Graeme Rann: Family pays tribute to Glenwood man after dam tragedy

The wife of a keen fisherman who disappeared while on a trip to Boondooma Dam has reached out to the community following the five-day search that ended in the tragic discovery of his body.

Graeme Leslie Rann has been named as the 74-year-old Glenwood man who tragically drowned at a South Burnett dam, with his body found after a five-day search of the waterway.

The identity of a 74-year-old Glenwood man who went missing and drowned while fishing at a dam in the South Burnett about 100km west of Goomeri, has been revealed.

A five-day search ended in tragedy when the body of Graeme Leslie Rann was discovered in the water at Boondooma Dam on June 30, 2025.

Mr Rann’s wife Janet took to social media on Sunday, July 20, to thank the “amazing beautiful community spirit” behind the search for her husband.

Mr Rann was reported missing after his inflatable dinghy was found abandoned at the dam’s shoreline on Thursday, June 25.

Police believe he went from the main camping area to a spot called Little Cove with plans to go fishing.

He was last seen about 5.45am, and his boat was found four hours later.

The discovery sparked a desperate search by emergency workers and members of the community across the 18sq km waterway, during which temperatures dropped to as low as 2C at night.

Graeme Leslie Rann tragically drowned while on a fishing trip to Lake Boondooma in June.

Mr Rann’s body was found in the water about midday on Monday, June 30.

Mrs Rann said “words can not describe the kindness, love and support shown to myself and family” after her husband’s death.

“To all the emergency services whether police from Sunshine Coast, Brisbane inland to Miles and local stations Murgon and Proston, Ambulance, SES, Volunteer’s, SunWater, property owners around the dam, campers who put their own boats out on the water, and especially the camp personnel who tirelessly worked to keep everything going,” she said.

Mr Rann’s funeral was held at Lismore on Friday, July 11, where Mrs Rann said he was “buried beside our son”.

His family and the Glenwood Ladies Shed held a Celebration of Life in Glenwood on Sunday, July 20,, about 30km north of Gympie, and 200km east of Boondooma Dam.

Mrs Rann said the ceremony showed “Glenwood at its best” and “the love and kindness that was shown to me and my family will forever be in our hearts”.

The Glenwood Ladies Shed has donated and reinstalled a defibrillator at the town’s street library on Arborfive Rd in honour of Mr Rann, resident Carol Morse said in a separate post on the social media site.

Originally published as Graeme Rann: Family pays tribute to Glenwood man after dam tragedy