Whale appears as yacht club and walkers pay tribute to Cleveland gentleman

Flags at the Cleveland Yacht Club were at half mast when a whale surfaced metres from where mourners were paying respects after a body was found in waters last week.

Long-time Cleveland resident John Ward’s body was found in waters off Cleveland Point last week.

There was a moment of awe at a tribute ceremony for a man whose body was found floating in waters off Cleveland Point last week.

As more than 20 people paid their respects to long-time Cleveland resident John Ward, a humpback whale made a rare appearance, surfacing less than 500m off the Point.

Flags were flown at half mast at the Cleveland Yacht Club for Mr Ward, who had lived next door for more than 40 years.

This whale was spotted flapping its tail in waters off the Cleveland Yacht Club on Sunday when the club held a tribute service for John Ward, who died and his body was found in waters off the Point.

The body of the former boilermaker, who was 93, was found floating in the waters in front of the popular Cleveland Lighthouse Restaurant just after 7am on Friday.

Mr Ward was an avid walker and cyclist who grew up in Bulimba and later worked at the Brisbane Powerhouse in New Farm, before it became an entertainment venue.

His house was in between the Lighthouse Restaurant and the Yacht Club and Mr Ward was a loved visitor at both venues.

He married Ruth Price from Moorooka, who died in 2012 and the couple had three children, Desmond John, Christine and Louise.

The street is often referred to as “Millionaire’s Row”.

Police were called to the scene after a staff member at the Lighthouse Restaurant saw his body floating in the water.

The Cleveland Yacht Club’s boat ramp.

Police used the Yacht Club boat ramp to launch their investigations and stayed on site for about three hours searching nearby waters at low tide which was at 9.40am on Friday.

Cleveland Yacht Club Commodore Steve Lawie was one of the last people to see Mr Ward late on Thursday afternoon as he walked on the opposite side of the road towards the lighthouse beacon around 5pm.

Cleveland Yacht Club Commodore Steve Lawie paid tribute to John Ward.

He remembered Mr Ward as a friend of the club who often stopped in for a chat and chinwag.

“He was going for a walk. I didn’t speak to him as I was talking to our concreters but I saw him wander past like he often did,” Mr Lawie said.

“He was a lovely bloke and we always had time for him at the club, which is why we wanted to have a small ceremony to remember him.

“He often came in here and was always looking out for the place and loved coming in for a chat,” Mr Lawie said.

“There was the ‘wow’ moment on Sunday when the whale bobbed up in what we call the washing machine area just off Cleveland Point.

“We all said we thought it was John’s soul because he loved to sit on his jetty and look out across the bay.”

Cleveland Point showing the Lighthouse Restaurant, John Ward’s house and the Cleveland Yacht Club.

The Lighthouse Restaurant also paid tribute to Mr Ward calling him a gentleman.

“Our hearts go out to John’s family after learning about his passing this morning,” the post said.

“John was not only our neighbour, but a dear customer of The Lighthouse Restaurant for years.

“He always brought laughter to the team and the people around him with his radiant personality.

The Cleveland Yacht Club on the left, the Lighthouse Restaurant on the right, and trees at the back of John Ward’s house near a jetty where he liked to sit and look at the bay.

“Playing such a positive character within the Cleveland community, you will be missed, John.”

Mr Ward was also a member of the Heart Foundation’s Cleveland Walking Group who paid tribute to their long-time member.

“It was very sad because he had always wanted to make it to 100 – which was one of his goals,” Heart Foundation Walking Group member Pauline Burden said.

Originally published as Whale appears as yacht club and walkers pay tribute to Cleveland gentleman