IAN CATHELS – A REFLECTION by PDG Denis Shore

Last week the Rotary Club of Hawthorn and Rotary lost a valued member and the world lost a thoroughly decent human being – a man of compassion and integrity.

 

Ian had a rough trot over the past year or so but faced it with a dignity and resolve that serves as a lesson to us all. In fact Ian had health problems for the last decade but was always positive. He would say that he had a good innings because he had much to be positive about.

 

Ian was husband to Winsome for just short of 63 years and father to three children (Hugh, Neil and Bronwyn) and their Families with 7 Grandchildren.

 

Ian joined our club in 1983 at start of our fourth decade, with the classification of Past Service but he had joined Rotary at Geebung in Brisbane in 1970 and subsequently joined Melbourne South in 1972.

 

He was our 42nd President in 1994-95. It was not planned for him to be President that year but fate saw our President Elect Ken McNamara required for state duties and Ian agreed to step up. And step up he did. As President he led the club in the support of David Rosback as District Governor for that year and the magnificent Darling Harbour Conference. We embraced the Employ Australia program, placing 73 people directly in jobs. This was the year we commenced our redevelopment of Fritsch Holzer Park, contributing $50,000 but importantly contributed to training and jobs for long term unemployed. The annual report for that year shows a long list of achievements and an energised club. Ian was twice recognised as a Paul Harris Fellow by the Club.

 

This capacity to step up and excel is pretty much what Ian did in his working life. Looking back, you can see he was the “go to man” when things needed sorting out. Ian was a modest man in many ways, almost self deprecating – but that belied what he had achieved in his life. Many members might not know about the senior level at which Ian worked in the company that is now Amcor but then Australian Paper Manufacturers. Ian was at different times Manager of 2 paper mills, Divisional GM for Administration, Divisional GM Forestry & Building Materials Division, Corporate Development GM, Corporate Technical GM and finally Divisional GM of the Pulp & paper Division, from which he retired.

 

For much of his working life Ian was responsible for technology and complex manufacturing and the paradox was that later in life he refused to have a home computer or a mobile phone. And he got by quite nicely without them!

 

The most fitting tribute we have for Ian is that there was never a bad word said about him (except perhaps a begrudging acknowledgment of his canny skills as a tennis player when he was still able to play tennis).

 

So we say a wistful goodbye to Ian Edmund James Cathels – whose presence will be with us in spirit for many years to come.

 

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 { Ed: Earlier this year (see above)  Ian was seen responding to the club on receiving an award for his magnificent long service in Rotary.}