RIP Emeritus Professor Peter Swannell AM

Emeritus Professor Peter Swannell AM

Toowoomba Clubhouse is saddened by the passing of our former President, Emeritus Professor Peter Swannell, AM on 8 January 2020.

Peter came to be at Toowoomba Clubhouse because he wanted to make a difference. A chance meeting with a Clubhouse member stirred Peter’s interest in Toowoomba Clubhouse, what we do, how we do it and who are our members.

Peter joined the Management Committee and a year later became our President, a position he held for several formative years.

Peter was very much a hands on President. He was passionate about Toowoomba Clubhouse and more importantly he had a genuine interest in the members and the staff. Peter was regularly seen at Clubhouse having a chat with both members and staff, along with checking on their wellbeing.

Peter provided a great sounding board to our staff who were pursuing tertiary education. He encouraged, he mentored and even provided feedback on papers written by staff undertaking studies.

However, the real highlight was when Peter held court, telling stories of his life to both members and staff. His life was rich with experience and experiences and consequently his stories were just as rich.

Peter’s approach in treating members and staff as equals reflected not only the values of Toowoomba Clubhouse but also the values he brought to Toowoomba Clubhouse along with his desire to improve the lives of all he touched.

As President, Peter led Toowoomba Clubhouse through a number of significant events.

It was Peter’s leadership that lead to the creation of the Vanguard Laundry. The building of the laundry was a significant initiative for Toowoomba Clubhouse, which came with significant risk. Peter led the management committee magnificently. While there was significant enthusiasm for undertaking the initiative, Peter maintained the level headedness required in undertaking such an initiative.

Peter created and led a disciplined management committee that focussed on integrity, good governance and due diligence. This approach meant the decisions surrounding the Vanguard Laundry were always well thought through and sound. It was only through this good decision making and ultimately Peter’s leadership that the Vanguard Laundry was able to become the success it is today. For this we thank Peter.

Peter was also President when Toowoomba Clubhouse commenced its transition to the “NDIS environment”. This transition also represented a significant change in the operations of Toowoomba Clubhouse, presenting many challenges to the members, staff and management committee.

Again Peter’s leadership, guidance and experience enabled Toowoomba Clubhouse to undertake this transition in a positive and successful manner. Again we thank Peter.

There are many other actions and decisions in which Peter has left his mark on Toowoomba Clubhouse. However, his greatest legacy is himself.

Peter loved Toowoomba Clubhouse (and we loved Peter) and he shared that love of Toowoomba Clubhouse with the broader community, in doing so improved the understanding and challenges of mental illness. Peter was on the management committee because he wanted to be, he wanted to help, he wanted to be a part of Toowoomba Clubhouse and most importantly he wanted to improve the lives of our members.

Peter cared.

Peter was so proud of the work of Toowoomba Clubhouse in helping people with a lived experience of mental illness to develop skills to reach their highest potential and live fulfilling lives.

We will miss Peter greatly, his leadership, his experience, his humour, his honesty, his decency, his occasional firmness and his ever presence.

We will not forget Peter. His legacy is immense – Vanguard Laundry, a strong management committee bound by good governance and due diligence, friendships, our current and wonderful CEO Debbie Bailey who Peter recruited and much more.

Peter’s greatest legacy is that he shared part of his life with Toowoomba Clubhouse. For this we are eternally grateful, very honoured and will forever cherish what he gave to us.

RIP Peter.