration of his peers. Tourism visitations to the Fraser Coast increased enormously, and the region's tourist industry became a major employer.
John Craig-Gardiner had a dynamic enthusiasm for promoting his region and was able to convey his personal excitement to others. He was a true Maryborough boy who had a passionate ambition for his city and wanted everyone else to catch something of his great vision for Maryborough and the district. As his classmate Dr Ian Truscott said in the eulogy:
John has been largely responsible for restoring a tarnished pride in our city. Perhaps that is why Maryborough loved him. He made us feel good about ourselves too, and now when we say "I am from Maryborough", it is with pride.
After John decided it was time to leave the tourism board, he devoted his energies and organisational skills to a new project. This is Maryborough's sesquicentennial year and it was largely John's idea that the year should be celebrated with pride and style. The city council appointed him to coordinate the celebrations and, with his usual dedicated enthusiasm and meticulous attention to detail, he put together a program involving hundreds of events spreading through the whole of this year—street parties, a visit by tall ships, freedom of the city, parades, reunions, memorabilia, visits by dignitaries, including a visit last week by the Governor-General, and everything that would make this an extraordinarily memorable year.
Even though he will not see all the events he planned, John has left an enduring legacy in the hearts of the people of Maryborough and, especially, a new confidence and pride in their city. As Mayor Councillor Brown, said at John's funeral:
His enthusiasm, motivation, and friendly nature made it easy for him to achieve a cohesive effort with other people involved with the fulfilment of many projects he was an integral part of.
Robert Olds, on behalf of his father, Peter, said:
His professional manner and presentation was without equal. John would not want us to be sad for long, but rather continue with the work in which he was involved for the city he loved.
It is perhaps difficult to understand how one man could so much change the way in which a city thinks about itself. It was not his own achievements but the people and things around him that he glorified. He gave every building, each place, each event—both past and present—a significance that others had long forgotten or would never know.
John Craig-Gardiner achieved more for his community in his short life than most great people do in a normal lifetime. There are few men of whom it can truly be said that they are irreplaceable, but John Craig-Gardiner was surely one. I have only happy memories of working with John. I admired him enormously, and the whole city and community extends its sympathies to his widow, Val, and to John's mother and family.
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