Gawler and Roseworthy community stalwart, former cop, councillor, Ian Skewes remembered after losing cancer battle
He was so well-respected that criminals sung his praises after he was locked them up – now the family man’s sudden passing has drawn tributes from across the state.
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The devastated family of Ian Skewes is discovering how many lives across the state he touched, after the Gawler and Roseworthy community stalwart died following a short fight against cancer.
The former police officer and Gawler Council member passed away on June 6, aged 67, having learnt metastatic cancer had spread throughout his body less than six weeks earlier.
Mr Skewes was well-known for reviving and serving as the chair of Gawler Blue Light from 2004 to 2016.
He also started the SA Nomads Police Softball Club and worked in community groups including Gawler Rangers Baseball Club and The Adelaide Plains Kennel & Obedience Club.
His daughter Brooke Clark, 36, said he would be remembered for his drive and his enthusiasm, especially in building up local young people through Gawler Blue Light’s camps and leadership programs.
“A lot of the messages we have been sent have been from those kids who are now adults, who have extremely fond memories of the camps they went on; how that impacted on their lives and the people they became,” she said.
“It’s a hard one because he didn’t really care how he impacted on a lot of people – he just wanted to make sure he did the best he possibly could for those kids and trying to improve the community.
“He was a real hater of people that sat back and did nothing. His catchphrase was always, ‘nothing is achieved by doing nothing’.
“He’d have a joke with anybody – people he was locking up speak fondly of him.”
Described by Ms Clark as a “western suburbs larrikin”, Mr Skewes grew up at Kidman Park.
He and his wife Suzy Skewes moved to Gawler in 1993, where he decided to pursue a teenage dream of joining the police force, turning 40 while training with the academy.
Mr Skewes went on to serve as a Gawler Council member from 2000 to 2006, becoming a good friend of MP for Light Tony Piccolo, who was then mayor.
“He was very dedicated to his work as a councillor; very community minded,” Mr Piccolo said.
“He had a really interesting sense of humour. He never lost his sense of humour right to the last minute.
“There was nothing pompous about him; he was really down to earth, and really cared about the community.”
Mr Skewes moved with his family to Roseworthy in 2005 and retired two years ago.
Ms Clark said he was told in mid April he had a tumour in his lung, and less than two weeks later he saw the results of a full body MRI, showing cancer had spread through every major organ in his body. He died 37 days later.
“He’s kind of the anchor of our family; we are involved in all the community things that we do because our parents were, and he was our biggest supporter,” she said.
“He loved the hell out of us.”
Dozens of people have written tributes to Mr Skewes across social media posts shared by Mr Piccolo, the Gawler Rangers Baseball Club and the family.
A friend of the family, Michelle Walford, this week started an online fundraiser to cover funeral costs and support Suzy, who has been unable to work since having a shoulder replacement coinciding with Mr Skewes’ cancer treatment.
People wishing to donate can do so here.
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