Mareeba Shire Councillor Kevin Davies leaves legacy of huge community service
The Tablelands town of Mareeba is reeling following the death of a 56-year-old Mareeba shire councillor, dedicated volunteer and enthusiastic community champion.
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The Tablelands town of Mareeba is reeling following the death of a Mareeba Shire councillor, dedicated volunteer and enthusiastic community champion.
Mareeba Shire councillor Kevin Davies passed away peacefully surrounded by family and friends on Tuesday after being diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer soon after the state election in October.
He was 56.
Manager at the Springmount Waste Management, Mr Davies for the past decade was on the committee of the Rotary FNQ Field days and had previously served as both president and secretary of the Mareeba Rotary Club.
At the time of his death Mr Davies was also the chair of the Great Wheelbarrow Race.
Mareeba Rotary president Charlie Martens said the passing had come to all as a huge surprise.
“He was quite young and fit and active,” he said.
“He will be really missed and we are in shock quite frankly.
“He has been involved in Rotary all his life, his days in Rotary follow in his dad’s footsteps.”
Over the years, Mr Davies served as the secretary and president of Mareeba Rotary, and was the current services director.
“He organised working bees, whenever we needed anything he knew who to go to and how to get it done,” Mr Martens said.
“These are all volunteer roles, he was very community spirited, any organisation Kev was involved in, he would help out and he was very practical in his solutions.
“He did everything with a smile, even when he was cranky he had a smile and he had a great rapport with people and that’s how he got things done.
“It’s a big community loss, and it’s very sad.”
The former Mareeba deputy mayor was an LNP preselection candidate for the seat of Cook in the lead-up to the last state election, however was ultimately overlooked in favour of David Kempton, who went on to win the seat.
Leichhardt MP Warren Entsch said his LNP colleague left a tremendous legacy of service.
“I was gobsmacked to hear the news of his passing,” Mr Entsch said.
“He’s only a young man, he’ll be sorely missed up there.
“He’s been a long-term councillor and deputy mayor and he was very well loved across the Tablelands.”
Mr Entsch said Mr Davies was well-liked by all, and nobody ever said a bad word about him.
“And if it was happening in the community Kevin was all over it and he had strong connections to Rotary and the Great Wheelbarrow Race,” Mr Entsch said.
“He was easy to chat with and very likeable. He always felt like an open book.
“He’ll leave a hell of a void and my heart and prayers go out to the family.
“He was taken far too young.”
Serving on the Mareeba Shire Council since 2016, Mayor Angela Toppin said Mr Davies did his job with “honour and distinction.”
“Mr Davies is well-known for passionately representing Mareeba Shire residents and advocating for a range of community issues, especially road safety,” she said.
“He has always been totally committed to our community and shire, and leaves a legacy of dedication and tremendous community service.
“Our sincerest condolences are with (Mr) Davies’ wife Pauline and two sons, we thank Kevin for his incredible contribution to our shire.”
Originally published as Mareeba Shire Councillor Kevin Davies leaves legacy of huge community service
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