Charles Achilles, one of Queensland’s most loved and devoted sawmillers and a staunch supporter of forests and the communities they serve, has died aged 90.
Born in the rural town of Chinchilla on the Western Downs among the cypress trees he loved, Charles spent most of his working life in the timber industry. He started in sawmilling with Emersons and Hyne and Son in Chinchilla before transitioning to retail with Hyne in Brisbane.
As a long-time friend, we knew him for his honesty, hard work and loyalty. He was a compassionate and community-minded man with a deep social and environmental consciousness, which was reflected in his active involvement in local communities in both Chinchilla and Logan City.
A true advocate for the timber industry, Charles was passionate about sustainability and preserving the environment for future generations.
He was instrumental in forming the Chinchilla Historical Society and was a life member of its museum.
He moved from Chinchilla to Logan City in 1984 to be closer to his Brisbane-based family. He had two brothers, Maxwell and John, and a sister, Dawn. In 1954, he married Margaret Gault, the love of his life, and they recently marked an incredible 70 years of marriage.
In Logan City, he was a volunteer for the Heart Foundation, Red Cross, Logan Seniors Day and Daffodil Day, was nominated as Senior Ambassador for Logan and received the Rankin Australia Day Award in 2005.
One of his most cherished awards was receiving a South African (Boer) War Medal for his contribution to a project to build a memorial to the conflict in Brisbane’s ANZAC Square.
Charles had a wide range of interests that brought joy and fulfilment to his life. He was an avid golfer and had a deep appreciation of history, with a particular passion for genealogy. The writer often enjoyed joining in the annual Hyne Golf Day at Chinchilla in the 1980s attended on many occasions by mentor Warren Hyne.
Another fact: the Chinchilla sawmill was often voted by Warren Hyne’s father Lambert as “my favourite sawmill”.
A skilled craftsman, Charles enjoyed building furniture and working with wood on various projects.
Travel was another of his great loves, embracing both local and international adventures, often travelling with senior groups or cruising.
A true fan of country and western music, Charles admired artists like Slim Dusty and enjoyed playing the guitar and singing alongside his brothers.
The legacy he left behind is one of profound wisdom and heartfelt values. He believed in the unshakable bond of family, urging everyone to cherish and nurture their loved ones.
Charles Andrew Achilles championed the care of the planet, seeing it as a shared responsibility to protect its beauty and resources for future generations. He embraced life with gratitude, finding joy in its simplest offerings and marveling at its wonders. Kindness was at the core of his being, and he led by example, always giving back to his community with generosity and compassion. His life serves as a timeless reminder of the values that truly matter.
He was the husband of Margaret, proud father of children Julie-Ann and Rodney and his four grandchildren Justin, Kate, Nadia, and Dylan.
In a tribute, friend Simon Dorries, CEO, Responsible Wood, said, “Charles was certainly a gentleman and fine man.”
The life of Charles Achilles will be celebrated on December 2 at 11 am at the Great Southern Memorial Park, Mount Cotton Road, Carbrook.
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Every blade in the field, every leaf in the forest, lays down its life in its season as beautifully as it was taken up. (American philosopher Henry David Thoreau)
