Tributes flow for beloved ‘Doonga’
A FAR Northern community is in mourning after losing one of its most prolific yet altruistic members who is being remembered as a straight shooter with a generous heart.
Innisfail’s Ian “Doonga” Rule, died aged 76, at home on Saturday, June 25, after a recent leukaemia diagnosis.
The talented musician was one day struggling due to a swollen wrist, which he presented to a doctor, who then made the tragic discovery.
The ultimate community man who was known not only throughout the Cassowary Coast but across the Far North left a legacy in many areas, bringing change and inspiring communities with his far-reaching public dexterity.
Throw him a rugby league ball, and he would turn a group of kids into representative champions, with multiple Foley Shield wins to his name.
With a cricket ball in hand, he formed, mentored and coached one the region’s most talented Indigenous cricket sides, and in 2016, helped the Innisfail senior team to its first premiership in five years.
Mr Rule was also a longserving employee at the Johnstone Shire Council, and took office as a Cassowary Coast regional councillor in 2008, going on to serve two terms.
Mayor Mark Nolan, visited Mr Rule at his house shortly before his death.
“He gave me the ‘Murray’ handshake, that was something very special to him,” he said. “He had a passion to help Indigenous youth. One day he just said ‘bugger it, I’m going to help these guys’ and he formed a cricket team.”
Cr Nolan said at the council, where Mr Rule previously worked in the roads department before becoming a councillor, he helped shape one of the government’s most effective unsealed roads policies – pushing for wet grading instead of dry – a change still welcomed by rural residents.
“We served two terms together at CCRC and worked on many campaigns supporting candidates like Bill Eaton, Warren Pitt and Curtis Pitt.
“Doonga would never tolerate fools and was a very loyal knowledgeable fellow councillor and friend. He loved a punt on the horses and was a passionate Rabbitohs supporter in NRL.”
Innisfail Leprechauns president Nick Souvlis said Mr Rule had coached him as a junior and was a great mentor to young kids.
“He was very smart, did his homework and he could always just give you a game plan that worked,” Mr Souvlis said.
“In the community he was greatly respected, a very likeable guy who loved playing music. He was always open for a chat about anything.”
Former Innisfail A Grade cricket captain Luke McAvoy highly admired Mr Rule and said his generosity would be sorely missed.
“He was one of the best cricketers to come from our town. When he stopped playing he gave up his time either in the executive or coaching for almost his entire life.”
Lifelong friend of Mr Rule, John Herrmann said his mate was “always a big boy, but a brilliant sportsman”.
“Ian was always a lovely fellow and always greeted me with ‘g’day Johnny’ which always gave me a lift,” he said.
“He could always sing and the note that he couldn’t reach was made up with confidence. There wasn’t a band that he played in that weren’t a better band because of his talent and enthusiasm.”
Mulgrave MP Curtis Pitt said he was saddened to learn of the death of his good mate, and enjoyed working with Mr Rule on projects around Innisfail including the upgrade of the Jubilee Bridge.
The funeral service for Mr Rule will commence at 10am, Wednesday July 6, at Blacks Funerals crematorium in Innisfail.