Ipswich mourning loss of dedicated Swifts chairman

“He didn’t run from trouble. He ran towards it and he always had a solution for it.’’ Read about the valuable contribution the Swifts chairman made to the community.

Swifts Leagues Club chairman John Hughes passed away this week.

DESCRIBED as someone who put the best interests of others first, John Hughes will be remembered for his invaluable service to Swifts and the Ipswich community.

John passed away on Wednesday morning, aged 74.

He played a massive role in the meatworks industry in Australia and overseas, leading operations in the United States during his working life.

However, in recent years it was his work as Swifts Leagues Club chairman that highlighted his relentless commitment to tackling problems.

Swifts Leagues Club vice chairman Paul Morris said John was the type of person every club needed.

“He had a concrete idea in his head about how things should be done,’’ Morris said.

“He didn’t run from trouble. He ran towards it and he always had a solution for it.

“And he always worked towards getting that solution and getting a better result for everybody.’’

Swifts Leagues Club chairman John Hughes

Having worked with John for the past six years, Morris admired his determination in helping resurrect Swifts from a fragile financial situation.

Leading the Swifts board, John oversaw the sale of the club’s ground at Purga and was working with Ipswich City Council on securing a path forward for the proud Ipswich sporting organisation.

“We’ve certainly mapped out a future for Swifts and John was a key figure in that,’’ Morris said.

“When we saw how much trouble Swifts were in, we went to him . . . he said he would help us out and he certainly did.

“He helped arrange finance and things like that and then worked on business plans.

“He was just dedicated towards that.

“He was a strong figure . . . and you could go to him with any problem and he would always find a solution for it.’’

Swifts Sports Club general manager Ryan Bullow said it was a sad day for everyone who knew John.

“He was working hard to basically solidify the future of rugby league in the area,’’ Bullow said.

“He put a lot of time and effort into Swifts, the actual football teams - getting the best possible deal for them, trying to secure their future in the area.
“Everything the bloke would do was in the best interests of the club and all the players.’’

The club general manager described John as a “dedicated hard worker, great bloke’’.

“I think it is going to speak in volumes with people of the region when they hear about the news,’’ Bullow said.

“He ran large facilities and meatworks overseas as well.

“He was a very liked person. He was a very well known person in the meat industry.

“It’s unfortunately a very sad week for everybody.’’

Despite his leading efforts as a club ambassador, John liked to remain largely in the background when it came to having a photo taken.

But that didn’t stop him proactively working with Council, government and finance agencies “to get things done’’.

Swifts are planning a tribute to John at Saturday night’s Rugby League Ipswich A-Grade match against Brothers at Raceview.