A great friend of CQUniversity and a cherished member of the Rockhampton community, Helene Jones OAM passed away in late October aged 94.

Helene was a patron and benefactor of many local arts and cultural groups and she attended many concerts in the Helene Jones Music Room on campus.

Also LINK to the Eulogy presented at the funeral of Helene Jones OAM

Helene Jones OAM pictured during a visit to Rockhampton Campus

She proudly became a Companion of the University in recognition of her support for the University Foundation and other worthwhile causes.

Helene donated funds to provide academic prizes for high achieving music students at the University over many years and always gave music students a special cheer as they crossed the stage at graduation. She has left the University a bequest in support of music at the Rockhampton Campus.

In 1989, she was Rockhampton's Citizen of the Year and, in 1996, she was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia for service to community music, particularly through the Rockhampton Chamber Music Society, choirs and arts organisations.

Helene's funeral at the Norman Road Baptist Tabernacle in Rockhampton attracted a large attendance

In the weeks before she died, Helene had the chance to enjoy a special chamber music performance by members of the visiting Queensland Symphony Orchestra, recognising her importance to the local cultural scene.

In her younger days, Helene was herself an accomplished pianist and her 1941 performance at Brisbane's Albert Hall, celebrating the culmination of her music studies, was interrupted by an air raid siren. She finally got to complete the performance.

During her working life, Helene was official accompanist to the Queensland Department of Education, giving her the chance to perform with many choirs and instrumentalists.

Born in Belfast during World War 1 and living across almost a century, Helene has truly had a life worthy of a standing ovation!