Ron was a sailing champion for many, many years, first joining the Royal Queensland Yacht Club in the early 1950s beginning his sailing career in Trainee dinghies at Byron Street, Bulimba. He would become an 11-time Australian Finn Champion between 1959 and 1971. He also won the Queensland State Championships a record 12 times in that period. Ron was also a member of Australian Olympic Sailing Teams, competing in the Rome Olympics in 1960, as Reserve at the Tokyo Olympics in 1964 and, again as a competitor, at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968 — finishing with a creditable fourth position in both Rome and Mexico. His other passion was fishing and game-fishing — marlin, in particular — and on his charter vessel “South Pacific II” he conducted many fishing trips, both locally and north to the Great Barrier Reef. Ron was one of the pioneers of the Black Marlin game-fishing industry in Cairns during the early 1970s. He was also the holder of World Records for catching Spanish Mackerel, as documented in Ian Gall’s book “Fishing for the Fun of It.” P/Cdre John Ferguson recalls many exciting adventures with Ron, chasing Black Marlin off Cairns and Sailfish off Acapulco, on Mexico’s Pacific coast. On behalf of all members, the Squadron extends our heartfelt condolences to Ron’s family: his wife Jan, sons Peter, Stephen, Tim and Chris, and daughter Sally. A wonderful life well lived. During his six decades of service to our Squadron, major positions entrusted to Bruce included his roles as Commodore, Life Member and Chair of the RQYS Marina Company. Being an open scholar, one of the youngest Chairmen of the Brisbane Stock Exchange — at age 32 — a trained accountant, company director and possessing strong integrity and sets of commercial values and principles, he was well equipped for these positions. Among Bruce’s many other contributions to the Squadron, he was instrumental in the establishment of our Marine College (now Sailing Academy), provided a decade’s service on the Finance Committee and crewed in eight Gladstone races aboard famed chronicler of “Moreton Bay and How to Fathom It” Joshua Peter Bell’s vessel “Rudyard Kipling.” His extensive ownership of power vessels included two much- loved blue-water cruisers — “Kala Venturer” and “Arbitrage” — which served he and many friends on multiple voyages to the Great Barrier Reef. ‘Providore extraordinaire’ and loving wife Nikki ensured guests were superbly cared for while aboard. As Rear-Commodore, Bruce, in company with Past-Commodore John Ferguson oam oly, introduced the concept of fully-paid membership which enabled the Squadron’s acquisition of RQYS Canaipa. Bruce was awarded Life Membership in 2000. Valē Ron Jenyns Olympian, State Champion Valē Bruce Phillips RQYS Life Member, P/Cdre Mainsheet 2024 Royal Queensland Yacht Squadron Yearbook 78 Valedictories
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