Clarence Valley sugarcane farmer, politician, champion of primary industries and regional communities; they didn't call Ian Causley "the bull" for nothing.
For 12 years at the state level he held portfolios for natural resources, agriculture and water. For 11 years until his retirement in 2007 he held his local federal seat but lost heart with his own National party after deregulation sacrificed farmers to the free market.
Mr Causley passed away on Monday night, aged 79. Current Covid laws will prohibit a public funeral, but there is no doubt the man will be remembered as a defender of the bush.
He cut cane as a young man, working from the Northern Rivers to northern Queensland, and learned first hand the ethic of hard work. He went on to successfully farm his own land, under sugar, on the Lower Clarence - one of many inter-generational Causleys in the district. His love of community and a desire to lead were his foundation stones.
In 1962 he married June, who believed in his cause and together they drove agendas. They were married for 51 years and her death fell hard upon a man who many saw as immovable.
Mr Causley entered state politics, age 44, having already served as a driver of enterprise within the NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative. At the age of 26, in 1966, he was part of the NSW sugar growers' administration team that negotiated transfer of ownership from the old Commonwealth Sugar Refinery to the new co-operative model that is today Sunshine Sugar. After politics Mr Causley returned to the sugar industry to lead, as chairman, helping to unite the co-op with the individually-owned Manildra to forge a highly successful, vertical supply chain business.
Friend and independent Federal member Bob Katter likened Mr Causley to the two greats of the Country Party, "Bulldog" McEwen, who along with his successor, the similarly minded Doug Anthony, created wealth for farmers through their drive for unity within industry.
"He was tough and manly, not the sort of bloke you'd pick a fight with," he said, recalling how Mr Causley grabbed the president of the Australian Cane Growers Association and hurled him out of his office, after that national body sold out to the free market.
"He fought for farmers. He was the last of a vanishing race."
NSW Sugar Milling Co-operative chairman Jim Sneesby, who replaced Mr Causley, recalled the man as a strong leader and a good communicator. "He helped as an industry advocate in no uncertain terms," he said. "He was as much involved with research and development, and worked with us to develop tracked harvesters and buggies, so necessary on our wetter country."
Sunshine Sugar CEO Chris Connors labelled Mr Causley a champion of primary industry and regional communities. "They didn't call him the bull for nothing," he said. "He was always working on a better outcome for growers and he made sure regional communities were looked after."
NSW Farmers' representative Bronwyn Petrie, Tenterfield first met Mr Causley at a time when they were both concerned about the 1987 Wilderness Act and its impact on farms and private forestry.
"We became the best of friends," she said.
At the 1995 native vegetation rally in Sydney, attended by thousands of farmer protesters, Ms Petrie's son Tim cracked the whip to start the march and when they got to Parliament House Mr Causley hoisted the boy onto his shoulders so the young bloke could see proceedings.
Indeed, Mr Causley's love of community was well understood by Grafton fine art teacher, Fay Boyd, who leant on the man for assistance in bringing great artists out to the regions so the people could learn from them.
"He was old school. He had a strong personality," she recalled. "He never promised anything but would try his best. He was honourable and he stood strong and tall. He was a true Christian."
Member for Clarence Chris Gulaptis worked in politics under Mr Causley, 35 years ago and recalled how he was "immediately intimidated, not just by his stature but by his strength of character."
"Ian was a passionate advocate for the communities he represented and was respected on both sides of the political landscape," Mr Gulaptis said.
"He had strong ideals and fought for what he believed in. He said in his last speech in the NSW Legislative Assembly that whether in government or opposition members should do their utmost by pursuing and endorsing policies that best serve their country and Ian certainly led by that example.
"He was intelligent, confident and very forthright. He was old school Country Party and proud of it. He loved agriculture, farmers and country people and he fought for them tooth and nail. He was never afraid of speaking his mind."
