Tribute Ion Jackson 1951 - 2016

His life was celebrated at a funeral service at St Joseph’s Cathedral, Rockhampton on December, 28.  The crowd of some 600 mourners there to support Ion’s wife, Vicki and daughter Anna, spoke volumes of Ion’s character, the full, though short, life he lived, and the pleasure that he brought to those around him with his infectiously likeable personality. 

 Ion lived life passionately; he was a “boots and all” person.  He was many things: husband and father, cattleman, musician and friend to many.  Some of Ion’s friends will know of his successful career in music, and his love of music generally, but he will be most remembered by the wider community for his success in breeding Brahman cattle and his love of the breed.

Ion had a commitment to the land inherited from his parents Colin and Una Jackson.  When Ion was born in 1951, the family owned “Barwood” near Cracow.  He was the middle child of five, and like many children with a rural background from that time, his earliest recollections were of accompanying his mother on horseback, tucked in front of her saddle. 

He would recount “war stories” of his attending boarding school at the early age of just four at the then Koongal Convent near the Lakes Creek meatworks.  He recalled the loneliness of seeing his parents drive away, but, he recalled the nuns fondly. Though strict, they understood, and were compassionate to him, especially his favourite who would sneak him extra food as consolation. 

Ion was always adventurous.  At an early age, he wandered off during a bushfire attracting a search party from the Cracow community. Displaying practicality in times of adversity (which later became his trademark), Ion saw the logic of following a creek, where his father eventually came upon him as he emerged from a smoke haze.

Ion’s secondary education was at Rockhampton Grammar School.  While he made lifelong friendships there, he was eager to depart the classroom to embark upon his life with Brahmans. On leaving school, Ion worked with his parents and brother Colin both in farming and  cattle.

 Although only a young boy when Ion’s parents established the Jaffra stud in 1959, he shared their love of and confidence in the Brahman breed.  As a young man, Ion could recite pedigrees and the attributes or otherwise of the stud’s founding sires from the then household names in the industry, namely, Cherokee, Avondale and Burnside studs.  Nothing changed over time, with Ion having a vivid memory when it came to Brahman pedigrees through the decades.  

In 1983 Ion purchased Jaffra and the stud herd and has since maintained and further developed the stud.  He travelled overseas on numerous occasions in a quest for new genetics to enhance his stud.  He was not content to visit only the usual United States studs as a source of genetic material, but was a trailblazer in travelling to Mexico and Brazil, learning of the various genetics within their Brahman herds. 

He flew to remote properties in small aircraft, and submitted to searches by armed border patrols.  His expertise was acknowledged overseas through his being invited to judge local cattle whilst on his travels.  Following his death his family have received many testimonials from others in the industry. 

There has been a common theme: a man with good cattle, not given to following fads, but always striving to develop functional bulls for their worth in commercial beef herds.  Ion was well known for his ruthless culling within his herd and critical observation of cattle, which has been the catalyst in his producing a quality female herd of which he was proud. In this, Ion not only achieved his own ambition to produce quality Brahman stock, but also fulfilled his parent’s dream.

Having regard to his family background Ion’s successful life as a stud breeder is unsurprising, but his career as a professional muso is a less obvious course for him to have taken.  

 While at high school he taught himself to play guitar with the assistance of musician and songwriter Kevin Johnson.  He played in the school band before embarking on a professional career in music as a bass player and singer. 

Initially he played with bands in Rockhampton, and was a member of the resident band at Great Keppel Island resort.

Many of the congregation recall the Grosvenor and the Park Avenue hotels (the “ PA”) which were the places to go in Rocky in the late 60s/early 70s where Ion played in the band up to 7 nights a week.

While Ion’s ‘job’ at that time was his music (not something which thrilled his parents!) he was still expected to pull his weight on the farm.  He would recall often having to shift irrigation lines when he arrived home in the early hours after playing with the band.

Ion’s band backed many young artists who have become household names including John Farnham and Marcia Hines.  Ion, always having an eye for fashion was reported  to have swapped his tie for Farnham’s  beatle boots.

Ion’s musical career took him to Brisbane where he was ‘ spotted’ after winning a talent quest at the Sunnybank Hotel, singing “American Pie”.  Although Ion enjoyed his music he often remarked that the underworld and drug scene around Brisbane night clubs dampened his enthusiasm.

One of Ion’s former band members who travelled from NSW for his funeral, verified one of Ion’s stories about men carrying guns across the crowded dance floor while the band played on!  The infamous arson attack at The Whisky au-go-go in Brisbane in March 1973 sounded a warning, with Ion’s group due to play there in just a few days.  Arrangements were in place for Ion and his group to move to Sydney to back The Delltones, but he decided that his love of the land and cattle were beckoning him home.

 On returning to Rockhampton, he continued to play locally.  Included amongst his followers were many of our now well known stock and station agents and cattle producers  partying the night away to the beat of Ion and his band.    Ion was always one to lend a hand. There was an occasion when, about two hours before curtain call, Ion was called upon to fill in for an ill bass player in a visiting Black and White Minstrel show.  A black face and chalk white eyes were not a flattering look!  Straight from the bull pens to the stage, while it was not his choice of music,  his talent enabled him to fill the gap with ease.

