Almost Mr Scone

THE funeral of Jim Clark OAM will be held at 11am on Monday at the Uniting Church in Scone.

Jim’s son in law, Terry Tunkunas, said you could almost call him “Mr Scone” such was his passion for the local community.

Deputy director of care Gayle Ashford with patron Jim Clark and board member Bill Howey at the opening of Strathearn House.

“We were talking about it the other day and we don’t know what really drove him to be so community minded, but he certainly derived a lot of satisfaction and joy from helping others,” said Mr Tunkunas.

“Maybe it was because he has such a successful business that the town supported, he felt it was important to support the town in any way he could,” he said.

Jim was the youngest of six children to Margaret (nee Reid) and John Clark was born in Scone.

Jim’s two eldest brothers Stephen and George were born in Scotland before the family immigrated to Australia with brothers Joe, Craig and his sister Ella born in Australia.

“Many people would remember Joe and Craig working with him in the furniture store,” said Mr Tunkunkas.

Jim began his working life in his father’s general store in Scone and later in Willow Tree, before returning to Scone to establish his furniture business in Kelly Street and in later years a carpet business in Main Street.

“He was generous, compassionate, funny and larger than life; he was almost Mr Scone,” said Mr Tunkunkas.

“He had a wicked sense of humour and was a bit of a rascal,” he said.

“But his overall desire and mission was to help others, he was a charter member of the Scone Lions Club, a 50 year member, a life member of Lions and was also a life member of the Strathearn Village board, 1994 Scone Citizen of the Year and one of his proudest moments was carrying the Olympic torch into Scone, he did the football gates forever and he wore the Santa suit for years, even in 40 degree heat,” he laughed.

He was just a really generous man, if people needed help the came to him and they got it,” Terry Tunkunkas said.

Jim died ten days after his 90th birthday.

He was recently a resident at Strathearn before passing away in the Scott Memorial Hospital.

Related story: Vale Jim Clark.