ONE of Beerwah’s most respected locals has been remembered as a great husband, father, friend and community stalwart.
Ron Boyle passed away peacefully aged 86, on March 24.
His son’s, Peter and Gary, said while their family, including Ron’s wife, Jan, were grieving their loss, they were immensely proud of the legacy that he had created for Beerwah.
Peter said Ron would be remembered as a community-focused man who had served his life to make Beerwah a better place for residents.
“He had a vision for Beerwah long before Woolies and other shops came to town,” Peter said.
“He played a large part of building the business centre from the early to mid-1980s.” He said Ron was pivotal in establishing the old Hall and was president of the hall committe and gained crucial government grants to complete the project.
He was also a director of Coochin Creek Fruitgrowers for 25 years.
Ron was also a long-term member of the Lions Club of Beerwah, which he joined in 1967 and was both president and secretary through the years.
He was awarded the Melvin Jones Fellow for humanitarian services, James D Richardson for outstanding service to Lions and 40 years Charter Monarch 2007.
He joins a select few across Lions International who have been a charter member and stayed in the same Club for 55 years.
The Lions shed in the Beerwah Sportsground has been named “The Ron Boyle Lions Den” in honour of his service to Lions and the community.
Lions President said Ron was always a “hands-on person”
“He was always willing to be involved in projects organised by the club,
“Farmers golf days bring back good memories because Ron was interrupted regularly by the local farmers who made it their business to have a chat with him.”
“The era of Lion Ron Boyle has come to an end but he will always be remembered as a good friend and community minded person.”
Born in Namour on December 27, 193.5, Ron’s early days were spent with family around Nambour, Eudlo, Glass House, and Biloela.
He finished his schooling, including, he said, squeezing in two years of study into six months.
Peter said one of Ron’s early recollections of those days was playing hockey with a kerosene tin and a stick, before the tin became more of a jagged danger to life and limb that was acceptable.
Not quite sure how his future was going to play out Ron’s father sold a ute which allowed Ron and his brother, Ken, to buy their first farm in Beerwah.
Farming for over 65 years, Ron always tried to stay ahead of the trends, starting in pineapples but later turning to other crops including macadamias – which the family continues to farm – over 30 years ago.
In the years that followed Ron bought another farm and investment properties in the region as he helped other businesses take a foothold in the town.
He met Jan in Brisbane at Cloudland, and spent most weekends travelling to Brisbane to see her.
Peter and Gary said while their parents’ lives together were a testament to their love, an early ‘injury’ perhaps suggested early on that Ron was in there for the long haul. “One weekend Ron rang Jan to let her know he had injured his hand but that he would still come to Brisbane to see her,” they said.
“When Ron arrived she was amazed to find he had actually amputated his finger after dropping a 44-gallon drum on it.”
Ron managed to fit an extaordinary amount into his days, including as co- founder of the Beerwah Golf Club.
He was still active on the farm up to last year before before ill health saw him step back. Peter recently took over fulltime on their farm as the family’s legacy proudly continues.
After Ron’s health declined he moved into Glasshouse Views at Beerwah in November last year.
