Over the years, some truly remarkable Queenslanders have chosen to leave a lasting legacy through gifts in their Wills. One such supporter was Doug. After recovering from his first cancer scare, Doug decided to give back to his local Ipswich community. He became a dedicated and well-respected Braking the Cycle volunteer.
And for around eight years, twice a week, Doug would arrive at PCYC Ipswich and jump into the car with young learner drivers, supporting them with supervision to help them achieve their driver’s licence.
Sadly, Doug passed away from cancer in 2017.
He chose to leave a residual gift to PCYC Queensland, that is, a percentage of his estate after other gifts to loved ones had been made. His intention was very clear: he wished to direct his gift to Braking the Cycle in Ipswich.
When asked why, his sister June said, “Doug was passionate about many things such as his beautiful garden and his lawn. He was super-passionate about volunteering, making sure young people got their licences because he believed that was their best start to a better life.”
She added with a chuckle, “Doug could be a bit grumpy but with young people he seemed to have this real patience. His attitude was totally different.”
Upon reflection, June suggested it might be Doug’s upbringing — growing up in a Victorian farming family in the Wimmera and later the Goulburn Valley — or his time in the Royal Australian Air Force that instilled in him a strong sense of service.
We all know that Queensland is an incredibly special place, and it’s Queenslanders like Doug who make it so.
