By John Mellor on 27th July 2017 Personnel Articles Dealer, Holden, Ireland, Queensland, Vale

Ron Ireland

ONE of the leading businessmen of Cairns and Far North Queensland, car retailer Ron Ireland, has died peacefully in Cairns aged 90.

Ron Ireland, the patriarch of the Ireland family which built up the Ireland’s of Cairns group of dealerships throughout his working life, was the second generation of motor retail interests that are carried on today by his sons Richard and David with Holden, HSV, Mitsubishi, Isuzu, Jeep, Alfa Romeo, Chrysler, Fiat, Abarth and Ram.

The family were also Mercedes-Benz dealers in Cairns for more than three decades.

A third son, Tony, who made a name for himself as a successful Holden dealer in Townsville, recently sold his Townsville multi-franchise retail operations to AP Eagers but maintains retail interests in Atherton.

Ron Ireland was destined to be in the car business. His father Francis opened a motor garage in Cairns in 1923 and Ron spent much of his childhood watching his father in the business. At age 15, Ron joined the business as a motor mechanic.

He never forgot those beginnings in the workshop and throughout his business life, even though he was a very astute business owner, he would frequently tell his managers and other business associates that he was “just a motor mechanic”. Nevertheless associates remember him as being capable of firmly standing his ground when he felt strongly on a matter.

But “the motor mechanic” went on to become a man of great influence in Cairns; noted for his work in driving the economy of the region and for his philanthropy. He was seen as a gentleman in the truest sense of the word and was renowned for his generosity within the Cairns community.

The local newspaper, The Cairns Post, in a page lead story this week, said Mr Ireland went on to become “one of the most influential businessmen the region has known”.

Among his initiatives to develop the region Mr Ireland helped to start the sports fishing industry in the Far North and was a founder of the Lizard Island resort.

The CEO of Advance Cairns, Kevin Byrne, told the Post that Mr Ireland “was the embodiment of what a true community leader should be”.

“He was a true champion, not just for this city, but for his family, for his business and for philanthropy,” Mr Byrne said.

Mr Ireland was a quiet, unassuming and modest man but he managed to amass during his life a most impressive line-up of accolades and awards, and in 2004 was given a standing ovation by 200 business, community and civic leaders at a dinner in Cairns in his honour.

Mr Ireland is survived by his wife Marion, their five children – Rhonda, Tony, David, Wendy and Richard – 10 grandchildren and a great grandson.

Mr Ireland’s funeral will be held at 11am Tuesday, August 1 with an Anglican service at St Monica’s Catholic Cathedral, Cairns.

Ron Ireland’s achievements include:

Time Magazine Quality Dealer Award in 1981
The Order of Australia medal in 1997
Named Cairns Citizen of the Year in 2001
Awarded honorary doctorate in commerce from James Cook University in 2004 for “his outstanding community service” and his “exceptional contributions to the advancement of human well-being”.
Foundation Director of Lizard Island Resort
Former chairman of the Cairns Port Authority
A key man in the establishment of the Cairns Regional Gallery, Mr Ireland raised $3 million towards establishment of the gallery and later served as chairman
Life member of the Endeavour Foundation which supports people with disabilities
Past president and patron of the Far North Queensland Youth Assistance Fund
Member of the Cairns Chamber of Commerce, the Cairns Game Fishing Association and the Rotary Club of Cairns
Patron of the Cairns Motor Speedway and Cairns Orchid Society.
Trustee for the Cairns Combined Schools Band
A recipient of numerous manufacturer and Martec Group awards
Recognised by Rotary with a Paul Harris Fellowship
One of the developer shareholders of Nerada Tea Estates
Foundation shareholder of The Cairns Taipans NBL team in 1999
Pioneered service stations in 1971 in the mining town of Weipa in Cape York
Pioneered the Hertz Rental Car franchises in Cairns and Townsville
Was a partner in a successful panel business from the end of WW2 until the partners retired in the 1980’S
Developed the successful Siesta Motel with family members from 1966 to the late 70’s
Imported and sold an extensive range of agricultural machinery in North Queensland from 1976
Was a member of the General Motors – Holden’s managing director’s first Dealer Advisory Council from 1967 (the predecessor to the dealer council arrangements now used by many other brands)
Mr Ireland’s companies have won some 50 awards in the last two decades for excellence in service, sales and management