Jeremy Marou pays tribute to Ian Jones, the long-term owner of Oxford Hotel who lost his battle with cancer

‘He was always in our corner’: Jeremy Marou explains how the late Ian Jones, who tragically lost his battle with cancer this week, played an integral part in the formative days of Busby Marou’s career.

Jeremy Marou and Tom Busby credit the late Ian Jones (inset) with playing a pivotal part in their early musical career.

The late Ian Jones played a “pivotal part” in the infancy of Busby Marou’s career, according to Jeremy Marou, one half of the acclaimed music duo from Rockhampton.

Jeremy and Tom Busby would play regular acoustic gigs at the Oxford Hotel, which Ian and his wife Helen bought in late 1984.

“Ian played quite a pivotal part in the early days of our career,” Jeremy said.

“He gave Tom and I our start so we’ve always been very grateful to him.

“He was always in our corner and was really supportive of us and of live music in this town.

“He took us under his wing and gave a couple of young blokes a crack at doing what they loved doing.

“He made us feel like we had something to give the world and that’s what we needed – someone to say get out there and do it.”

Ian is being remembered as a loveable character, a popular publican, an entrepreneur, a devoted family man and a loyal friend following his death this week.

He passed away on Tuesday, aged 68, after a two-year battle with cancer.

He leaves behind wife Helen, their three children Josh, Sasha and Brooke and four grandchildren.

Jeremy described Ian as a “genuine, friendly human being”.

“He was very generous, he’d give you the shirt off his back if you needed it and (son) Josh is the same,” he said.

Josh went on to manage Busby Marou for 11 years before an amicable parting of the ways in 2018.

Jeremy Marou and Thomas Busby celebrate their ARIA #1 with then manager Josh Jones (left) in 2017.

Keith ‘Irish’ Taylor also acknowledged Ian’s generosity as he paid tribute to his good mate.

‘Irish’ spent 13 years in Rockhampton and forged a special friendship with the man he lovingly referred to as “Old Man Jonesy”.

Their initial connection came through the CQ University Rugby Union Club, which Ian and his wife Helen sponsored and were passionate supporters of.

‘Irish’ played with University for 10 years, captaining the A-grade team to its last premiership victory in 2007.

The club folded several years later.

“I knew Ian through rugby, I knew him through business, I knew him through golf,” ‘Irish’ explained.

“I moved to Rockhampton in 2003 and lived there for 13 years. I basically knew Ian from day one.

“You know that saying that you walk into a pub as a stranger but you leave as a friend – that was certainly the case with Old Man Jonesy.

“He was always so welcoming and always looked after you. He always made you feel like part of the Oxford family.

“It’s going to be a big loss for Helen and the family and for the whole community.”

‘Irish’ said he would honour Ian with a beer and some cold KFC, the traditional fare they enjoyed on their monthly outings with the Oxford Golf Club.

“Ian used to love going to KFC on a Saturday night and getting a bucket of KFC and putting it in his fridge,” he said.

“We had the Oxford Golf Club and every once a month we’d go to different areas and we’d get a bus and make a day of it.

“You’d be up at six o’clock in the morning, eating cold KFC and having a beer.

“For me, that’s what Ian was all about. He loved to socialise and he loved having a beer with his mates.”

‘Irish’ said Ian was a visionary and very business savvy.

“When he and Helen first opened up the restaurant at The Edge that was probably the first fine dining venue in Rocky,” he said.

“I think it was the first time a lot of people had even seen an espresso martini.

“He also saw the Oxford through its transition from a real country pub to one of the first pubs in the CBD to have that outdoor area and live music.

“He was an entrepreneur but he certainly stayed true to his roots.

“The one thing that stayed the same at the Oxford Hotel was Old Man Jonesy, always there with a smile on his face.”

Ian will be farewelled at a service at the East Chapel, Rockhampton Crematorium, at 11am on Saturday.

That will be followed by a send-off at the Oxford to celebrate his incredible life.