Steven (Steve) John Ahern

02/10/1946 - 26/01/2025

No matter who you ask about my father, everyone will have their own stories and opinions. He was a son, brother, brother-in-law, husband, father, uncle, grandfather, godfather and mate. A perfectionist; passionate, determined, and loyal, yet as laid back as a squatter’s chair, as wholesome as a Bowen mango, and as fiery as a cracker. But above all, he was warm and welcoming, a kind and overly generous man, who was fiercely loving and supportive of his family and friends.

Dad was energetic and competitive, full of life and drive. His passion for football, horses, faith, and farming ran through his veins until his last days. He loved nothing more than a well-tucked shirt, a clean hanky, and a drive to anywhere you’d take him. He was happiest teaching people, especially his grandkids - how to ride a horse or how to slip through a defensive line in football untouched.

Early Years & Family Roots

Born the second of six children, Dad was a hardworking, spirited boy who spent his early years helping his father in the cane fields and tending to the Charolais stud on the family farm. Our grandfather, John Ahern, was a meticulous man to work for, and our grandmother, Joan, was a tireless worker, traits that undoubtedly shaped Dad. He believed in doing things properly or not at all, and as kids, we knew all too well when something didn’t meet his standards.

Dad shared some deep bonds with his siblings, Rob, Lyn, Barry, Kev, and Denice, each of whom played a significant role in his life. His connection with Lyn was special, sharing friends and interests all through life. In an uncanny twist of fate, he passed away exactly three days after the sixth anniversary of her death. Just like when Lyn left us, the skies opened up once again, flooding the district. It’s as if they had one last joke to share, reminding us that some bonds run deeper than we’ll ever understand.

Life has a way of aligning moments with extraordinary precision. Dad passed away on Australia Day; a date already close to our hearts as Mum's middle name is Australia. The same day, former AFL player and MND warrior, Neal Daniher was named Australian of the Year. These overlapping threads feel more than coincidental, but woven with meaning as though God was marking his departure with pin point accuracy.

Dad was educated in Ayr, first at St. Francis, then at Marist Brothers, before moving on to Mt Carmel College in Charters Towers as a full-time boarding student for his secondary schooling.

Football Career

With his auburn hair earning him the nickname, Bernie, Dad’s fiery, competitive spirit shone on the football field. While most boys went to school to eat their lunch, Dad went to play as much sport as possible.

Rugby league was his favourite by far and his accolades for his football career reflect this through his school life and after. Dad very quickly became a permanent member of the Hornets A-grade team from 1967 as their dynamic fullback, making his debut for the Burdekin in the Foley Shield.

1970 was a cracking year of football for Dad, as he was selected in the North Queensland team for a three-week tour of the state; he was awarded the blazer for the prestigious Scrammy Sullivan Award for Best Burdekin Representative Player in Foley Shield competition. At the end of that same year, he became the first Burdekin footballer to be awarded the Loloma Jewellers Award as Best & Fairest North Queensland Footballer in the Foley Shield competition.

Dad went on to represent Burdekin in the Foley Shield for nine consecutive seasons, win four club premierships with Hornets, represent North Queensland multiple times and was offered a career playing for Brisbane. Dad was acknowledged for his long distinguished career in rugby league when he was named as fullback in the Burdekin Rugby League Team of the Century, a testament to his skill and commitment.

Love & Family Life

Before Dad hung up his footy boots, he found love across the Burdekin River. Alba Michielin became his devoted wife for over half a century. In their first three years together, Leanne and Alisha were born, followed by John five years later.

Dad’s work ethic was unmatched. He dedicated full days to the farm. His standard of work was simple; if it wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t finished. And if you thought near enough was never good enough, you’d better think again. The farm was his domain, while Mum ran the household. Dad never crossed that line in taking over mum’s responsibilities; he never learned to turn on a TV, use a mobile phone, operate a washing machine, or cook a meal, though he was always very encouraging of Mum learning how to help with farm work!

As life evolved, Dad became a kind, supportive, and welcoming father-in-law to Tony Sorohan, James Guild, and Mally Teichmann. He embraced them with deep respect and took joy in seeing them support his children in their own lives.

Farming & Horses

Dad had a real soft spot for animals, and that reflected his keen interest in The Curragh Charolais Stud, which he worked on alongside his father. John Ahern was the first to introduce Charolais blood into Queensland in 1969 after travelling to Europe in search of quality genetics. Dad played a key role in the breeding program, performing all the artificial insemination on the stud cows and showcasing their cattle throughout the North Queensland Shows.

