Jim Hughes, 97, of Tablelands and Daintree farewelled after carpenter and wood-turning careers

From serving in WWII to operating a Daintree cruise, Tablelands’ Jim Hughes is being remembered for his generosity and passion for wood-turning.

THE Tablelands and Daintree community gathered recently to farewell well-known Far North carpenter and wood-turner Jim Hughes, who died aged 97 on April 6.

Born in Glasgow in 1924, Mr Hughes joined the Navy aged 18 and served throughout WWII.

In 1950, he moved to Australia, working in the Northern Territory and Queensland and as a publican and roadhouse owner at Renner Springs and Ti Tree.

Retiring to Mareeba, Mr Hughes found time to pursue his interest in woodcarving and became renowned for creations including rocking horses, dolls houses, sculptures, and furniture.

He never sold his creations, but rather, gave them away.

He made lifelong friendships with like-minded wood enthusiasts.

Before he set out on his first voyage he married his childhood sweetheart, Lucy Fletcher. He returned to Scotland in 1945 on compassionate leave as Lucy was unwell who later died.

Mr Hughes married again, to Heather Campbell, in 1954 and the couple had two children, Malcolm and Christine.

In the late 1970s the family visited Daintree and fell in love with the rainforest, so Mr Hughes purchased a 160-acre cattle property which he named Heather Glen.

In 1986 he designed a two-level boat to accommodate 50 passengers for Daintree River cruises and the Daintree Lady operated for many years.

The couple moved to Mareeba in 1993 and Mr Hughes had a large shed built for his woodworking endeavours – he would joke that he wasn’t a wood carver but a “butcher of timber”.

Heather died in 2003 and Mr Hughes’ passion for working with wood helped him get through a tough time, joining the Mareeba Wood-turners Club and travelling to woodworking events throughout Queensland.

Originally published as Jim Hughes, 97, of Tablelands and Daintree farewelled after carpenter and wood-turning careers