HIS life was high pressure and full of emotional challenges but those closest to Ian Leavers APM say he was at home in Ipswich where its turf club was “his happy place.”
The club said it was saddened by the tragic death of committeeman and friend Ian Leavers and extended deepest sympathy to his family and friends.
Mr Leavers had been a member of the Ipswich Turf Club Committee since 2018-2019.
The former long-time Queensland Police Union president and Queensland’s Cross-Border Commissioner was found dead at his Brisbane home last Monday morning.
Police said the 57-year-old’s death was not being treated as suspicious and investigations were ongoing.
His death has shocked and saddened many people.
Mr Leavers joined Queensland police in 1989, working in Ipswich and across several divisions, including the Criminal Investigation Branch and the Child Protection and Investigation Unit.
In 2009, he became the general president of the Queensland Police Union and was elected the Police Federation of Australia president in 2021.
He held both positions until his resignation last year to become Queensland’s first Cross-Border Commissioner.
Mr Leavers was born in England and moved to Queensland with his family at the age of four. He attended St Laurence’s College in Brisbane.
A high-profile and influential figure, he pressured governments to establish a national gun register following the 2022 Wieambilla shootings that claimed the lives of two police officers and a civilian.
He was also instrumental in establishing Blue Hope Support Services, a not-for-profit charity that provides support to current and former police officers based in Queensland.
The Vale Ian Leavers Maiden Plate was run in his honour as the opening race of last Thursday’s Ipswich Turf Club meeting at Ipswich racetrack.
A person close to Mr Leavers, who didn’t want their name published, said Ian would have been honoured to know a race was named after him, in his memory.
“He absolutely loved the Ipswich Turf Club and the board members and everything they stood for. It wasn’t just about the club; it was about bringing the community together,” they said.
“The Turf Club plays a very important role in the Ipswich community.
“It was his happy place.”
ITC chairman Wayne Patch said Mr Leavers’ death was “terrible and shocking.”
Mr Leavers started at the turf club as a member, and he became more involved through the club’s annual Crime Stoppers race days.
“He wasn’t naturally a racing person, so he thought that there might be an opportunity for him to be able to assist and I agreed,” Mr Patch said.
“In fact, I was sort of grooming him; he was steadily learning the intricacies of racing administration in Queensland.
“Ian was perfectly qualified for that. He had a wide-ranging experience in both the social and political circles at local, state and federal level. He was well versed at every level.
“I was actually hoping that he would progress through the board maybe one day to become chairman.
“To see that tragically cut short is not just a loss to the ITC, but the racing industry and the community as a whole.
“‘Leavo’ was a wonderful friend to many and as good a company to be in as you could wish for.
“We were particularly good friends. We grew much closer over the years and it’s a personal tragedy for me as well.
“I think he felt that he was an Ipswich person, an Ipswich identity.
“Even though he was educated at St Lawrence’s in Brisbane and served in various places, Ipswich was where he identified with. He felt completely at home.
“Ian held a lot of highly responsible positions, not only from when he was a police officer on duty, but also his 15 or so years as the president of the police union, a 24/7 role.
“And then of course when he retired from that, he moved into the Cross-Border Commissioner’s role.
“So, he lived a very high profile and high stress existence over decades and he did really enjoy the change of pace and the different tasks at hand at the Turf Club.
“We do have a very cohesive board. It’s a friendly place. It’s a great atmosphere with a common purpose, which was something that he really enjoyed.”
