Tributes flow for Bowen truck driver who died of Japanese encephalitis Virus

A beloved truck driver and tireless community volunteer is being remembered as someone “you’d want to have as Prime Minister” after he became the second person in Qld to die of a rare mosquito-borne virus.

Kevin Yarrow's tragically died after contracting the rare mosquito-borne disease Japanese Encephalitis Virus, on Friday March 28, 2025. Photo: Contributed

A dearly loved truck driver and community stalwart is being remembered as someone who “would bend over backwards for you” after the 70-year-old died of a rare mosquito-borne disease.

Kevin Yarrow’s tragic death on Friday, March 28 was the second caused by Japanese encephalitis Virus (JEV) in Queensland and the first in the Mackay region since it was detected earlier this year.

Old friend and engineer Lawrence Cernusco compared Mr Yarrow to someone “you’d want to have as Prime Minister” thanks to his “huge community spirit”.

“He had a hell of a good nature with people, a very giving nature,” he said.

Former Bowen Show President Mick Joyce first started working with Mr Yarrow 16 years ago gathering timber for the wood chopping competition.

He said Mr Yarrow was a vital community member who used to donate trucks and resources to the show and that his death came as a shock to the tight-knit town of Bowen.

“I was extremely shocked when two weeks later I’m told he’s dying and turning the machines off,’ he said.

“He sounded 100 per cent normal only that small period of time before.”

Japanese encephalitis disease has killed two people so far in Queensland this year. Photo by Luis ROBAYO / AFP

The death also shockwaves as far as Townsville with Gail Hills, the Townsville Base Support Manager for the Royal Flying Doctor Service, remembering a “larrikin” who would “bend over backwards for you”.

Mr Yarrow and the local masons group played a key role in donating money by recycling empty cans and old batteries for vital medical equipment for the RFDS.

“Kevin was part of an amazing group of people, and I’ve come to know them quite well,” Ms Hills said.

“Realising that Bowen is an older community, they rely on us to help out in need when something happens to them.

“He was always passionate about the work of the RAFDS and he was a tireless volunteer.

“We would like everyone to know how much he was admired and respected by everyone at the Royal Flying Doctors.

“As a small child he would have been a total larrikin, and he still was. He will be well and truly missed that’s for sure.”

Mr Joyce said Mr Yarrow’s community engagement and connection to locals was “something to look up to” and inspired other members of the Bowen community.

“It’s getting harder and harder to get people to actually get out and do things in the community,” he said.

“If you had a community aspiration to be someone it was to have a reputation like Kev did in Bowen.”

A service will be held at Whitsundays Funeral Chapel, Bowen at 11am on Friday, April 11.

Mr Yarrow’s death has raised alarm bells in the health industry after a person from Brisbane also died from contracting the rare disease. sparking authorities to start up testing sites around the state.

“People are advised to use repellents containing DEET, picaridin or oil of lemon eucalyptus, to wear long, loose-fitting, light-coloured clothing and shoes, and to use mosquito coils (outdoors) and insect vaporisers,” a Mackay Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said.

Originally published as Tributes flow for Bowen truck driver who died of Japanese encephalitis Virus