Tribute to Mr Doug Markell
The shocking attack in Mumbai on two hotels and some other public places, which resulted in nearly 200 deaths and hundreds of injured, shocked the world. When we learned of the deaths of Australians in the attack we all felt involved—as we did following the Australian deaths that occurred in the New York Twin Towers attack, and with the tragedies in Bali the following year.
I was particularly dismayed to hear of the murder of my friend Doug Markell and the bullet wound to his wife Alison on 29 November. When the terrorists attacked the Taj Mahal Palace, Doug and his wife were enjoying a holiday just prior to his retirement. I understand that he and his wife were told to stay in their hotel but they feared the worst and bravely made a break for it. They were gunned down by some 20 young terrorists who rampaged through India’s financial capital, targeting tourists with bullets and grenades. They were shot in cold blood in the corridor, with Mrs Markell shot in the leg and her husband shot dead.
Doug Markell was a 71-year-old businessman and Woollahra councillor. His motto was “Work to live, not live to work”, and his legacy was a life of community service. He was a tall, proud and upstanding man, even at 71, who could be described as a real old-fashioned gentleman. Despite an impeccable business pedigree as a chartered accountant, merchant banker and company director, family and community service were always his two passions. Doug and Alison were the parents of two sons, Charles and David, who immediately flew to India to be with their mother, who had been taken to the Australian embassy to recover from her bullet wound.
When Doug first ran as an independent for Sydney’s Woollahra Council in 1991 and was looking for running mates he said that the self-interested need not apply. He said, “We want to encourage candidates who are primarily interested in serving the local community.” Our mutual friend John Young, who had known Mr Markell for 45 years, said he was an enormously warm man who loved travel, fishing, cars, bridge and his beloved Wallabies, who they would follow interstate to watch.
Doug was a charming man with a great community spirit. He served as a councillor with Woollahra from 1991 to 1995 and was Deputy Mayor in 1994 and 1995. He was an avid Sydney Swans fan, a vintage car collector and an active skier. Doug was President of the Sydney Probus Club and was the chief executive officer of office supplies company Zions Systems until 2000, when he took on the role of chairman. His business was extremely successful and was largely based on his own excellent sense of management processes. Opposition Leader Malcolm Turnbull said he was deeply saddened that a Sydney man who played a leading role in his local community had been killed in the Mumbai terrorist attacks. Mr Turnbull told reporters in Sydney:
He played a leading role in our community in the suburbs of Sydney and I’m very deeply saddened by his death. Our prayers and condolences go to his family as indeed they go to all the families of those killed or injured in this dreadful, murderous outbreak of terrorism.
I knew Doug and Alison for 20 years during my membership of the Rotary Club of Sydney. We were directors on the board of the club for many years and became close colleagues. During my service as Vice President of the club we became very close. Doug joined our club in 1983 and over 25 years held several positions as director, assistant honorary treasurer and president’s aide.
Then when I was elected as President of this largest Rotary Club in Australia in 1993 and 1994, I thought of Doug immediately as my presidential aide. We were to raise $800,000 together and were very hands-on with a number of important community projects. Doug was essential in seeing that all my presidential duties were completed effectively and efficiently. He was the perfect president’s aide, with a smile and greeting for everyone on arrival each week. The meetings certainly ran very smoothly while he held this position.
He was the epitome of Rotary’s motto “Service above self”. I pay tribute to a remarkable friend and colleague and a fellow member of the Rotary Club of Sydney. Our thoughts and prayers go to the family and friends of all the victims at this difficult time. Doug Markell’s funeral will be held next Thursday 11 December at St Stephen’s Church, Macquarie Street, opposite Parliament House.
