Tributes for Cairns cricket coach Steve Argoon after Kinchant Dam tragedy

Cricket Far North’s “rattled” rep teams will this weekend be playing in honour of a much-loved coach, husband and father following the 63-year-old’s tragic death in a boating accident. ADD YOUR TRIBUTE

UPDATE: Cricket Far North’s “rattled” representative teams will travel to Mackay and honour one of the most influential figures in the cricket community, vowing to “do it for Steve” at the North Queensland Zone Championships.

The cricket community has been left reeling by the shock drowning of well-respected coach, loving husband and father Steve Argoon.

On Thursday, Mackay Police confirmed the 63-year-old’s body was pulled from Kinchant Dam after he fell overboard on Tuesday afternoon.

Mulgrave Cricket Club members Eric Anderson and Steve Argoon. PICTURE: JUSTIN BRIERTY

Mr Argoon was deeply passionate about his cricket, playing key roles at Mulgrave Cricket Club over the years, as well as coaching at representative level, primarily with the under-21s.

Queensland Cricket president Kev Maher said the Far North teams would travel to Mackay’s Harrup Park with heavy hearts, but would do their best to honour Mr Argoon.

“We’ll do it for Steve,” Mr Maher said.

“Everyone’s still heading down. We’ll do our best to get around the players, but it’s rattled everyone.

“I feel terribly sad for the family.”

Steve Argoon drowned after falling from a small boat while fishing at Kinchant Dam this week.

EARLIER: The Cairns cricket community and family have been devastated by the shock drowning of a well-respected coach and loving husband and father following a freak boating accident at a Queensland dam.

On Thursday, Mackay Police confirmed the body of 63-year-old Steve Argoon was pulled from Kinchant Dam after he fell overboard on Tuesday afternoon.

His eldest son, Travis, said the family was “simply devastated.”

“This news is nothing you ever expect or want to hear,” he said.

“Mum is doing it tough as you can expect, but we will stick by each other and we’ll work our way through this.

“We are together, and that is the main thing.”

“If there were two things he was very passionate about it was cricket and getting out in the boat and going fishing with me and my brother.

“He was a big family man, we were always a big part of his life, as he was a big part of ours.”

The Bentley Park father, a carpenter by trade, served for many years as coach of the Cricket Far North Under-21 squad which is set to compete at the Queensland Cricket Club’s zone championships in Mackay this weekend.

Mulgrave Cricket Club’s Gavern Lovett said Mr Argoon was a life member of the club and Cricket Far North and had achieved so much for south Cairns cricket community.

“He has had a lot of involvement with coaching and he and his wife Janet were the prime instigators of the Mulgrave ladies team and now we have a dedicated ladies competition,” he said.

Janet and Steve Argoon. Mr Argoon was the coach of the Cricket Far North Under-21 squad.

“Certainly the Walker Rd facility is testament to his involvement.”

Mr Argoon first got involved in the club when his own lads took an interest in the game and began coaching junior squads.

“And he was a cricketer himself but I didn’t know him when he was in his prime,” Mr Lovett said.

“Steve was a relaxed guy that liked to have fun and he was a keen fisherman and (sons) Travis and Cody were a major focus of his life.

“It’s very sad, him and Janet have gone away to enjoy themselves and a very sad way to end their break. Our thoughts and prayers are with them.”

Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt also paid tribute to Mr Argoon.

“Steve did so much for Mulgrave Cricket and was just a terrific man,” he said.

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Originally published as Tributes for Cairns cricket coach Steve Argoon after Kinchant Dam tragedy