wish to note in this House the recent passing of two great Queenslanders in Mr Jim Atkins, OAM, and
Mr Jeff McLean. These two men transcended their sporting endeavours and proved themselves to be
great Queenslanders. We are all the poorer for their passing.
Jim Atkins was born in Grafton in 1916 and began training racehorses in 1936 following the death
of his horse trainer father. Jim moved to Brisbane in 1941 before a stint in the army during World War II,
including service in Papua New Guinea. Then in 1942, Jim moved to Toowoomba, famously riding his
two horses from Brisbane to the foot of the Toowoomba range. For 67 years, Jim produced thousands of
winners from his Clifford Park base, dominating the Toowoomba premiership as well as winning four
Brisbane trainers’ premierships and three Ipswich trainers’ premierships.
But Jim’s fame did not come solely from his success in Queensland. He was a regular visitor to
interstate carnivals and won some of Australia’s greatest races, including the Doncaster with his
champion Dalrello and Queensland’s first AJC Oaks winner Just Now. Jim was an inaugural inductee
into the Queensland Racing Hall of Fame in 2003 and is fittingly expected to be inducted into the
Australian Racing Hall of Fame next month. I wish to pass on my condolences and those of everyone
here, I am sure, as well as those in the Queensland racing industry to his wife, Merna, and son, John.
One of the biggest funerals ever witnessed in Ipswich was held at St Mary’s Catholic Church last
week when we lost Jeff McLean after a brave fight against cancer. Jeff was only 62 years of age. My
colleague Rachel Nolan knew Jeff McLean very well. He was a 13-test Wallaby winger. Jeff came from
the famous McLean rugby family and carved out his own slice of the family history playing for Brothers,
Queensland and Australia before a broken leg prematurely ended his career in 1974.
With almost 40 years as a member, Jeff served as committeeman on the Ipswich Turf Club for
more than two decades. I spoke to Jeff at the Ipswich Turf Club about three months ago. Although
obviously ill, he was determined to fight to the very end, which he did. During that time, Jeff helped
develop the club into the success story it is today, hosting Queensland’s best-attended race meeting
each year. Again, I pass on my condolences and I am sure, again, those of everyone here to Jeff’s wife,
Carmel, son, David, and daughter, Bridget.
It would also be remiss of me not to note the retirement of the ‘voice of Queensland racing’,
Wayne Wilson. Wayne is the nephew of the legendary trainer Jack Wilson, who trained Eye Liner
amongst other good horses. He is also the son of well-known bookie Herbie Wilson. He began his racecalling
career in Gladstone over 50 years ago. Wayne took over as the No. 1 race caller in Queensland
following the retirement of Vince Curry in 1982 and since then his name has become synonymous with
racing throughout Australia.
Alongside his achievements of calling champions, Wayne has been a successful owner, including
winning the Macdougall Stakes with a horse called Do You Remember. I wish Wayne and his wife, Sally,
all the best in their retirement.
