‘Tubby’ leaves a lasting legacy
JOHN ‘TUBBY’ JEKYLL, 72 Engineer, rugby stalwart, raconteur, honorary Wallaby
HE was mates with Hollywood tough guy Lee Marvin, re-engineered the streets of London and resurrected the sport of rugby in Cairns.
John ‘Tubby’ Jekyll was many things to many people, leaving an extraordinary legacy in the 72 years before his recent death from cancer.
Queensland Rugby says the rugby community is mourning the loss of the former North Queenslander who was founding president of both the Cairns District Rugby Union and Cairns Wanderers.
Tubby came to Cairns in the 1970s and found rugby hadn’t been played regularly since the 1960s. He changed that.
He formed a Cairns team that played against visiting naval ships before making weekly 750km round trips to Townsville to play there.
Then he ramped up efforts to start a Cairns rugby competition, becoming the inaugural president of the CDRU competition of four teams.
“Despite the significant geographical challenges, John kept Far North Queensland connected to the rugby world, and allowed the growth and export of some of the state’s greatest rugby talent,” Queensland Rugby said.
“His direct legacy lives on through the John ‘Tubby’ Jekyll Cup, in the Far North Queensland competition.”
Speaking at a farewell for Tubby last weekend, close friend Murray Cameron said they met in 1964 at Emmanuel College, while both were at The University of Queensland.
“He was a gregarious member of that fraternity, reflecting a keen sense of humour and sharp wit,” Mr Cameron said.
A keen sportsman and academic, he “represented Emmanuel College with distinction in … rugby and swimming”.
After graduating as an engineer in 1967, Tubby worked in Australia and then London, “helping the Poms re-engineer the streets of London”.
Returning to Australia in 1975, Tubby worked for the Cairns Harbour Board, before moving to Cloncurry as shire engineer, returning to Cairns as Inspector for the Queensland Housing Commission.
A raconteur prone to bursts of Banjo Paterson poetry, Tubby became a magnet to screen legend Lee Marvin during his fishing forays to Cairns.
He was also deemed an honorary Wallaby by a group of ex-Wallabies after his brave decision to have his legs amputated when a mystery infection attacked his spinal cord.
Tubby died on February 24 in Brisbane. Friends celebrated his life in Cairns and Brisbane on Saturday.