Ion’s music career was gradually overtaken by the demands of Jaffra and his devotion to fatherhood.  After his retirement from professional music, it was then hard to get him to play at a party or the like – he was not a “karaoke” person – it had to be rehearsed.  He sang at Anna’s 21st at Southbank, with a young “boy band”.  Vicki recalls the astonished looks on these lads – they thought, “here we go again, someone’s dad thinks that they are a rockstar.”  Well, he was!  And they just stopped singing and played along in awe of the range of his voice.

Ion met his wife Vicki Palm in 1975.  Although a country girl and known for her addiction to horses, Vicki was also studying law, and working full-time at South and Geldard.  What a change for Ion!  After attracting girls simply because he was ‘the good-looking guy in the band’, now he had to work harder, braving a visit to her family home with a very protective father  and waiting until the object of his attentions was finished with her exams.  Wait he did, and the rest is history.   

They married in 1980, and though each had the demands of their separate professional lives to meet, their partnership worked remarkably well.  In Vicki, Ion had found a partner who was able to share his interest in his property and his stud program, and he enjoyed showing her the outcome of his breeding program.   They shared the enjoyment of the pilgrimages to cattle sales in Townsville, and later, Charters Towers.

Although it took a little time for Vicki to initiate Ion into the show horse circuit,and when he did, in his usual style, he embraced it enthusiastically and is well remembered on the sidelines of the show ring supporting Vicki.  

Together they travelled to shows anywhere between Brisbane and Townsville.  Ion was interested, because Vicki was interested, and offered advice even if it was neither sought nor appreciated at the time.  As was his nature, Ion became friends with Vicki’s friends and was always on hand to be of assistance when help was needed.  On occasion, Ion would be deputised to video Vicki in the show ring, as a training tool for her.   Sometimes however, Ion’s friendly nature meant that he would be chatting and miss the event entirely!

It is no secret that Ion loved a chat!  There is a story of a trip to Katherine by stud breeders with sale bulls in several road trains.  To be sure that no-one was “stuck” with an unfortunate travelling companion, it was decided that drivers and passengers would switch at stops.  One driver was heard to say “I hope I don’t get one who talks too much!”  Ion hopped in with him, but when it came time to switch travelling companions, the driver insisted Ion stay with him because they were having a great time.

Ion was always supportive of, and accepting of the demands of Vicki’s career in the law.  He was enormously proud of her achievements, and her success.  While helping Ion clean bull pens at the Charters Towers sale yards in 2014 Vicki received a phone call advising of her having won the Agnes McWhinney award for lawyers. 

Vicki was quietly stunned but Ion told everyone who happened to come his way.  Just three weeks before his death Ion accompanied Vicki to a function in Brisbane to watch and celebrate with her as she received the Justice Lindenmayer prize for her contribution to family law. Vicki’s work gave them the chance to travel together to conferences and other professional events, where Ion’s capacity to be at ease with others from all walks of life would be in evidence.

Anna’s birth made 1988 an eventful year.  Ion adored his little girl, and this did not alter throughout her life.  Fatherhood came easily to Ion who had always had a rapport with children.  Prior to Anna’s birth he had always been a source of entertainment for his nephews, in particular for his “Yogi Bear ” impersonations, and even in his last week  as he was about to board the Flying Doctor Service for transfer to Brisbane, he telephoned Anna, saying “Boo Boo, its Yogi Bear.  I’m a little bit under the weather.  See you soon.”  Even the effect of morphine could not suppress his sense of humour and his wish to reassure and comfort Anna.

Anna recalls that Ion always put himself last, behind family, friends, cattle, and even complete strangers.  He said “everyone’s a mate, until they give you reason to think otherwise!”  She recalls him as a “hopeless romantic”; that he never found it “unmanly” to express feelings and by the way Ion looked at Vicki he taught her what love looks like without words.

Ion enjoyed the company of Anna’s friends, whether it was just sitting watching the State of Origin with the boys or the finale of The Bachelor at a girl’s night in. He was  overjoyed on a visit of Anna’s boss to the hospital to hear of the esteem in which she is held, not just as a lawyer at McInnes Wilson but also as a person.  Ion was endlessly proud of Anna’s achievements.  He was always front and centre at Anna’s eisteddfods, netball games, sports days, Awards Nights and graduation.

When South Geldard celebrated its 50th anniversary, Ion again was front and centre. Those in attendance may not remember Vicki’s speech but would remember Ion flying through the curtain whilst fixing the sound system for her.

Ion was diagnosed with a melanoma two years ago.  He endured surgery on four occasions, radiation and immunotherapy.  He was strong throughout and revelled in the success of his treatment which sadly stopped working just weeks before his death. He gave strength to his family and endeared himself to his medical specialists and all those who cared for him.

Ion was still undertaking Artifiical Insemination programs and travelling to Jaffra until two weeks before his death. 

He died with his boots on – he would have wanted it no other way.  His stud Brahmans were his job, but more than that, they were an abiding interest.  There was no thought of a time when Ion would not “work”.  Characteristically, when the bleak news of his uncertain future was delivered, his concern was not for himself but for Vicki and Anna, “his girls”.