ERIC Armstrong and his tireless work for the community will be remembered thanks to a special tribute at Rotary Park, Jimboomba.
Rotary Jimboomba unveiled the plaque on a stone bench at a barbecue attended by Mr Armstrong’s wife Anne, children, grandchildren, great grandchildren, friends and Rotarians on Sunday, May 6.
Mr Armstrong was remembered as a master bricklayer, builder, TAFE teacher, assessor and advocate for more regional training in the trades to help troubled youth.
“Behind the scenes, he mentored many young folk and quite often helped turn their lives around by accessing his extensive networks to secure apprenticeships for them,” said family friend Carole Caswell.
“He drove young people to interviews and, occasionally, to court appearances. Twice he accommodated young men in his family home to give them a fresh start and they have become successful in their careers, grateful for his confidence in them.”
Mrs Caswell remembered Mr Armstrong’s passionate Letters to the Editor of the Jimboomba and Beaudesert Times.
“(He was) driven by his fervent nationalism,” she said.
“He often said he was passionate about Australia.”
Mrs Caswell said the Armstrongs worked tirelessly over the years to improve the lives of people with disabilities, a cause close to their hearts because of the special needs of son and his friends.
A generous benefactors of Rural Lifestyle Options Australia disability service at Beaudesert, Mr Anderson advocated for RLOA through his extensive Freemasons network and various lodges made generous donations, she said.
Rotary Jimboomba president Ray McCabbin remembered Mr Armstrong as a colourful Brit who gave his time and skills helping local charities build barbeques, ramps and other structures.
“All the brickworks in Rotary Park – the barbecues, toilets, utilities and more, were built by Eric and his sons,” he said.
Mr Armstrong was remembered for his work as a volunteer at Caddies, now called Able Australia, where he worked as driver and bread run worker who collect surpluss bread to distribute to the needy.
”Eric played an important role in the community helping identify vulnerable families in crisis and then quietly behind the scenes linking them into Rotary and other agencies,” said Mrs Caswell.
“Quite often he gave his own money to assist people.
“Once met, never forgotten, Eric was a large man and larger than life. He was a loud, exuberant, extrovert, passionate in his beliefs and had such a heart of gold.”
Rotarian David Kenny, who attended the event, remember Mr Anderson as a big man with a big voice and bigger heart.
“He believed there was nothing better than to do something for someone and get nothing in return,” he said.
