VALE TOM BURNS
VALE - THE HONOURABLE TOM BURNS AO
1931 - 2007
The following announcement was released on Monday June 4th from JKAA Chairman, John Russo
"It is with deep sadness that I pass on the news that the Honorary President of JKA Australia, Mr Tom Burns, AO, passed away unexpectedly in Brisbane of a suspected heart attack. For over 25 years Tom has been s strong supporter of our Association, attending many Nationals and of course our World Cup in Sydney last year. Takahashi Shihan had become a close friend of Tom, and his wife Angela, over this period of time, and was both shocked and saddened to hear this news."
Tom Burns was a great friend of JKA Australia. Despite his 'Honorary' title, he was very much connected to the Association and he took a genuine interest in the art of Karate and the people in our group. As a prominent politician and active participant in many political and cultural groups, Tom was an extremely busy person, yet he still found time for JKA and loved to chat with members at the various events he attended.
Mr Burns was an eminent figure in Australian political circles with outstanding achievements over thirty years of political life. He served for more than twenty years as a parliamentarian in the Queensland State Parliament holding many Ministries, notably the position of State Deputy Premier for over six years.
Tom made a very significant contribution to international relations in the Asia Pacific region. In July 1999, the Queensland Government appointed him Chair Queensland-China Council. In January 2001, as part of Australia's national day celebrations, the Australian Fovernment awarded Mr Burns one of Australia's most prestigious medals, the AO, Officer of the Order of Australia, for his contribution to Australia-China relations over the past thirty years. In the same year, he received the Gold Magnolia Honorary Award from the Shangahi Government for his contributions to Chinese-Australian relations. He was the first Australian, not of Chinese heritage, to win this honoured award. In 2003, the Queensland University of Technology awarded Mr Burns an Honorary Doctorate for his work in China.
Tom was farewelled at a State Funeral to be held at St. John's Cathedral, Ann Street, Brisbane at 12 noon on Tuesday 12th June, 2007, followed by private cremation. JKAA salutes you Tom, you will be sadly missed.
Special thanks to Walter Stark, JKA Victoria, for this article. www.jkavic.com.au