Vale David C Jones AO OBE
15/05/1936 - 24/02/2025
President Catherine Baxter announced at last Wednesday's Rotary Melbourne meeting (26 Feb 25) that she was saddened to advise of the death of our esteemed Past President and Honorary Member David Jones AO OBE. David passed away peacefully after a long illness.
David was inducted into the Club on the Club’s 50th Anniversary in April 1971 under the classification Foundations – Geo Adams. He was educated at Wesley College and later at Greenwich College in USA, followed by Melbourne University. David was the Managing Trustee of the Estate of the Late George Adams/CEO of Tattersall Sweep Consultation. With his persuasive talent, his company was a major contributor to the work of the Club over many years: Including the establishment of the Rotary Bone Marrow Institute, major assistance to the Alzheimers Society, the Club’s 75th Birthday Celebrations which raised $100,000 for the elimination of polio, his Chairmanship of the Very Special Kids Foundation, the raising of finance for the writing of the Club’s history and a major project of the Club, the building of an Embassy for the East Timorese nation in Canberra.
David also served as President of his beloved Melbourne Cricket Club.
David loved Rotary, the opportunity to network, fellowship and action.
He served on the Pan Pacific Conference Organising Committee in 1987 and Rotary International Peace Forum in May 1989. He was President of our Club in 1992/1993 and on the Executive of the Rotary International World Convention (held in Melbourne) that same year. He was a District Governor’s Representative in 1993/1994.
David received an OBE in 1981, an AM & Subsequent AO for “Outstanding Community Service in Victoria” and a Paul Harris Fellow by this Club in 1995.
With over 53 years of Service Above Self for this Club, Rotary in Australia and Internationally, and for the people of our great city, in June 2017 the then President Quin Scalzo declared David an Honorary Life Member of this Club.
A fuller obituary is being drafted, and I am advised by his family that a memorial is being planned in about 3 weeks to be held at his beloved MCG. Lots more will be written about our esteemed member and his life of service.
Vale David.
Postscript.
A private family service has been held and a celebration of David's life will be held at the MCG on Tuesday, 25th March at 3.00pm.
