Burdekin community celebrate the life of William “Bill” Marriot Lucas

A bush poet, volunteer and beloved Burdekin community member has been remembered as a man of service, faith and family during a celebration of his life.

A bush poet, volunteer and beloved Burdekin community member has been remembered as a man of service, faith and family during a celebration of his life.

William “Bill” Marriot Lucas, 86, passed away peacefully on Sunday and a celebration of his life was held on Thursday at the Bush Chapel in Ayr.

Mr Lucas and his wife Betty were named 2019 Citizens of the Year, recognising their tireless work in the community with the Home Hill Choral Society, Merle’s Pearls and the Burdekin Friends of the Theatre.

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Mr Lucas also served in the Burdekin Tourism Group, Lower Burdekin Land Care, Burdekin Bowen Integrated Flood Plain Management Advisory Committee and Wunjunga Progress Association. He was also the fire warden for Wunjunga.

Betty and Bill Lucas

Daughter Wendy Oates said their award in 2019 had recognised Bill and Betty’s commitment to each other and to service.

“They married in May 1956, and shared many happy and some very sad times in the 64 years that God his heavenly Father had allotted them,” she said.

“Bill was a hands-on dad, taking the kids with him around the water and on the tractors.

“One of his favourite games was hide and seek; he would hide up in the manhole or under the clothes in Betty’s clean washing basket — with that many kids, you can imagine how well that went down.”

Ms Oates said Mr Lucas’ family had watched with pride when he was selected to carry the Olympic torch, not once but twice.

Betty and Bill Lucas.

“In 1956, he ran the mile in under five minutes, which resulted in him carrying the Olympic Torch through the Burdekin, over the flooded Burdekin via the train,” she said. “This story caught the interest of officials and in 2000, he again carried the torch on its journey to Sydney.”

Mr Lucas’ expertise in welding and his ingenuity led to his well known creation, Smokey the fireplace.

“We have been very lucky and blessed to have received the updated new and improved version for our respective 50th birthdays,” Ms Oates said.

Betty and Bill Lucas cooking up some damper and boiling the billy tea for the students.

“I am fairly certain that you all would have shared a stew, damper or billy tea made with love and passion by Bill and Betty.”

Ms Oates said family, friends and community members would carry endearing memories of Mr Lucas’ bush poetry.

“Dad performed and competed at festivals and eisteddfods, winning both awards and accolades for his renditions,” she said.

“At family gatherings Dad would always ask if we wanted him to say a poem.”

Originally published as Burdekin community celebrate the life of William “Bill” Marriot Lucas