Community
7 October, 2023
‘KB’- Rest in peace, Digger
MORE than 500 mourners have packed St Monica’s Cathedral to farewell former Cairns mayor and business leader Kevin Byrne.
Kevin Michael Byrne died on September 21 and his funeral was last Friday.
Following a 17-year military career which included service in Vietnam, Malaysia and Papua New Guinea, Mr Byrne was elected as Cairns mayor for the first time in 1992 until 1995 and then again from 2000 to 2008.
As well as many business roles he was chief executive of Advance Cairns for two years.
A who’s who of the city attended the 90-minute service during which his daughter Isabel Byrne described her Dad as “a leader and a great character who was always larger than life”.
“Dad had an impact on all of us,” she told the congregation.
Ms Byrne said her father devoted his entire life to service.
“Above all, he loved this city,” she said.
“How fortunate he did return to Cairns (after serving overseas in the Australian army)”.
“As he shaped the city, he shaped me. He balanced his responsibilities of the city with the wellbeing of his daughter.”
Ms Byrne said her father’s three greatest legacies were the Botanic Gardens’ precinct, the Esplanade redevelopment and the Cairns Art Gallery.
Ms Byrne said he had help create “a vibrant, cohesive and resilient community”.
She said she was extremely proud of her father and his vision for Cairns.
She also paid tribute to her mother and his wife Amanda. They had been married for 30 years.
“Let’s celebrate, not just one man, but the village he loved,” Ms Byrne said.
His sister Maureen Pilcher spoke of a challenging but idyllic life growing up on Manus Island, PNG.
She also spoke of the emotional separation from their family when the Vietnam war hero was only about 11, and she was 10, after they were sent to boarding school in Brisbane and only came home once a year for six weeks.
Ms Pilcher said the last year had been “extremely tough” for her brother, but he was now “at peace”.
Former Sea Swift chief executive Fred White said when he met Mr Byrne several years ago it was “an instant friendship”.
Mr White revealed that Mr Byrne asked him during his recent illness: “Now listen Digger. Just in case things go a bit pearshaped, I would like to be prepared, and I would like you to conduct my eulogy for me. Could you give it some thought?,” he said.
“So here we are now, a few short weeks after Kevin’s last battle, and one which I think he knew he was going into and that he wouldn’t be coming out the other side.
“But he was prepared, and he did meet it head on, with all the strength of will and all the strength of character we know he possessed.
“The use of the term ‘Digger’ – sure it has clear roots in Kevin’s extensive military background, but more than that, it was one of his terms of endearment.
“If you’ve been called ‘Digger’ by Kevin, then you should consider yourself one of his true mates, and someone he would be happy to get in the trenches with, either physically or metaphorically.”
Mr White said another affectionate word he used was “the village” to describe the city of Cairns.
“It was during his time as mayor that the city – or the village as Kevin would affectionately refer to it as – enjoyed unprecedented growth and development, ranking it now as one of the nation’s most liveable and desirable regional cities,” he said.
Mr White said the former army officer was “a forthright advocate” for the region.
He said the RSL stalwart was constantly stopped on the street and engaged in conversations about the city and the region and was always asked for his thoughts and comments on a wide range of issues.
“KB, may you rest in peace Digger – in the village you loved – and in the village that loved and admired you, and that has benefited greatly from your life’s work,” Mr White said.
“You will always occupy a place in our hearts as a most cherished and honoured leader of the community, and a great mate and inspiration to us all,” he said.
Mr Byrne loved Scotland and the bagpipes, and it was fitting that a bagpiper played as mourners arrived at the cathedral and in front of the hearse which was escorted by police to the cemetery.
