McCafferty, John Francis

John Francis McCafferty, founder of one of Queensland’s largest coach and travel firms, is the third longest serving Mayor of Towoomba.

Elected Mayor of the city in 1958,he held the position for nine years. Only Alderman J D Annand and Alderman Nell Robinson have served as Mayor for longer terms.

Mr Jack McCafferty was born at Breakfast Creek, in Brisbane in 1914. He went to live in Warwick in 1919 and received his education at the Warwick East State School, St Joseph’s Christian Brothers’ College and the Warwick High School.

He came to Toowoomba in 1928 and during the depression years of the 1930s, commenced a milk run with a horse and cart at Wilsonton.

Mr McCafferty sold the business after eight years and in 1940, purchased a 35 seat passenger bus and began a service from the center of Toowoomba to Picnic Point. Takings in the first week were 21 pounds (about $42).

More local bus runs were acquired but about 1950, he sold his suburban bus interests to concentrate on a co-ordinated bus-rail link from Toowoomba to Brisbane.

From these beginnings, McCafferty’s Coach and Travel has grown to include Australia-wide coach tours. The company now has an annual turnover of $10million, employs 200 staff and operates a fleet of 65 coaches. The head office is in Toowoomba but branches are also located at the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Rockhampton, Emerald, Nanango and Sydney.
 
During the 1950s, Jack McCafferty became involved in community affairs. He entered Toowoomba City Council as an alderman in 1955 and was elected Mayor in 1958.

He believes the highlights of his time as Mayor were the construction of Perseverance Creek Dam and the opening of the Toowoomba City Council administration building in Herries Street.

He was also Mayor when Toowoomba celebrated its centenary in 1960 and for the visit of Princess Alexandra. His biggest disappointment was the failure to have a large airport established at Wilsonton.

According to Mr McCafferty, the airport would have allowed aircraft up to 40 seats to land. It would have covered the area from about the corner of Tor and North Streets to where the Wilsonton State School is now located.

As a member of the Carnival of Flowers committee, Mr McCafferty served for two years as president of the board. He also served as a member of the Toowoomba District Abattoir Board, trustee of the Toowoomba Athletic oval, and was president of the Toowoomba Municipal Band for five years.

Now managing director of McCafferty’s, Mr McCafferty divides his time between his Toowoomba home and his unit on the Gold Coast.

[Jack McCafferty passed away on January 12 1999 at the age of 84 after a 2 year battle with cancer. His funeral was held at St. Patrick’s Cathedral and was attended by more than 1000 people.]