Community & Business
9 January, 2025
Dave Burns Remembered as a Staunch Community Member
Both Allora and Clifton are better communities because of people like Dave Burns who sadly passed away on Monday 30th December 2024.
The Allora & District Historical Society was grateful for the services offered by the hangman/handyman Dave Burns.
“Dave’s legacy at the museum will be the many family portraits that he has hung on the walls, each row laser levelled and each individual portrait hung on two screws so they stay straight.
Whenever there was a difficult job to do Dave had the answer. He will be sadly missed” said Colin Newport.
In early 2024 Dave joined the Allora Men’s Shed where he enjoyed helping with carpentry projects.
In Clifton Dave Burns was a staunch supporter of various local community organisations and was well-known and highly regarded, in particular for his roles with Clifton & District Historical Society, initially as an active volunteer; then assisting with computerising Secretarial duties; acting as President during the final years when the Clifton Museum was in limbo after the Old Butter Factory was deemed unsafe and was closed. Dave’s other roles included Treasurer and master organiser of the new Clifton Museum build. He was the ‘glue’ which held everything together.
Dave was a gifted co-ordinator, excelled in problem solving, had an amazing memory and asked for little recognition of his many achievements. He was awarded a well deserved Clifton & District Historical Society Life Membership in 2022.
Dave also gave his time whole-heartedly to his roles as Treasurer and Secretary for Clifton District Meals on Wheels from 2014 - late 2022. Clifton M.O.W. won the Australia Day Community Group award in 2022. Dave spent many hours organising and co-ordinating rosters for volunteers and delivery of meals around the district, with the particularly onerous task of dealing with added paperwork during those difficult Covid years. He continued to personally deliver meals after he’d resigned from the main roles, right up to 20th December 2024.
Dave was a very complex and humble human being. He was also a caring person with a bright enquiring mind and helped many with his practical skills. A quietly brave man who passed away in Toowoomba Hospital with family members present.
An informal Gathering to celebrate the life of Dave Burns will be held on Saturday 11 January.
