DAVID BANNERMAN - COMMUNITY TRIBUTES

Obituary

David Ian Bannerman was born 4th November 1947 in Moree, New South Wales and died at 11:30am Monday 27th February 2023. He died on his own terms in sound mind and in good spirits surrounded by family.

David was born left handed and forced to write right handed. He never learned to draw with his right hand and would have to swap hands to underline words. The world was never made for him, he adapted and used what was at hand.

Over the last few weeks, David grew to see his life has touched many. David was a man who served others and who cared little for planning without direct consequence. He was a man who lived in the present. I asked him what I should write in his obituary, but he was nonplussed as he would never read it. He just told me what not to write, so I will take this advice.

David saw Samford grow from a small town on the fringes to what we know it as today. Many of the organs that help its functioning show his fingerprints. He was instrumental in the saving of the Farmers Hall, in modernising and humanising the Tip and establishing healthy political dialogue in the Valley.

Reducing a life to a few columns of copy is impossible. David has done many things and been many things to many people. These are all things that must be talked about, they are too hard to put into print, too reductive, too simplistic.

David was the husband to Helen, my mother, whom he has always said saved him. To tell the story of my father is incomplete without Helen. She met him at an introductory morning tea for prospective honours students studying English Literature at the University of Queensland. I will forever be grateful to the University of Queensland for introducing them.

David has always said his greatest achievement was his family and it is a great pleasure to be a part of it. The nuclear family may be a quaint idea in 2023, but it meant the world to my father. His sons and his grandchildren were central to his world. Biology is an indisputable fact and we all hold some of him; this gave him great joy.

Throughout his life, David lived on his own terms. He lived without debt and was beholden to nobody. He did what he wanted and he did what was right.

David professed to never be able to do anything longer than five years as he would grow bored of it. One notable departure from this rule is the Chronicle Cup which began in 1993 and will continue in his absence. The cricket oval where the bulk of Chronicle matches have been played will be named in his honour, but the grounds will remain the Highlands Recreation Reserve, as was his wish.

Dad will rest in Samford. Samford is home and it always will be.

Malcolm George Bannerman

The Ginger Ninja, the rusty Rastaman, photographer, word smith, cricket tragic, political operator, community protector/ leader, environmental warrior, man of action, and loving devoted husband. Did I mention cricket bloody tragic?

It is with mixed emotions we meet here today – sadness tinged with love, admiration, and I must say pride. I am proud to say David was my mate/our mate. We are surrounded by the results of his life-long quest to make the world – his world, our world – a better place. Whether he was initiating a campaign to make something happen, like bringing Samford Hall back to life, or to stop something happening, such as a development you don’t see in Samford.

Never one to shy away from an argument, he had a unique way of dealing with people. Sometimes if we disagreed on a political note or issue, he would shoot me down; but on occasion would just say ‘Humph’ and spin on his heels. The enigma that is Bannerman.

How much fun did we have at his beloved Cricket ground. Rain, hail, shine, storm, flood, virus, and likely WW3 could not convince him the game should be cancelled. Many years ago when we had mats on the pitch, we played regardless of the fact the mats were floating two inches off the pitch. What a fanatic, but you could see the joy and love for the game that he had. On so many occasions his face would light up seeing the day come together as he would call, ‘Game on.’

Not only did he love the game but he loved the players, the crowd, the kids, the families, the crazies, and the dogs that are our cricket community. He has watched many of us grow up and our kids too. His enthusiasm was infectious and he drove many changes and improvements at the ground all the while bringing people together in such a way that it was never a task to be involved in helping. This is true leadership – bringing people together for the greater good – Ahh! The original hippie he was.

As moderator of the Meet the Candidates night he was second to none, and last federator election the night was live to air via Channel 6 News on Twitter. Well, I couldn’t believe it; but by the time I got home he had achieved rock star status – so many political nerds from all over the country were singing his praises and he wasn’t that fussed by the attention.

Every time I attend a Meet the Candidates night (especially federal elections) surprisingly I always managed to be picked to ask the final question for a Tory contender. Thanks for that David. An unspoken tip of the hat.

Some days I would be at home and hear someone arrive and my dog Ozzie would rush out madly barking, but he would hush and greet David. On occasion it seemed Dave needed a bit of company and a chat. The offer of a relaxing smoke never declined, followed by insightful sage discussions.

David knew a bit about a lot and a lot about a bit. One thing he really knew about was photography and how to frame a shot. It’s not easy to be a professional umpire and photographer at the same time, but history shows he snapped some mighty shots from behind the stumps. Generally regarded as a fair and balanced umpire, he never shied away from controversy and would stand his ground under some serious heckling, sledging, or howling. Once more, how much fun did we all have? Cricket is the winner.

Well Dave, it’s not goodbye because you will always be with us in our hearts. Your calm, clear, focused approach to moving from this life to the next is brave beyond words and an inspirational educational lesson for us all on how to face the big decisions in life.

It’s been an honour and a privilege to be your friend. Travel well.

Michael Taylor on behalf of the local cricket fraternity

Naming Ceremony and Memorial Cricket Game

There will be a Naming Ceremony and Memorial Game of cricket on 26th March at the Highlands Recreation Reserve. Cr Darren Grimwade and Nikki Boyd MP will be in attendance on the day to conduct the naming ceremony and present the Bannerman Cup to the winners of the game. Our Federal Member, Peter Dutton MP has been invited and will attend if commitments allow.

The ceremony to name the oval is to honour our late Chairman of Trustees, David Bannerman, who for the last 21 years has been involved with the upkeep and improvements to the ground. He started the Chronicle Cup competition 30 years ago, which is still a hotly contested competition, he was also involved in getting junior cricket teams to use the oval to give young cricketers a place to play, which continues today.

The game is to be called the Bannerman Cup to celebrate David’s love of the game and contribution to the ground. This is the inaugural game and it is hoped that this will become an annual event on the Samford & Districts calendar.

The day is also a fundraiser for the ground to facilitate the upkeep and improvements to the pavilion and grounds. There will be a

BBQ lunch, bar, raffles, meat traysso please come along and support a community event - all proceeds will go to the ground. We have been wonderfully supported by the local business community with prizes for the raffles and sponsorship for the game. Raffle tickets will be sold out in front of Drakes on the 18th & 25th March, so please come and say hello and buy some tickets which will all be drawn on game day. A quick peek at some of the prizes: a signed Michael Neser Brisbane Heat Team Jersey, Neil Harvey signed Bat, $300 voucher from Samford Garage, $100 voucher from Samford Hotel, $100 breakfast voucher from The Long Yard Larder - plus many more great prizes. EFTPOS machines generously supplied by Community Bank Samford - Bendigo Bank.

All winners will be notified by phone. Hope to see you there.

Tim Nelson Chairman of Trustees

Over 50 years ago, David and family arrived from NSW and established permanently in Samford. Because he lived close to the Samford Waste Disposal site combined with his dislike of waste, David went to the tip on a daily basis sorting out items that others had cast aside. The goods were located as a pile on the ground with an invitation to help oneself and this led to our present facility of Treasure Island. This seems a trivial idea but 40 years ago, it was very innovative and typical of David’s spirited behaviour.