General News
27 November, 2023
Community remembers Craig Jennings
Maryborough is mourning the loss of a remarkable community member, Craig Jennings, who is remembered as a man full of heart and who poured his soul into everything he did. Craig sadly died aged 47, on November 4 near Clunes, after his vehicle...
Maryborough is mourning the loss of a remarkable community member, Craig Jennings, who is remembered as a man full of heart and who poured his soul into everything he did.
Craig sadly died aged 47, on November 4 near Clunes, after his vehicle crashed into a creek off the Clunes-Mount Cameron Road.
A significant asset for the town, Craig was always at the forefront, leading the charge as the Maryborough Cricket Club’s president, as secretary in the Maryborough District Gun Club and went above and beyond in his role as a board member for the Maryborough Highland Society.
He was also part of the McPherson’s Printing Group for around 28 years — a job he started soon after he graduated from school and according to his brother, Daniel Jennings, Craig never wanted to work or live anywhere other than in Maryborough.
“We knew he was happy in Maryborough and he enjoyed everything he did here,” Daniel said.
“I think he was just so caring and he was always there no matter what it was, he would drop everything to help people — whether it was me, or a friend or community member. He was very involved with the groups he was part of, even with his work, he was so dedicated and put in so many hours. Once he got onto something, he’d see it through to the end.
“[As a family] we’ve taken comfort in knowing that we’re not the only ones he had an impact on, he touched so many lives. For us, life isn’t going to be the same but now I’ll get more involved in things so I can try to live up to his standard a bit more.”
Craig’s impact was indeed felt throughout the community, especially on the sporting side, where his presence will forever be missed.
“[He] was the ultimate club person. It wasn’t all about playing at the cricket club, he got more out of what he was doing off the field, and to be a volunteer at multiple community organisations speaks volumes about the person that he was,” Maryborough Cricket Club vice president Marc Cassidy said.
“As president, he had a vision of getting the club where it once was — the top club in the association, and he did that by driving the junior program and providing an environment that everyone wanted to be in.
“Craig is going to leave a massive hole, but we’re determined as a club to honour his legacy and band together to reach the heights that we were used to for a long time.”
According to Maryborough Gun Club president Nathan Cassells, Craig was one of those people you could rely on to do anything, and he’d do it wholeheartedly.
“We’ll need three blokes to do what Craig did,” he said.
“He was my right-hand man and he did so much, pack up, set up and computer work, he was good at everything he did — I don’t know how he found the time because he was with Apex, the Gun Club, the Cricket Club, McPhersons and the list went on and on.
“He was one of those people who could do anything and his heart was always in the right place. When we’d shoot, he’d set up with his boys and then play cricket and do what he needed to do. But he did way more than his fair share.
“An absolute champion clubman.”
For fellow gun club member, Jim Shepherd, Craig was a powerhouse, and an irreplaceable part of the team.
“He was an exceptional member,” Jim said.
“Craig made an impression on everyone, and it was always a good impression, you never saw him snarly or arc up over anything.
“He was our treasurer for a couple of years, and our secretary last year. He was always there to help. He went out of his way to help, and I don’t know where he got the energy from to do that.”
Even for those who didn’t know him well, one thing was clear — he was an exemplary member of the community.
“I only met Craig a year and a half ago, and one of the first things I thought was that he was a good man and I was proved right in that respect,” Maryborough Highland Society Board president Bruce Kaye said.
“From day one, I could see that he was the kind of person who would always follow through — I doubt you’d find anyone who would have a bad word to say about him, I really respected him.
“Craig was a great people’s person, he would make himself available to all our members. I think he was a solid citizen, and was everyone’s friend.
“Maryborough was a better place for having Craig Jennings live here.”