‘Missed by all’: Rocky Point Sugar Mill owner Bill Heck dies aged 90
‘He was always handing out bags of sugar’. Friends and community leaders are cherishing the memory of ex-Rocky Point Sugar Mill owner Bill Heck who died aged 90. Read the tributes
Gold Coast
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A farming pioneer and champion of the northern Gold Coast Bill Heck, whose accomplishments are being hailed as “unmatched”, has died.
Tributes are flowing for the sugar cane farmer, who died over the weekend aged 90.
Mr Heck was best-known for his work within the sugar cane industry as owner of the Rocky Point Sugar Mill, one of the oldest of its kind in Australia.
The family-owned sugar mill has been a pillar of the Woongoolba community for over 140 years.
During his life, Mr Heck played a pivotal role curating the history and culture of the Beenleigh community as the Historical Society’s committee member before rising up the ranks as vice president and eventually president.
The society was co-founded and established by Mr Heck’s father Frank in 1969, a man who also pioneered the sugar cane industry in the Beenleigh area.
Deputy Mayor Donna Gates said Mr Heck’s contribution to the northern Gold Coast was “unmatched”.
She said his achievements were “substantial and significant within our city” and described him as a determined businessman with a big personality
“Apart from the economic benefit and jobs created at the Rocky Point Sugar Mill, Bill, and his wife Pat, had an enormous heart for community,” she said.
“The children of Woongoolba learnt to swim in the Heck family pool until Bill helped with the establishment of the Woongoolba Pool.
“Bill owned and developed the Windaroo Golf Course and land for housing on the former Windaroo caneland when it was part of the City of Gold Coast.”
Ms Gates said Mr Heck’s legacy could be found outside the city.
“And at Beenleigh, the Beenleigh Historical Village was another major beneficiary of the Heck family’s generosity,” she said.
“Bill Heck will undoubtedly be fondly remembered and sadly missed by all.”
Canegrowers Rocky Point chair Greg Zipf said Mr Heck “always active” and a “very enthusiastic” person.
“Without that sugar mill there would be no cane growers in Rocky Point,” he said.
“So on behalf (of the community) we pas son our condolences and we wish the family all the best.
“It’s a huge loss.”
Former Cane growers association boss Richard Skopp recalled Mr Heck as a “strong advocate” who always stood up for the sugar cane industry.
“He was a leader in the industry,” Mr Skopp, 78, said.
“I didn’t have a personal relationship with him, he had his circle of friends that were older than me – maybe a higher standing in life compared to a humble cane farmer.
“But we relied on each other. He couldn’t make sugar unless we grew sugar cane and we couldn’t grow sugar unless he was there to process it.
“But he was always friendly. Whenever we did met, we always had a chat. I recently ran into him and he gave me a bag of sugar. He did that for a lot of people, he was always handing out bags of sugar.”
A community man, Mr Heck was well known for his annual lunches.
“He used to invite all the elderly citizens for a lunch at their home,” Mr Skopp said.
“My mother used to go, all the elderly ladies did, and he used to wine and dine them once a year.
“My mother used to say how much she appreciated the gesture. And he did that until he wasn’t able to.”
In 2019, the Heck family’s 105-year-old homestead ‘Friedensheim’, which means House of Peace, was donated to the Beenleigh Historical Village and Museum.
Funeral arrangements for Mr Heck are yet to be made public.
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