Tributes flow for Jack Cartwright after Gympie lawyer’s death

Leaders from all walks of the Gympie community have paid tribute to the astonishing work and life of a lawyer whose name has become ‘etched’ into the fabric of the region.

Leaders from all walks of the Gympie community have paid tribute to the astonishing work and life of a lawyer Jack Cartwright whose name has become “etched” into the fabric of the region.

Business, religious, and political leaders from across Gympie have described Jack Cartwright as a “pillar” of the region following the legal eagle’s death on Monday morning.

Tributes poured in for Mr Cartwright, whose name has become a part of Mary St and the region’s iconography through his firm Power and Cartwright when he partnered with Frank Power in 1957.

Schuh Group director Cos Schuh said he first met Mr Cartwright 47 years ago on a property transaction.

It was the start of a lifelong friendship with a man Mr Schuh said was “very quiet man in all aspects of his life” despite his extraordinary support for the people in it.

“He did so much for the community that no-one would ever know about,” Mr Schuh said.

“Jack touched a lot in the community, never looking for the accolades.”

Little Haven Palliative care was among these groups.

CEO Sue Manton said Mr Cartwright was a stalwart and passionate supporter of Little Haven and other organisations, “generous” but “without needing the limelight”.

“He was a very solid family man and a gentleman,” she said.

Jack Cartwright with his son John, celebrating the latter's 25 years' practising law in 2018.

Lions Club of Gympie committee member Peter Tobin said Mr Cartwright had been with the group for 50 years and was a “life member”.

He even served time as the Lion’s president, Mr Tobin said.

“He was small in stature but big in contributions,” he said.

“Jack’s been a tremendous contributor to the community.”

“He was a great man.”

Shirley Bishop, worked with Mr Cartwright for “30-odd years” at St Vincent de Paul’s in Gympie, called him a “man of high integrity”.

It was not his only feature though.

“We all loved his droll sense of humour,” Mrs Bishop said, adding that whenever the society ran into a problem “we always knew we could call Jack for advice”.

The Cartwright name has become a piece of the Gympie fabric, following the formation of the Power and Cartwright firm in 1957.

St Patrick’s parish priest Father Adrian Farrelly said Mr Cartwright was a “faithful and devout member” who had established friendships across the parish.

“With people like Jack, you just lose a whole lot of his knowledge of people,” Father Farrelly said.

“I shall miss him.”

Mayor Glen Hartwig, and his council predecessors Mick Venardos and Mick Curran, each paid respects to the man who had been a community pillar during their terms.

Mr Venardos said Mr Cartwright’s reputation for compassion and understanding was “unparalleled” and he was a great friend to the community.

The pair first met in 1965, and Mr Cartwright was the “go-to man” for legal matters.

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Leaders from all corners of the community paid tribute to Jack Cartwright as a man of “high integrity” who supported many groups, organisations and causes without ever seeking the limelight.

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“His advice was always spot on,” Mr Venardos said.

“He always steered me in the right direction.”

“Gympie is going to be all the poorer for his passing.”

Mr Hartwig said Mr Cartwright’s impact on the region was clear given his name had become “etched” into the “character for the region”.

“His family and the legacy he has left says more than what words can convey,” Mr Hartwig said.

Mr Curran said Mr Cartwright not only had a “sharp legal mind which stood him well amongst his peers in the legal community, but Jack was also a pillar of our business community”.

“He was humble regardless of such a successful life,” Mr Curran said.

“Personally I will remember Jack as a man of strong faith who placed family above all else, attributes which will be dearly missed.”

MP Tony Perrett said Mr Cartwright “epitomised some of the best and treasured values of the Australian character”.

“He was known as a strong and solid family man who had a deep and active commitment to his community, St Patrick’s School, and his church.”

Mr Cartwright’s funeral will be held at 10.30am Monday, July 10 at St Patrick’s Church.