Phil McGowan death being investigated after workplace fatality

The heartbroken son of Gympie business owner Phil McGowan has paid tribute to his father, who was killed in a freak accident on his Chatsworth property.

The heartbroken son of Gympie building designer and business owner Phil McGowan has paid tribute to his dad after he was killed in a freak accident at Chatsworth.

Jake McGowan politely declined to formally comment after his father’s sudden death, but described his father as a “wonderful” man who “left an everlasting impression on … everyone he came across” in an online tribute.

The late Mr McGowan was a celebrated and well known building designer in the Gympie region, but Jake said his father’s proudest achievement was being a parent.

“He made it so abundantly clear through his relentless, unconditional love for us over the years,” he said.

“I loved him dearly … His open mind and ability to love was inspiring, he so passionately shared my views of nature and our souls lit up when hiking/fishing together.”

He said he would forever treasure the last 10 months he spent living with his parents five days a week while working from home.

Gympie building designer Phil McGowan. Photo: LinkedIn

The look on his father’s face when he told him he was moving back home was “heartbreaking”.

“I hope one day I can learn to be even a fraction of the man you were and to be able to see the world through your eyes. You found the good in everything.

“I love you Dad. Hopefully you can watch me hike those falls I was going to show you and look down on me and smile.

“Hug your parents tight.”

A Workplace Health and Safety spokesman confirmed an investigation into the freak accident which killed Mr McGowan was underway on Monday.

It comes after Mr McGowan, who was in his 60s, was struck by a bobcat on his Chatsworth property on June 13, 2022.

He suffered critical injuries and died at the scene.

Mr McGowan was best known as the man behind his successful business, Phill (sic) McGowan Drafting, where he designed and worked with contractors to build environmentally sustainable homes.

His LinkedIn profile details his extensive career history, starting when he graduated from Gympie High and won a scholarship to the Queensland Institute of Technology.

Phil and Michelle McGowan.

He studied at the university for two years before he left to “get some hands on experience in building industry”.

From there, Mr McGowan worked on several high profile projects across the country, including helping to rebuild Darwin after Cyclone Tracey hit in 1974.

In 2002, he completed his Certificate IV (four) in residential drafting and received his building designer licence.

The following year he started his own drafting business which turned 19 this month.

The Gympie Times has reached out to Mr McGowan’s family for comment.

Originally published as Phil McGowan death being investigated after workplace fatality