A WONDERFUL ACT: TRIBUTES FOR STAGE GIANT
THE FAR North performing arts community is in mourning after the death of a “true gentleman” and “inspirational” stage figure.
Tributes are flowing for former Cairns Choral Society president John O’Donnell who died on Wednesday, aged 89, after a two-year battle with cancer and a life spent entertaining and serving the community.
Mr O’Donnell was instrumental in the opening of the Cairns Civic Theatre in 1974 and presided over more than 60 shows before it was knocked down to make way for the new Cairns Performing
Arts Centre entertainment precinct.
He received an Order of Australia Medal for his service to the community and was also a longstanding president of the North Queensland Eisteddfod Association.
His daughter, Joanne Wright, said his legacy would live on through her family and the choral society, where she now conducts the choir.
“Dad always had this courage about him,” she said.
“He would always say ‘we can do this’ even when some of the shows seemed out of reach.
“He was behind some of the biggest and major hits for this town and was a commanding
presence on stage. “We’ll miss him dearly.” Cairns Regional Council Mayor Bob Manning paid tribute to Mr O’Donnell’s “marvellous commitment to the arts” over more than four decades.
“We have been blessed to have such people leading a major sector of our community and much of the infrastructure we enjoy today has been influenced by John,” he said.
Douglas Shire Mayor and Clink Theatre president Michael Kerr said Mr O’Donnell formed a powerful combination with his wife, Jan – who is also an OAM recipient.
“He had a huge impact not just in Cairns but the entire
Far North,” he said.
Cairns Choral Society performer Alteouise DeVaughn said Mr O’Donnell and his family had been a huge influence during her time in the Far North.
She still sings for the choir and performed in the first Phantom of the Opera musical at the civic centre under his watchful eye.
“The O’Donnell family is such a wonderful musical family, very inspirational,” she said.
“We all loved him and will miss him deeply. He has been a big fighter.”
Mr O’Donnell performed until he was 84 with his final on stage show in 2016.
His influence with the Cairns choir has been immense, taking several tours overseas to America, Europe and New Zealand.
“Mum was born with a rare talent for music and Dad just had a love for it,” Ms Wright explained.
“When they got married they went and lived in Mt Surprise, so Dad learnt the saxophone because he thought it would go well with mum’s piano. He got so much joy out of watching and encouraging youth.”
Mr O’Donnell is survived by his wife, Jan, children John, Joanne and Jason, nine grandchildren and three great grandchildren.