Dr Clem Jones AO

Dr Clem Jones AO, together with his wife, Sylvia, were passionate philanthropists who dedicated their lives to working for the City of Brisbane and to supporting charities and community groups.  Dr Clem Jones, upon his death in 2007, left bequests to a range of philanthropic initiatives, with Bond University one of the key beneficiaries of his generosity and his desire to help others.

The Clem Jones Foundation and Bond University formed a partnership in 2010 to establish the Clem Jones Centre for Stem Cells and Tissue Regenerative Therapies.

Dr Clem Jones was born in 1918.  He completed a University of Queensland science degree with majors in mathematics and geology, and was awarded a prestigious Fulbright Scholarship to attend the University of California to undertake postgraduate studies in public administration.

Dr Clem Jones was Brisbane's longest serving Mayor (1961-1975) and hailed as a great visionary and the "father of modern Brisbane", transforming Brisbane from a conservative country town in the 1960's to the vibrant, cosmopolitan capital city that we know today.  Throughout the 1960's, he successfully led the Brisbane City Council to develop a town plan, seal roads, improve drainage and connect sewers to most of the city.  Under his stewardship, he developed city gardens, open spaces and parklands; and sporting fields and facilities, reflecting his passion for sport.  Dr Clem Jones later went on to become Chairman of the Darwin Reconstruction Commission to lead the rebuilding of Darwin following Cyclone Tracy.

Dr Clem Jones embodied the Australian larrikin spirit - upon sacking the curator of the Brisbane Cricket Ground on the eve of a Test, he prepared the wicket himself.  Dr Clem Jones also sailed a raft made of 12,000 beer cans - "the Cantiki" - with two mates, from Darwin to Singapore in 1976, to announce to the world that Darwin was back in business.

Dr Clem Jones has been described as 'a man of extraordinary ability and energy, a role model and visionary'.  He was made an Officer of the Order of Australia (AO) (1976) and he was named Queenslander of the Year (1990).  Further, he was handed the keys to the City of Brisbane (1998); was a recipient of the Australian Sports Medal (2000) and Centenary Medal (2001); received the Philanthropist of the Year award from the Fundraising Institute of Australia (2006); named Queensland Senior Australian of the Year (2007); and the Clem Jones Tunnel or Clem 7, named in his honour, was opened in Brisbane in 2010.

Today, the Clem Jones Foundation distributes significant funds to a range of charities and sporting clubs, for school bursaries and prizes, and to other philanthropic initiatives, keeping the memory of Dr Clem Jones alive and continuing his endeavours to making a positive change in people's lives.