KENNETH ‘Ken’ James McIntosh was born on November 18, 1951 in Proserpine. He was the first of five children to be born to Ian and Edna McIntosh. Ken was closely followed just 16 months later by Robyn Maree, and then at regular, four yearly intervals, the rest of the McIntosh clan arrived – Nathan Andrew, Andrea, and finally Lawrence Bruce. Being so close in age, a special bond always existed between Ken and Robyn.
Subscribe now for unlimited access to all our agricultural news
across the nation
or signup to continue reading
Ken started school at St Catherine’s, in Proserpine, before the family moved to Ingham which saw him attend Lourdes Convent School, Gilroy College and finally St Teresa’s College at Abergowrie. At school, Ken was quite a gifted athlete, excelling in shotput, as his physique would suggest, and even running, which I am sorry to say, you would never have guessed from his physique! His shotput record at Gilroy College stood for many, many years.
Ken has always been the serious one in our family, and he was meticulous in his responsibilities as the eldest. Robyn can clearly recall her first day of school, when her very dedicated and responsible big brother grabbed her by her knickers and restrained her as she tried to run away from school and head back home to their mother. When our family hit on difficult times in the mid ‘60s, Ken, at the ripe old age of 15, travelled with dad to South Australia to work in the fruit factories to supplement the family finances. In fact Christmas 1966 saw dad and Ken, on their own in South Australia, sharing a Christmas lunch of three oranges, some dry biscuits and a tin of sardines. (Perhaps that is the reason why Christmas lunch at Ken and Jill’s has always been an amazing spread, topped off by kilograms of prawns, cooked in Ken’s uniquely delicious way.)
After completing Year 12, Ken began an apprenticeship at Macknade Mill, and so began a career which spanned over forty years in the sugar industry throughout the world.
Few would have anticipated where Ken’s working life would take him. Ken completed his trade and moved from Macknade to Tully Mill. From there wanderlust, and perhaps more than a little of his father’s influence, took over, and the next 30 years would see him working in sugar across the world. Ken, Jill, and when they arrived Justin and Nikki lived and worked in places as diverse as Kenya, Somalia, New Guinea, Guyana, Fiji and Indonesia. Throw in there the occasional stint in the United States, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh and you have an idea of how Ken earned himself a reputation as a hardworking, tough, but fair, international sugar industry professional. When he finally decided to leave Indonesia and return to Australia, semi-retirement saw him return to Townsville. It wasn’t long, however, before he was back at work as the General Manager of the North Queensland Bioenergy Corporation, masterminding the design of the $520 million multi-functional sugar facility in his home town of Ingham.
Ken married Jill Jackson in 1974, and I personally believe that that was the best thing Ken ever did – and in one of Ken’s moments of introspection, he himself admitted that to me. Jill’s quiet gentleness, her kind-heartedness and good nature were the perfect foil for Ken’s sometimes abrupt approach. Ken may have been the public front, but backing him every step of the way was a determined and very strong woman. We all took great delight a few years ago when mum, just days before she died, told Ken that he didn’t deserve someone as wonderful as Jill. Ken got quite huffy about this, much to our delight! Ken’s greatest delight in his life was his family. Justin was born in 1981 and Nikki followed in 1983. Family meant everything to Ken, and he prided himself on the opportunities and experiences he was able to provide for his family. Ken’s children were his priorities – Justin and Nikki, take heart in knowing that your father cherished you both more than life itself. Ken delighted too in your choice of life partners. Louise, Ken relished your attitude, your feistiness, your love of life and your laughter. And Chad, Ken was never going to let just anyone take up with his baby girl. He respected your determination, your quiet strength and the steadfast way in which you have met the difficult challenges life has presented you.
The birth of his grand-daughter, Alice in 2012 and then Isabelle late last year, saw the emergence of an entirely new being. It was almost an instantaneous transformation! Ken’s gruff, tough exterior seemed to magically disappear, and in its place we found a gentle, soft man who delighted in his role as “Nonno” and who marvelled at the wonder child, Alice. Cries of “Jill, Jill, Jill, look at this!” constantly echoed throughout the house, as Alice accomplished deeds no child before her had ever managed.
So, how do you sum up Ken?
Ken was a man of strength. He was strong both mentally and physically. He had a backbone of steely determination and never shied away from the tough decisions. He called a spade a spade. Once his mind was set on something, nothing would deter him from seeing it through.
Ken was a man of intellect. He loved reading and he loved making all pieces of the puzzle fit together. His determination in ensuring that an international standard, sustainable ethanol plant be constructed in Ingham is testament to both his strength and his incredible intelligence. As one of Ken’s nieces has said, “One of the saddest things is that Ken will never get to stand in a field of sugar cane and look up at the mill and say, “I had a hand in that.” So Ken, when that facility is completed, we will all stand in those fields of cane, raise a glass – or two or three - and toast your achievement.
Ken was a family man. Jill, Justin and Louise, Nikki and Chad meant the world to him, and nothing on this earth could rival his love for his grand-daughters, Alice and Isabelle. This love extended to his extended family and we all knew that Ken would always look out for us.
Ken was a man of contradictions. I think that Robyn best described Ken the other day when she said, “He was a grumpy old bugger with a heart of gold.” And that does sum him up perfectly. Ken worked hard. He was stubborn and driven. He knew what he wanted, and he never did things by half measures. He was always willing to lend a hand, to help out. He didn’t tolerate fools easily, but his bark was always worse than his bite.
Ken could mastermind a $520 million dollar sugar mill, but he couldn’t work out how to put together a $200 little girl’s toy kitchen!
Our father had a saying that he chose to live by, and that was: “Always keep one eye over your shoulder, waiting for the kick in the behind. They will come, and always at a time when they are least expected.” Ken’s passing has certainly provided another kick in the pants for our family, but we do hope that Ken is up there, shooting the breeze with mum and dad and with Sid and Del, munching on some salami, downing the occasional gin and tonic or Drambuie, reading a good book, and popping out to count a truck or two! We know he will be watching out for all of us.
Ken was husband, father, father in law, nonno, brother, brother in law, uncle, friend and colleague. In his own unique way, in the words of his idol, Tina Turner he was, and always will be, “Simply the best.” And that is how we will remember him. Rest in peace, big brother.