When the Charolais stud was dispersed in 1983 to allow for increased sugarcane farming, Dad’s passion turned to horses. And make no mistake, horses had Dad well trained! They taught him patience, harmony and how to read an animal’s mind better than most people. He was so committed that he went back to school for them, attending more Ray Hunt clinics than most people have attended weddings.

Dad fully immersed us kids into the horse life - riding school, pony club, gymkhanas, team penning, and campdrafting alongside him. Our excuses to avoid working horses or competing were as useless as a fly at a barbecue; swatted away instantly. Speaking of flies, you would often find Dad quietly training a fly on his finger and coaxing it to jump to another.

Dad instilled in us resilience, persistence and discipline; qualities that shaped our lives.

Faith, Farming & Family Bonds

His connection with animals and nature naturally extended to his farming practices. Alongside his brothers Barry and Kev, they were well ahead of their time transitioning from conventional methods to sustainable chemical-free farming known as Bio-Dynamics. They resisted the easy route of synthetic fertilisers and pesticides, working hard to maintain natural soil health. Losing his brother, Barry suddenly and Kev moving on from farming deeply affected Dad, but it only strengthened his belief in his work. He was relentless in his advocacy for clean, chemical-free food. He could observe the most delicate details of pesticide and herbicide damage to trees and nature. He was notorious for flicking that tomato off his burger or leaving the side salad untouched if he suspected it wasn’t organic. Like an eagle, dad took flight with his strong beliefs, soaring above the ordinary, fearless in the face of adversity.

He lived by a simple truth:

To soar like an eagle, you must have the courage to fly against the wind.

Dad’s Catholic faith was unshakable, not something that began with marriage or children, but long before, when he was just a young man. Whether it was a footy trip or hunting weekend away with mates, he would make it his priority to find the nearest Catholic Church and mass times, then attend mass early Sunday morning while his mates were usually sleeping. Every morning he began his day with the Rosary, and Sunday Mass was non-negotiable. His faith shaped how he lived every day, it became the lens through which he saw the world, made decisions and treated others. His values of honesty, humility, discipline, perseverance, integrity and stewardship earned him deep respect. He was a man of his word, salt of the earth, and he was always ready to help anyone in need.

Mateship

Although he worked hard, he made time for fun – pig hunting or duck shooting with mates, camping, and croc spotting with John from the chopper. He valued family gatherings, especially the annual Ahern family Christmas and Mother’s Day gatherings.

A Devoted Grandfather & Friend

In later years, Dad became a beloved Grandad to Georgia, Courtney, Mackenzie, Charlie, Laynie, and Rhylan. He took immense joy in their laughter, their achievements, and teaching them life’s little lessons, like how to load a slingshot, craft a bow and arrow, or tell a great Dad joke. Leaving them with practical skills and a strong sense of logic to navigate life.

He also cherished his lifelong mates from school, football and his Hornets days, farming, and horses. No matter where he went, he always seemed to find a familiar face and nothing brought him more joy than a good yarn with an old mate. As his battle with Motor Neuron Disease began to limit his activity, Dad felt incredibly grateful to have a steady stream of family and friends visiting most days, who kept his world filled with stories, laughter, and mateship.

At five years old, Dad was hospitalised for six months in Townsville after contracting rheumatic fever. He shared a room with an Aboriginal boy, and the two quickly became friends, sneaking out of their beds and getting up to so much mischief that the nurses had no choice but to strap them in. Each Sunday, his mother, Joan, would catch the train to Townsville to visit him for the day. That long hospital stay left a lasting impression on Dad – he hated the idea of being confined to a hospital bed ever again and made it his life’s mission to never spend another night in a hospital or rely on medication. True to his word, he stayed out of hospital and refused medication. His strong mind and sheer determination carrying him through life on his own terms.

Farewell Dad

You left behind a mosaic of memories for us; your intense hand-washing routine, your tucked-in shirts (even for bed!), your iconic dress of long-sleeved shirt and jeans; your meticulous attention to detail. You never owned a wallet or a pair of thongs, and you never withdrew money from a bank.

We especially want to thank Mum for her unwavering devotion in caring for you. You always said how lucky you were to have her, but we know you were both lucky to have each other.

Dad, thank you for everything you did, everything you were, and everything you taught us.

We love you dearly and will miss you always. May heaven hold you close and may Mackenzie's smile be the first light you see. Forever held in God's grace.

Alisha (James, Georgia, Courtney & Charlie)