Malanda Atherton Rd fatal crash victim identified as maize breeder Ian Martin, 82

A man who saved the Tablelands economy by resurrecting the region’s major industries has been identified as the victim of a fatal crash on Malanda Atherton Rd.

A MAN who single-handedly resurrected one of the Tablelands’ largest industries in the late 1900s has been identified as the victim of a fatal crash on Malanda Atherton Rd.

Atherton man Ian Martin, 82, suffered critical injuries after his utility collided with a hatchback on Monday at East Barron. He was transported to Atherton Hospital, where he later died.

Sadly, awaiting his presence on Monday morning was his colleague Veronique Keating, at the Kairi Research Centre, who said she was still coming to terms with the tragic news.

“Ian was on holidays last week, and he was supposed to be coming back to work on Monday,” Ms Keating said.

The two of them had formally worked for the Department of Primary Industries at Kairi, but since 2010, they had been using the research facility privately for a consortium of local corn growers.

Ian Martin at the Kairi Research Station. Mr Martin was known to be at the forefront of change and research in the Tablelands corn industry.

Mr Martin moved to the Tablelands in the ’60s after graduating from an agriculture college in Brisbane, and helped resurrect the region’s maize industry.

Growers at the time were facing diminishing yields due to disease, yet the produce was crucial for the region’s 400-odd cattle and dairy farms.

“Even after working with him for 20 years, I still couldn’t learn everything he knew,” Ms Keating said.

“His work was his main interest, he didn’t too much else. That’s why he was still working at 82.

“He was always a nice person, very committed to his work and it’s hard to describe the feeling (of his death). It will take a while to sink in, even today (on Tuesday), I have tears in my eyes.”

Past and present members of the Department of Primary Industries and Fisheries maize breeding team attended a special farewell function for retiring senior plant breeder Ian Martin at Kairi Research Station. From left: Hazel Brown (team member for 18 years, Terry McCarthy (42 years), Mr Martin, John Tunnie (24 years) and Veronique Keating (10 years).

Atherton maize grower of 30 years Bill Knowles said while he didn’t know Mr Martin personally, the researcher known as “The Doc” played an important role in the success of his 150ha farm.

“Ian was at the forefront of making sure our seed stock was the best it could be. We always have issues with rust and diseases and plants evolve, and he was just at the forefront if there were any issues,” Mr Knowles said.

“Even though he retired years ago (from the DPI), I bet if you asked someone where he was, he’d be out on a farm helping someone with their maize. He’d be doing it in his own time.

“If his experimental work wasn’t successful, we’d have a hard time growing this crop here.”

Originally published as Malanda Atherton Rd fatal crash victim identified as maize breeder Ian Martin, 82