Gold Coast radio legend Ian Cousins remembered at funeral a true gentleman
In the sea of people who attended the Gold Coast radio legend’s funeral, it was hard not to find someone whose life had been touched by the extraordinary man. READ THE DETAILS HERE.
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A Gold Coast radio legend and prominent business figure was remembered as a “true gentleman” with a wonderful voice as hundreds gathered to farewell the beloved local figure.
Family, friends, former colleagues and self-described “friendly rivals” were in attendance on Tuesday to farewell local radio legend Ian Cousins at the Gathering Church at Tweed Heads.
In a ceremony filled with tears, laughter and applause, both attendees and speakers described Mr Cousins as a nothing short of a gentleman.
“As I remarked to the press at the time of Ian’s passing, I can honestly say that I’ve never heard anyone say a bad word about my dear friend,” friend of 40 years Nick Scott said. “He was indeed a friend to all.”
It was hard to find anyone in the church who hadn’t been touched by Mr Cousins from the attendees, those organising the funeral, to the musician playing as the crowd filed into their seats.
Mr Cousins is survived by his wife Brenda and his two sons, Jordan and Elliot.
The man described as ‘Mr Media of the Gold Coast’ passed away at 76 years old on April 17 at Robina Hospital.
Elliot Cousins recalled the morning his father passed, with family gathering at the hospital to be at his side.
“I’ll forever cherish those final precious moments we shared with him and true to the way he lived, he had a remarkable sense of timing even at the end,” he said.
Mr Cousins passed after all of his family had arrived and once he had heard all of their voices.
“He waited for his family to be together just like he would have wanted,” Elliot said. “As we were leaving the room that day, the fire alarm sounded … we all looked at each other to say: ‘that was Dad’s doing.’
“He never made things about himself but that was his final send off to let everyone know he’s left the building.”
A life lived to the fullest
Mr Cousins was born in Rockhampton on July 16, 1948.
He showed early signs of his beloved voice at an early age, as a singer in a local church choir and winning local and state Eisteddfods.
After graduating high school he worked in his town’s main department store, but his short career in retail came to an end after he was let go for talking too much.
But Mr Cousins went on to make a career of talking, starting at the Rockhampton radio station 4RO as an announcer.
He moved to the Gold Coast in 1971 where he joined the team at 4GG and eventually rose through the ranks to become the assistant general manager.
His work in radio continued as the general manager of the local Tweed Heads radio in 1986, general manager of sales at Sea FM, Gold FM and later Southern Cross Ten Television until 2010.
Between his work in radio, Mr Cousins worked in a senior marketing role in the Gold Coast Indy 300 team and ran Cousins Communications, a successful business specialising in MC work and conference facilitating.
As a Commonwealth civil celebrant, he officiated many ceremonies at the very church his loved ones gathered at to celebrate his life.
But Cousins was also known for his extensive volunteer work, having served the Gold Coast Business Excellence Awards for 29 years, with 26 years spent as president.
Among a handful of other charitable causes, Mr Cousins was the chair to the Gold Coast Community Fund, board member of the Gold Coast Tourism Bureau (now known as Experience Gold Coast), member of the Gold Coast liaison committee for the Commonwealth Games and board member of the Gold Coast Eisteddfod.
A friend to all
Mr Cousins’ volunteer and career achievements could be an article themselves but it was his close bonds with colleagues, friends and family that loved ones remembered at his funeral.
Speaker after speaker recounted the legendary lunches of the man they affectionately called ‘Sir Lunch-a-Lot’, his ability to create beautiful moments for the people he loved,
his warm demeanour and unforgettable events he hosted.
“The food was great, the company was fantastic but the laughter was always there,” close friend and neighbour John Murray said.
Attendees were encouraged to applaud at the funeral, with the crowd giving a standing ovation to the man they loved.
“Losing him is heartbreaking but I am also filled with gratitude for all the birthdays, the laughs and the yarns, the phone calls and the check-ins and the quiet steady way he showed up how much he means to care,” said family friend Lisa Cunningham. “Thank you Ian. You gave us more than what you’ll ever know.”
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Originally published as Gold Coast radio legend Ian Cousins remembered at funeral a true gentleman
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