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SPEEDWAY president, charity fundraiser, rugby coach, toy library founder and deputy mayor – Arthur Strike’s achievements were “what legends are made of”. Mr Strike, who served as a Cairns councillor for 21 years, was remembered at his funeral yesterday as a selfless champion for those in need. He died on Thursday, aged 92. Former Cairns mayor Kevin Byrne described Mr Strike as “one of the most unselfish individuals I have ever met in my life”.
Source: Cairns Post of 23 Feb 2010
Recounting Mr Strike’s many achievements – including Cairns Citizen of the Year, his Order of Australia Medal and his life membership of the Australian Labor Party – Mr Byrne said Mr Strike was a rare type of person who always put others first. “He would always go the extra mile and do anything to give anybody a helping hand,” Mr Byrne said.
Born in Richmond in western Queensland, Mr Strike moved to Cairns in 1938, joining his father and two brothers at work in the family’s Spence St bakery. He coached cricket and rugby teams at Parramatta Park State School, and was a life member and president of the Cairns International Speedway – now named Arthur Strike Park Raceway.
A building at ARC Disability Services was also named in his honour, with Mr Strike a passionate supporter of the service, including as a foundation and life member of the Noah’s Ark Toy Library. He was instrumental in raising hundreds of thousands of dollars for it and other charity groups.
Cairns ALP branch president Mike Bailey said Mr Strike’s achievements for the community were “what legends are made of”. For years, Arthur was one of, if not the, most respected citizens in Cairns,” he said.
Mourners packed the service at St John’s Anglican Church, where Mr Strike married late wife Julia in 1947.
One of our readers has alerted us to 10 occasions when it is AOK to use the F Word:
F Word OK - Case 1
F Word OK - Case 2
F Word OK - Case 3
F Word OK - Case 4
F Word OK - Case 5
F Word OK - Case 6
F Word OK - Case 7
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Where could you go to see the last Fitzroy Island lighthouse lamp, a manual telephone switchboard and local aboriginal artefacts side by side with a copy of the altar from the last Chinese temple in Cairns?
All this and more is at the Cairns historical Society Museum, housed in the heritage-listed School of arts building in City Place. Since 1980, when Cairns Council offered the use of the building for a museum, Cairns historial Society volunteers have kept the museum open six days a week.
Volunteer Pat Broughton said the museum was not a government- funded, state-of-the-art showpiece “but rather a museum which displays local history memorabilia and the treasures of the people of Cairns and district”. “Many school groups, overseas language students, university students and tourists visit this museum and locals are always welcome,” Mrs Broughton said.
The society relies heavily on community and volunteer support to keep the museum operating. “There are many costs to cover in running such a building and we are grateful to the Cairns City Council for helping with some of these,” Mrs Broughton said. “however, it is the generous contribution made by the many volunteers who value their history that really makes the museum possible.” She said dreams for the future included a new roof, wheelchair access and air conditioning.
Cairns Museum
People often blame or credit political leaders for the state of the region or the nation. However, at the local level, the sense of community and positive initiatives that exist are often the result of the selfless contribution of a handful of special people. For Edmonton residents, people like Lou Piccone or Stan Jensen spring to mind. However, as Cr. Rob Pyne recently observed, “the more our suburbs grow and expand, the more people I meet, who are prepared to ‘do a little extra’ for the community they live in.”
Lance Dixon and Lionel Brooks (Brooksy) are an example of two locals who really are ‘pillars’ of the local community. Together with their respective partners, they own and operate the Forest Gardens IGA. They have both made significant contributions to local sporting clubs, Lance as President of the South Cairns Cutters AFL Club and Brooksy as President of the Southside Gymnastics.
It is timely to issue a public and well deserved ‘well done’ to Lançe and Brooksy!
Lionel Brooks of Forest Gardens IGA with Cr. Rob Pyne
