Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)
From: Waddon Pete
Date: 30 May 16 - 12:36 PM

Another good one gone. My condolences to all who know and love him. I have added his name to the "In Memoriam" thread.

RIP

Peter

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)
From: rich-joy
Date: 30 May 16 - 10:15 AM

The Rev's Last Gig - at the Memorial Gardens on Friday 27th - was well attended by his Family-Friends-Fans. I'm sure he was there too, laughing and listening to the stories and the music - if only I had the gift of "The Sight" to have seen him!
Never mind, I know "we'll meet further on down the road" eh, and you'll be there with Paul in my Angel Band, when it's time.
Love, Light, and lotsa Larfter, old friend.
Rich-Joy and Celestial Paul xox

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)
From: Hrothgar
Date: 24 May 16 - 05:12 AM

Have not been able to get onto the Cat for a couple of days.

Ian was one of those blokes I liked from the start. He tended towards traditional material, which won him more brownie points with me. He had very good taste in the songs he sang (that means he sang songs I like).

He loved folk song, and it showed all the time - at a folk club, at a session, at a party.

We had the good fortune to have the same sense of humour, and the same inclination towards heckling (especially each other).

When we visited him a week ago in hospital, and he said he was going to be at the folk club on the Wednesday night, we had doubts, but he showed up, and I hope we gave him a good sendoff.

He was a very dear friend, and I don't have so many friends that I can spare any.

Rest in peace.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)
From: GUEST,The Dragon
Date: 23 May 16 - 11:26 PM

Many memories of heroic (and hilarious) escapades across tas and its folk scene with the noble St. George. Perhaps the one that will resonate with anyone who knew him would be the regular 5 cent repayment off my Jewish partner's gas bill to a (bemused) German shop owner.
Sympathy to Susi, children and siblings.
Go well gentle knight.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)
From: rich-joy
Date: 23 May 16 - 08:34 PM

message from Susi re Clarkey's Wake this Friday :

Ian's funeral and wake will be at 1pm this Friday, 27th May, 2016. The address is:

Centenary Memorial Gardens,
Cnr Wacol Station Rd & Wolston Rd.,
Sumner, Qld., 4074

I'm hoping the weather will be fine and not too hot as I have chosen the Garden Chapel but, if necessary, it can be held in the Federation Chapel as they have held that for us, too.

Would you please let me know asap if you are attending the wake so I can give the catering crew numbers to allow for. The menu is basically tea, coffee, fruit juice, sandwiches, fruit muffins, scones, cake and fruit platter. All freshly made.

Dress how you like; Ian would not want otherwise, though I guess black would be de rigueur as that was his favourite 'colour'. Please bring along a music instrument and your singing voices as he would love that.

We are allowed up to 2 hours there, including service/ceremony. Let's make it good send-off!

I'm not sure if I've included all, and if I haven't, I apologise. If people can pass this on, just to make sure, I'd really appreciate it.

love/regards Susi/Susana *Emoji*

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)
From: GUEST,David Jacobs
Date: 23 May 16 - 07:25 PM

I am not sure when or where in the folk dens of Brisbane I first met Ian. Imdo know that he knew stuff, that he was so,supportive of everyone, that his heckles were some of the greatest put downs I've ever had to respond too...but respond I did, he made my fear of performing vanish, he made me feel in a silenced room, I was playing for friends. We did plot against the MC a few times,muso wonderfully juvenile.
I missed the wake he was at last week, it takes a lot to drive me to tears, I knew as he did his days were numbered, but there was no sadness or regret.
Seeya round dear friend.

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Brisbane)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 23 May 16 - 11:24 AM

refresh

Subject: RE: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Aust)
From: Sandra in Sydney
Date: 22 May 16 - 10:18 AM

another good 'un gone, RIP

Shimbo Darktree's posts

One of Shimbo Darktree's earliest posts in 1999

    OK, I'll add my bit to the list.

    My name is Ian Clarke. My nick was taken from a book
    titled "Isle of the Dead" by Roger Zelazny - the sci-fi
    buffs will know it (probably).

    I am from Tasmania, Australia, and currently live in Brisbane
    Queensland (also Australia).
    My second job is as an accountant (that's the one that pays)>
    My first job is folk singer (with guitar), and that's the
    one that does NOT pay. I started singing folk in the mid
    60's (hey, stop calculating my age!), stopped doing it
    publicly for around 25 years, and have started again.
    This happened because I was listening to a singer at a
    resort hotel where I'd gone on business, and he noticed I
    was watching his chords (settle down! I mean the ones he
    was playing, not wearing). He asked me if I would like to
    do a couple of numbers, as he believed it was the easiest
    way for him to earn his crust. So I did, and realised how
    much I missed the old folk clubs. Well, I have since found
    an old-style folk club, and we run each Wednesday night.
    Any visitors to Brisbane are welcome (no cover charge!)
    and more info can be sourced from (and I'm not going to get
    fancy here): http://tinpan.fortunecity.com/eltonjohn/168/folk.html
    Hope that comes up right!

