Graham and Betty Jackson remembered for dedication to Townsville

The first woman to be appointed as TEL’s chief executive remembered her first moments with the chairman who appointed her.

Betty and Graham Jackson at the Townsville Ceramic Awards held at the Perc Tucker Gallery in 2007.

The first ever female Townsville Enterprise Limited’s chief executive Glenys Schuntner still remembers the first time she met “Mr Townsville” Graham Jackson, who had been chairman when she applied for the job.

And she recognised him as one half of a “formidable couple” who supported numerous community groups and causes in the city.

Community leaders and family mourned and shared online messages of condolences for the Loloma Jewellers founder who died peacefully at 92 on Thursday, including former mayor Tony Mooney and the current TEL chairman Kevin Gill.

While the emphasis had been on Mr Jackson, an Order of Australia recipient and Queensland Great, Ms Schuntner also sought to recognise his wife Betty who had become like a “second mum” before her death in 2010.

The Jacksons had six children together.

Betty and Graham Jackson, when he was the chairman of Townsville Enterprise, and El Rancho Del Rey proprietor Mary Alderman at the North Queensland Tourism Awards at the Townsville Entertainment Centre in 2003. Picture: Michael Chambers.

“He had the support of Betty who in her own way was so involved in so many activities and groups in Townsville herself but she also supported Graham and everything he did,” Ms Schuntner said.

“I never think of Graham without thinking of Betty and what a formidable couple they were.”

Ms Schuntner travelled from Sydney for a series of interviews almost 20 years ago and Mr Jackson took her away from the boardroom to drive her along the Strand for a tour of the city.

Glenys Schuntner, Graham Jackson and Christine Kerley celebrate the North Queensland Club's 130th anniversary in 2015. Mr Jackson was a member for 66 years and became a life member.

She was left with a strong impression of a businessman who somehow found the time run a chain of jewellery stores, and numerous community groups and events within the city that he deeply loved.

“He was not one to sit back and say ‘oh well, something’s been achieved’, tick, we can relax now, he was always looking at the next thing for Townsville and the region,” she said.

“Graham was the living example of give a busy person a job.”

Graham and Betty Jackson at the 2003 Townsville Regional Export Awards held at Southbank Hotel and Convention Centre. Picture: Bryan Lynch.

Ms Schuntner said there could have been a perception that North Queensland’s boardrooms were “a bit of a men’s club” in the mid-2000s, and that her own appointment could have been a “breaking of the ceiling.”

But Mr Jackson never treated her differently.

“In reality I had fantastic support from Graham and the board and they just wanted what was the best for the city in the region,” she said.

Originally published as Graham and Betty Jackson remembered for dedication to Townsville