Business
12 June, 2024
Tributes flow after sudden death of former MIM boss
Barry Sullivan spent two decades living and working in Mount Isa.
Made famous as the executive general manager of Mount Isa Mines, those who knew Barry Sullivan would remember him best as a family man and rugby union tragic.
Mr Sullivan will be farewelled at a funeral service in Townsville on Thursday (June 13) after he died suddenly last week from natural causes.
He was 76 years old and was at home on Magnetic Island when he passed away.
Mr Sullivan spent two decades living in Mount Isa and held a number of different roles before working his way up to become the boss of MIM.
Those who knew him said he was always fair with his workers and had a strong sense of community.
His son Jim Sullivan told Industry Queensland that his dad was known for his management skills.
“Dick Potts worked all over the world as a mining engineer and once described Barry as the best man manager he had ever worked for, and certainly numbers of different colleagues of his from the Mount Isa days speak of him with great respect and affection,” he said.
“One colleague described him as a giant amongst engineers. He was very highly respected. I know when there was a strike on in Mount Isa at one stage there in the 90s and the local radio station was interviewing people – it was big news in the Isa at the time – and one comment that came back, ‘oh, we don’t really have much to worry about, Barry Sullivan’s in charge’.
“So, there was a great sense of security, shall we say, with Barry there in the Isa, for a lot of people.
Mr Sullivan’s wife of 50-plus years, Toni, said his true love may have been rugby.
“We’ve attended every World Cup since 2003, which is when he finally retired from the mining industry,” she told Industry Queensland.
“He was obviously president of Mount Isa Rugby Union for many years and also at one stage there president of Queensland Country Rugby.
“He played the game until he was almost 50, even on more-or-less a part-time basis. It certainly was his other passion in life.”
Mr Sullivan was the adored father and father-in-law of Kate, Jim and Julie, Sue and Brenton, Christopher and Brooke. He had nine grandchildren.