    Shimbo

Subject: Obit: Ian (The Rev) Clarke, 1946-2016 (Aust)
From: rich-joy
Date: 22 May 16 - 09:33 AM

A much-loved Brisbane Folkie (ex-Tasmania), passed last night from cancer. His wit and intellect, plus his passion for folk music, will be sorely missed - as will his trademark black clothes, and his long bushy hair and beard. I know he'll be singing out in The Angel Band with my own Beloved - his mate Lawls - and all the other Folkies gone on ahead. Much Love and best wishes to wife Susi, his loving companion.   VALE Clarkey [ Mudcat Handle : Shimbo Darktree ]    love, Rich-Joy

" It is not a finale... merely intermission. It is a continuing journey. Death is merely a pause to reflect on the progress of your eternal self so far." (Veronica)


Vale Ian (The Rev) Clarke

By Anne Infante

" Many years ago, a long-haired, long-bearded, black-garbed, black-hatted, guitar-toting refugee from Tasmania walked into the Kookaburra Folk Club and asked for a set. He played regularly over the following weeks then Stan Arthur asked him to join that iconic Brisbane folk group the Wayfarers.

Ian Clarke, aka 'The Rev' (from The Reverend Mr Black) aka 'Ian (The Rev) Inky Clarke' – take your pick – for his favourite (in fact only) colour in clothing, rapidly became a much-loved member of the Brisbane folk family. He cheerfully put up with all our unkind Tasmanian jokes, the various references to inbreeding and being told he didn't sing the right versions of songs, pleading that as a Tasmanian he didn't know any better!

When Stan died in 2004, the Wayfarers decided to remain together as a group and Ian took over the job of MC and general club organiser which he carried out with his own flair and dedication. In 2011 the club moved to the Red Hill Community Sports Centre and became Red Hill Folk.

Ian retired as MC in 2012 to give him some grey nomad travel time. His last MC night was March 28th and we held a surprise farewell 'black themed' tribute night for him where everyone wore black and sang either religious/gospel songs (one of Ian's loves) or songs with the word 'black' in them. The supper table cloths were black as were the plastic cutlery, plates and dishes.

I took over from Ian as MC and Cat-Herder; although, as Sue Wighton said, we all would miss Ian's 'strange but wonderful mind'. I valued Ian's help and expertise and he was always willing to step back into the role if I needed a break.

Ian was suddenly taken ill just before Easter 2016 and it was discovered that he had a very aggressive lung cancer that had progressed to his spine. He was in the Wesley Hospital for treatment and feeling very annoyed that he couldn't get to Red Hill Folk to perform.

So last Wednesday, May 18th, his doctor, nursing staff, his wife Susi and his sister Val, arranged for him to have a night out at Red Hill Folk. He arrived by maxi-taxi in an amazing wheelchair-cum-portable hospital bed and was obviously delighted to be with us all again, sharing jokes, greeting everyone and performing a short set. Although the hospital had said he could only be out for an hour, he was enjoying himself so much he stayed until the end and was given a rousing ovation as he left.

Word had got around that he might be there, so the place was packed. Everyone acknowledged Ian in their sets and sang for him. Ian Johnson observed that the energy and love was almost overwhelming and it was surely the best send off he could have wished for. As Shez Wright said later, it was a blessing he left quickly and didn't suffer any more - and got to attend his own wake!!!

From Friday morning Susi was almost constantly at his bedside, accompanied by their son Robin and daughter Sarah, with very few breaks. The Rev passed away peacefully in the company of Susi and Sarah a little after 2:00am May 22nd 2016 at the Wesley Hospital, Auchenflower.

Ian was a lovely, lovely man. He was kind, funny, supportive, always ready for a joke and a song; a champion heckler who kept us all laughing with his caustic wit, and always giving as good as he got with smart comebacks when heckled in return. An inveterate forwarder of insane joke emails, he made sure we had our daily dose of humour, with the rider that he wasn't to blame – he just passed them on!

As Kay Kane said, he was so easy to like. In fact, he was dearly loved and will be so very much missed.

Travel safe, Rev, wherever you're headed and to whatever your next port of call. "