Toowoomba businessman John Hanna remembered as a devoted family man and savvy business leader

Toowoomba has lost one of its most well-known and respected businessmen, John Hanna, who was laid to rest earlier this week.

Paul Hanna (left) with his father John Hanna.

Respected Toowoomba businessman and devoted family man John Hanna was laid to rest after a service in St Patrick’s Cathedral on Wednesday.

John was the second of 10 children born to Norman and Lavina Hanna after they migrated to Toowoomba from Lebanon in 1939, bringing with them the desire for a better life and a strong work ethic.

He was educated at Our Lady of Lourdes Primary School and St Mary’s College.

Along with his brother Joe, John helped his father restock Red Hannas Truck as they prepared for the weekly country run hawking clothes across the Darling Downs.

It was here that John would learn from his father about business, customer service and hard work, and where fell in love with the Australian countryside.

In 1956 the family’s business found a ‘bricks and mortar’ home with its first store in Ruthven St.

John Hanna, (centre) with his siblings.

Hannas would grow to have three sites and all ten siblings were put to work, stocking shelves, greeting customers and helping to build their family’s legacy.

The business grew to become an iconic part of Queensland’s commercial landscape and has contributed to the community by supporting countless schools, sporting clubs and charities.

It became a rite of passage for many Toowoomba school students to pay a visit to John or one of his siblings to buy part of their school uniform.

John gave 70 years to the business and served his last customer six weeks ago.

In his private life, John was devoted to his wife Terese.

The couple met in school and as adults their love blossomed. Soon after their marriage in 1968 they moved to Goondiwindi to manage the Coorey’s store.

In 1984 the business opened its third store and the family moved back to Toowoomba to manage it.

John Hanna was farewelled a funeral service at St Patrick's Cathedral in Toowoomba.

John had a passion for football, real estate and farming.

In the late ‘60s he would work the back paddocks on James Stt on his favourite grey Ferguson TE-20 tractor. Then in 1976 he purchased the property at Westbrook that became known in the family simply as “The Farm”.

He had a deep bond with the countryside that continued to the very end, listening to the daily cattle prices on 4WK at 6.25am each morning.

John is survived by his four children James, Paul, Katherine, Paul, and Amy, their partners and his eight grandchildren.

Originally published as Toowoomba businessman John Hanna remembered as a devoted family man and savvy business leader