Toowoomba businessman, philanthropist Clive Armitage dies aged 83

One of Toowoomba’s most celebrated philanthropists will be laid to rest next week, as family and friends reflect on the life and legacy of Clive Armitage.

Official opening of the new building, The Armitage Centre, at the Empire Theatre. September 8, 2014. Conchita and Clive Armitage. Photo: Bev Lacey / The Chronicle

Clive Armitage was a titan and a gentleman of business, philanthropy and politics in Toowoomba who was “constantly giving back” to the community he loved so much.

Even more tributes have flowed for the former McDonald’s franchisee and community leader after the 83-year-old’s passing on Saturday following a six-week battle with an aggressive brain tumour.

A 10-pound Pom who arrived in Australia in 1965 with dreams of a better life, Mr Armitage moved around the country with his wife Conchita and two children, working in a variety of industries before moving to Toowoomba to take up the local McDonald’s franchise in 1978.

The Armitages would go on to not only become one of the city’s largest employers but also one of its most prominent philanthropists, giving generously to the Empire Theatre, Cobb and Co Museum and the University of Southern Queensland among countless others.

Mr Armitage’s son Howard said his father would’ve wanted his story to be a source of inspiration for Toowoomba locals.

Clive Armitage from Toowoomba. Photo: Regi Varghese

“Primarily (he was) a loving father and a great friend to many, but also (he could be seen) as an inspiration,” he said.

“He wanted to help people be inspired to believe they could achieve something in their lives.

“I attempted to model my life off him, he was so entrepreneurial.

“The philanthropic part was really important, because McDonald’s was a big employer and this was the community that generated his success.

“Just the other day I went to his bookkeeper and she pulled out a sheet of charitable donation invoices and there were like seven or eight donations to charities.

“He was constantly giving.”

Mr Armitage’s philosophy also guided his involvement in politics with the Liberal National Party, where he became a prominent figure.

He was also a member of not-for-profit organisations Rotary and the Order of St John’s, which good friend Greg Johnson said was a source of spontaneous generosity.

“The thing that sticks in my mind is we at Rotary have been heavily involved with the Yazidi people in Toowoomba, and we wanted to buy some tablets and other devices for the children to help with their schooling,” he said.

“I asked (at our meeting) who would like to help donate, and Clive bought 10 devices for Yazidi children.

“He was a really special fellow.”

Howard also backed this up, saying his father was constantly trying to help everyday people with random acts of kindness.

“It would be something as simple as dad reading in The Chronicle about someone who had had their stroller stolen or something, and he would offer to buy them a new stroller,” he said.

“Even small things like that, he wanted to improve people’s lives.”

Fellow philanthropist Clive Berghofer also paid tribute to Mr Armitage, calling him a “gentleman” of Toowoomba.

“He was a friend, we spoke quite a bit — he’s done quite a few good things for the city and he was a gentleman,” he said.

Clive Armitage’s funeral will be held at St Luke’s Anglican Church on Herries Street on June 20 from 2pm.