Kynuna Station manager Dave Doyle, who passed away suddenly on July 13.

RESPECTED Northwest Queensland station manager Dave Doyle passed away suddenly in Cloncurry on July 13.

Mr Doyle was attending the Cloncurry Stockman’s Challenge when he suffered a suspected heart attack. He was 45.

A popular member of the Julia Creek/Cloncurry cattle and horse industry community, he had been serving as manager at the North Australian Pastoral Company’s Kynuna Station.

Mr Doyle held a passion for the bush, and cattle in particular, from an early age.

He started with NAPCo as a ringer at Soudan Station 1989. He also worked at Kynuna station for a period, before studying at Gatton Agricultural College, followed by six years as a Queensland DPI Stock Inspector located in Boonah, Julia Creek and Quilpie.

He rejoined NAPCo in 2003 at Mittiebah as overseer, and from there back to Kynuna as station manager. He was a popular and much-respected identity within NAPCo and will be greatly missed.

Mr Doyle is survived by his partner, Sophie Elliott, a young family, his twin brother Marty who is also a long-standing NAPCo employee, and their families.

A funeral service will be held at Julia Creek Racecourse this Thursday, July 28, from 2pm. A celebration of Dave’s life will be held after the service.