philanthropyOz Blog

Vale Clem Jones

Philanthropy Australia is saddened to note the passing of one of our Members, Dr Clem Jones AO, on Saturday 15 December. Mr Jones was Lord Mayor of Brisbane from 1961-1975 and was instrumental in developing and modernising much of Brisbane’s sewerage, roads and water infrastructure. He was also Chairman of the reconstruction committee established to rebuild Darwin after the Cyclone Tracy disaster of 1974. Mr Jones was awarded an AO in 1976, the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 and the Centenary Medal in 2001, and received the Philanthropist of the Year award from the Fundraising Institute of Australia in 2006. Mr Jones’ philanthropy was on many levels; he was a long-time supporter and benefactor of numerous sporting and charitable organisations including the Leukaemia Foundation, the annual Crackerjack Festival, the Clem Jones Sports Centre and Foodbank Queensland. Mr Jones will be honoured with a state funeral in Brisbane later this week; our deepest sympathies go to Mr Jones’ family, colleagues and friends.