Tributes have poured in for businessman, philanthropist and QUT Golden Graduate, Sir Brian Bell, who died recently.
Sir Brian, 82, who had made considerable contributions to his adopted country Papua New Guinea, was chairman of the board and managing director of Brian Bell & Company group - one of PNG`s premier retailers, wholesalers and distributors of non-food and clothing products companies.
He was the Special Excellence Award winner at QUT's 2009 Outstanding Alumni Awards.
Sir Brian, CSM, KBE, C.St.J, was knighted by the Queen for his many contributions to business and charity in PNG.
Papua New Guinea Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare expressed deep sorrow over Sir Brian's death on July 26.
"PNG has recognised his invaluable contributions and bestowed upon him a number of well-earned awards over the years," Sir Michael said.
"On behalf of Papua New Guineans, Lady Veronica and my family, I sincerely thank the late Sir Brian's family for his many contributions.
"He will be remembered by many whose lives he touched."
Sir Brian arrived in PNG in 1954 with a sense of adventure and a Diploma of Pharmacy from the Central Technical College (one of QUT's predecessor institutions).
He was an icon who had been at the helm of his business every day since it began in 1961, and had singularly been responsible for building up his business in Papua New Guinea - expanding from Port Moresby to Lae, Kokopo, Madang, Mt Hagen and other smaller towns in the country.
Sir Brian was a renowned philanthropist, donating to the Port Moresby General Hospital, the Salvation Army, Red Cross and Port Moresby City Mission.
In recognition of outstanding achievement and community service, Sir Brian received a KBE, PNG Community Service Medal, Queen's Jubilee Medal, PNG Independence Medals and the Salvation Army's Order of Distinguished Auxiliary Service.
He was awarded the Royal Order of Merit Knight 1st Class (Norway) and Commander of the Royal Order of the Polar Star (Sweden) for service as Honorary Consul General.
