{"id":373155,"date":"2026-06-12T20:12:37","date_gmt":"2026-06-12T10:12:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/?p=373155"},"modified":"2026-06-12T20:18:33","modified_gmt":"2026-06-12T10:18:33","slug":"jim-navigated-his-life-with-courage","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/southburnett.com.au\/news2\/2026\/06\/12\/jim-navigated-his-life-with-courage\/","title":{"rendered":"Jim Navigated His Life With Courage"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Former Nanango resident Elizabeth Caffery with her 45-year labour of love, “Captain Of His Destiny”<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

June 12, 2026<\/strong><\/p>\n

Former Wondai resident Jim Burns lived with a severe disability from childhood.<\/p>\n

He caught polio at the age of six … the last time he stood on two legs. He then spent the next six years in hospital where he received no schooling.<\/p>\n

The story of this heartbreaking start to life could have ended there, but Jim Burns grew into an extraordinary man whose life has now been recorded by his niece, former Nanango resident Elizabeth (“Liz”) Caffery.<\/p>\n

Liz’s biography of her amazing uncle, “Captain Of His Destiny”, was launched before a a big audience at St Mary’s Catholic Church last Saturday afternoon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

After leaving hospital, Jim began his education in infants class at age 12 and, amazingly, managed to complete eight years of primary school in just four years at Wondai State School.<\/p>\n

There was little support available in those days for a paraplegic but Jim navigated his painful journey with tenacity and courage.<\/p>\n

And despite his disabilities, he became a virtuoso violinist, music teacher and concert conductor, and a key part of many lives in the South Burnett.<\/p>\n

South Burnett Mayor Kathy Duff wrote the foreword to the biography.<\/p>\n

She said Jim had a quiet determination which had helped to shape the future of the region.<\/p>\n

“Jim was an inspiration and you, Liz, are an inspiration with your courage and determination to put Jim’s story together,” Mayor Duff said.<\/p>\n

A highlight of the book launch was when Thora Hayes, 93, took up a violin – which Jim bought for her as a child – and played a duet, “Meditation”, with her son Kerry on piano.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Thora began learning music with Jim in Kingaroy in 1943 at the age of 10.<\/p>\n

She said polio had deformed him so much that he only weighed 32kg but his arms were so strong he could pick up a chair and lift it into a new location with just one hand.<\/p>\n

Kingaroy musician Moya Hayden, who officially launched the biography, said Jim shared his deep sadness about never being able to walk again with only a few confidantes during his life.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n

At three years of age, Jim would scramble into any rowboat he could find at Hervey Bay and declare “I’m the captain” but the tide then turned for him – and never came back – when polio struck.<\/p>\n

“You will never walk again” he was told.<\/p>\n

His life began to change when he met a music teacher, a German immigrant, Alfred Epplere, who was the bandmaster at Murgon.<\/p>\n

“Music was to be Jim’s compass in life,” Moya said.<\/p>\n

Liz said her uncle lost himself in the perfection of his music, a “counterpoint to his pain from his twisted body”.<\/strong><\/p>\n

She said the book took her 45 years to write, but admitted there was a 43-year hiatus.<\/p>\n

It was begun soon after Jim died in 1979 but then Liz put everything she had gathered aside in a big box and only picked it up again a couple of years ago.<\/p>\n

Her research was helped by a transcript of a speech that Jim made at Nanango State High School’s speech night in 1977.<\/p>\n

Former South Burnett Mayor Keith Campbell OAM compered the afternoon.<\/strong><\/p>\n

“This book is driven by love and remembrance about her Uncle Jim. It wasn’t just about telling a story, it was a way to honour his life,” Keith said.<\/p>\n

Jim had no children himself, but was much-loved by his wider family as well as all the children he taught.<\/p>\n

Ten of his 11 nieces and nephews travelled to Kingaroy for the book launch.<\/p>\n

Copies of “Captain Of His Destiny” are available for $30 at any of the South Burnett’s visitor information centres.<\/strong><\/p>\n