Ed SimsPrint Page

The machinery shed at the Historical Museum commemorates Ed Sims, a life member of the Kenilworth Museum who died in 2007. 

Gheerulla Cemetery will mark the end of an era this morning as Ed Sims is laid to rest. The audience will be pretty big but it will be a cause for celebration, not solemnity. That order came directly from Ed himself. The youngest child of one of the areas earliest selectors in 1891, Ed knew he was on his final journey 18 months ago, after contracting colon cancer. So he set about making arrangements.

Thats why, along with his daughters Barbara and Helen, and many of his 72 first cousins and their families from around the region, will be his prized possession a vintage 1905 Reo car, driven by his long-time rally co-driver Ray Gould.

Tributes have poured in for Ed. He asked that the funeral be a happy celebration of his life, Kenilworth and District Historical Association president Lenore Meldrum said. He planned his own event. There will be a brass band to head the procession and his car will be in it as part of a parade of cars.

Ms Meldrum said Ed was one of the original Sims Brothers Garage owners in Yandina, from 1929 to 1982. Its Kenilworth Garage now, she said. As a founder of the Veteran Car Club of Queensland (VCCQ), Ed attended every rally event in the 1905 car since its inception. The car has an interesting past. It was the first car in Yandina, Ms Meldrum said.

It was originally bought by the local GP, Dr Steggall. But the story goes that he couldnt drive it, so he tied it to a tree and drove it round in circles while he learned how to operate the gears. Much later, in 1950, during the Kenilworth Centenary, the local bank manager told Ed about the car. Ed bought it and restored it, though not to perfect order. But since, he has won concourse prizes at every veteran car rally.

As one of Kenilworths first Living Treasures, he was a life member of the local museum, having organised and restored all the mechanical artefacts there. The museum is going to name the Mechanical Shed after Ed as a result.

Ms Meldrum said Ed had been told he wouldn`t last beyond Christmas. But he stuck around until March. He was in Maleny Hospital for a while then went home to see his time out. He fought it all the way he beat the odds and he was still doing tour guides of Kenilworth Museum until last October.
Sunshine Coast Daily, 14 April 2007. 

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