Clem Jones AO BSc (1918 - 2007)

Born 16 Jan 1918 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia

Ancestors

Died 15 Dec 2007 at age 89 in Auchenflower, Queensland, Australia

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Rel O'Keefe [send private message]

Biography

Clem Jones AO BSc is Notable.

Clem Jones AO BSc was born in Queensland, Australia

Clem Jones AO BSc, a surveyor by profession, was the longest serving Lord Mayor of Brisbane, Queensland. He was chair of the Darwin Reconstruction Commission from 1975 to 1978. He was a successful businessman and philanthropist.

Clem Jones was born on 16th January 1918 in Ipswich, Queensland, Australia. He was the son of Edward Jones and Eslie Cleminson. ^[1] He was educated at the Church of England (now Anglican Church) Grammar School, East Brisbane; where his father was headmaster. He attended the University of Queensland, graduating with a Bachelor of Science (BSc) degree in mathematics and geology. He qualified as a surveyor and undertook postgraduate studies in public administration on a Fulbright scholarship at the University of California, Los Angeles.

Clem married Sylvia unknown. The couple did not have children.

From 1961 to 1975, Clem was elected Lord Mayor of Brisbane; so becoming the longest-serving mayor of the city. During his tenure, the city changed considerably and 'lost' its demeaning title of 'a big country town'. He led the council to develop a town plan, seal roads, improve drainage, connect sewers to most of the city, acquire land for open space and parkland and underground car parks in the central business districts were covered with public parks and gardens. During this time work started on the development of the Brisbane Botanic Gardens, Mount Coot-tha. One detrimental move (seen as a positive at the time) was ro replace Brisbane's extensive tramway network by diesel buses.

Clem unsuccessfully stood for election as a candidate for the Australian Labor Party in the state seat of Yeronga in 1972 and the federal seat of Griffith in 1974.

He was deservedly highly honoured by his community:

• appointed Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) for 'distinguished service of a high degree in the fields of public service and local government' in the Australia Day Honours January 1976 ^[2]
• appointed Queenslander of the Year in 1990
• granted an Honorary Doctorate from the University of Queensland in 1996 ^[3]
• awarded the Australian Sports Medal as a 'life member of the Queensland Cricket Association and long term administrator' in July 2000 ^[4]
• received the Centenary Medal in January 2001 for 'distinguished service to local government and the community'. ^[5]
• posthumously inducted to the Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame in 2009 ^[6]
• the Clem Jones Tunnel, popularly known as the Clem 7, was named in his honour when it opened in Brisbane in 2010
• the medical research centres Clem Jones Centre for Ageing and Dementia Research (UQ's Queensland Brain Institute), Clem Jones Centre for Neurobiology and Stem Cell Research (Griffith University) and Clem Jones Research Centre for Regenerative Medicine (Bond University) are named in his memory
• the life-size bronze Clem Jones statue in Adelaide Street, Brisbane will enable generations to come to also remember his efforts for their city

Aged 89 years and having been widowed for eight years, Clem passed away on 15th December 2007 in Auchenflower, Queensland. ^[7]

Sources

1. ↑ record of birth is yet to be located
2. ↑ Australian Honours: Officer of the Order of Australia; accessed 14 Aug 2022
3. ↑ Alumni of University of Queensland; accessed 14 Aug 2022
4. ↑ Australian Honours: Australian Sports Medal; accessed 14 Aug 2022
5. ↑ Australian Honours: Centenary Medal; accessed 14 Aug 2022
6. ↑ Queensland Business Leaders Hall of Fame website; accessed 14 Aug 2022
7. ↑ Personal recollection of events witnessed by Rel O'Keefe as remembered 21 Jun 2022.

See also

• Stephens, Tony. 'Jones, Clem (1918–2007)', Obituaries Australia, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University; accessed 14 Aug 2022.
• Wikipedia: 'Clem Jones'; accessed 14 Aug 2022.