The Queensland Rugby community is mourning the loss of Queensland Representative #609, Ian Brusasco AO.
Born in Ingham in North Queensland in 1928, Brusasco played five games for his state in the early 1950’s.
As a businessman, politician, sports administrator and philanthropist, Brusasco would go on to leave an immense mark on the Queensland community.
Educated at St Joseph’s Nudgee College, Brusaco studied Pharmacy at the University of Queensland and started his own pharmacy business in Brisbane alongside a number of other community endeavours.
Brusasco also served the Australian Labor Party (ALP) for over 60-years, playing a key role in the party’s finances, and serving as a Brisbane Alderman for 14 years.
Alongside Clem Jones, Brusasco founded Foodbank Queensland, a charity which feeds over a quarter of a million people monthly and is Australia’s largest food relief organisation.
Brusasco also had a passion for soccer, serving as President of both the Australian and Queensland soccer federations which saw him named a Member of the General Division of the Order of Australia in 1988 in recognition of his service to the sport.
On 11 June 2012, he was named an Officer in the General Division of the Order of Australia for "distinguished service to the community of Queensland through leadership roles with a range of public administration, sporting and charitable organisations, particularly Foodbank Queensland".
Brusasco served as Director or Chairman for various different organisations, including Foodbank (Qld) Ltd, Workcover Queensland, Port of Brisbane, Keep Australia Beautiful Council, Queensland Investment Corporation, Gladstone Port Corporation Ltd, TAB, and 4KQ.
