A large crowd farewelled Mr McKinnon at the St Andrew's Presbyterian Church, Nowra on Friday, June 28.

The church was overflowing with mourners, who also gathered in the Presbyterian hall and were seated outside the church, hearing of a hardworking, community minded, family man.

Mr McKinnon passed away on June 12, aged 91.

His wife of 64 years Theresa welcome mourners to the service, saying it was something her late husband had insisted on.

She spoke of his love for his family and of the St Andrew's Presbyterian Church where he had been a member for 73 years and an Elder for more than 40 years.

The following is a tribute by his family.

Ian Herbert McKinnon was born on December 10, 1927, the seventh of eight children in the family of Clariss and Bert McKinnon, of Tomerong.

His mother, Clariss had been born in Victoria but moved to Perth with her family.

She met and married her first husband, Martin Collins, who sadly died in WWI. Ian was always most impressed that after the war, Clariss travelled to Europe on her own to visit her husband's grave.

With two small daughters, Eileen and Kath, in tow, Clariss moved to Tumut in NSW to start a new life.

There she met Bert McKinnon, a drover - they married and moved to Huskisson before settling at a property known as Bayview, one and a half miles north of Tomerong.

There they added to their family with the birth of Nance, Peg, Jean, Bill, Ian and Bob.

Living at Bayview, slightly away from the main village of Tomerong, especially helped Ian and his older brother Bill develop a really close bond that lasted until Bill's death in October 1998.

Ian attended Tomerong Public School, as did all his children after him.

He was a very nervous little boy, and tried hard to do everything right.

Clariss made him a cloth bag in which to take his lunch and a small book to school. Ian was excited about having his own little bag, until he got to school and saw other children with leather bags over their shoulders.

He did well at most subjects but was particularly skilled at maths and could remember poetry, which he recited in later years for his own children.

He enjoyed playing marbles at school, soft ball and cricket.

Towards the end of Ian's school days, a man visited the family and commented to Bert that Ian would make a good bullocky - Ian was horrified at the thought!

Despite his reaction to the suggestion, Ian, in fact, left school at age 14 to earn his own living and started working in the bush.

He cut logs with an axe and drove a bullock team to draw the logs to a dump, ready for the truck to take them to the sawmill.

At 16, Ian drove a team of 16 bullocks so he could take the logs a longer distance.

It was hard, exhausting and at times dangerous work - too much really for a young boy.

He worked with his father until he was aged 19.

It was around that time Ian joined the Nowra Presbyterian Church, an association that lasted 73 years.

Ian became interested in being more independent and he bought a bullock team and jinker from his father.

In the same year he also bought his first piece of land, 117 acres, and four years later he bought another 200 acres.

Eventually he owned 1200 acres of timber land.

He was also interested in raising cattle.

In 1954 at the age of 27, Ian sold his bullocks and bought an army blitz wagon to haul the logs.

This made life easier, as did the purchase of a chain saw in 1959.

Ian married Theresa McGrath on May 7, 1955 at the Catholic Church in Kiama, after a three-year courtship that included many fun times.

The fact that a Presbyterian man was marrying a Catholic woman was quite something at that time and frowned on by many people - their determination to marry was a testament to their love and strength and commitment to each other.

The young couple settled in Tomerong in an old house with no conveniences.

Four children were born while the family was in that little house.

In 1962 Ian built a new house on the same property in Tomerong. It had three bedrooms and a huge water tank which was considered a bit excessive by some locals.

But Ian was proud when he rarely had to buy in water.

The new house was unfinished when the family moved in and it took many years for all the work to be completed.

Ian and Theresa had five more children in the 'new' home.

All children attended Tomerong Public School and also learnt music, the piano, from a teacher in Nowra.

With only one car, it meant Ian and Theresa needed to work together to ensure the car was available for trips to town for music lessons.

The children were encouraged to play sport which involved more trips to town.

Soon after moving to the new house, Ian started a woodworking course at Nowra Technical College.

This involved attending classes once a week. He used his new skills to make furniture such as beds, chests of drawers and stools and continued his love of woodworking through his long life.

Living in a small community such as Tomerong encourages people to join in and support local organisations.

Ian and Theresa did this happily - Ian joined the fire brigade, the P and C and hall committee.

With his brother Bill, he established and ran table tennis nights in the local hall every fortnight for years, so older children and teenagers could have a social gathering and learn some life skills.

The couple always supported and often helped organise the monthly dances and the famous Tomerong cabaret nights that provided wonderful entertainment for the local community.

Ian was inducted as an Elder of St Andrew's Presbyterian Church in 1977 and was session clerk for several years.

He regularly accompanied the minister on trips from Sydney to Batemans Bay to carry out the work of the church.

All through the years he continued to work in the bush. Later he said he never enjoyed it very much but was contented that he did the best with what was available at the time.

In about 1969, Ian started selling his property and bought residential flats as a way to have a more regular income and provide secondary and tertiary education for the nine children.

Ian and Theresa paid school fees for 48 years - six children for six years, and three children for four years. All children were financially supported to pursue a post school education or training.

In 1981, Ian and Theresa moved to a new house they had built at Falls Creek.

This house was bigger and more comfortable than the one at Tomerong, and also had a tennis court which was enjoyed by the family and many friends.

Ian continued his involvement in many community organisations.

He became a foundation member of the Jervis Bay Probus Club in 1982, was president for a year in 1997 and again in 2007, when he was made a life member.

Ian took an active role in organising many activities and events for the members.

He joined the Masonic Lodge in 1984 and very much appreciated the principles and values that the lodge encouraged in its members.

Ian was appointed worshipful master in 1993 and was invited to take the chair again for the past masters' night in 2000.

Ian was vice-president of the Nowra Show Society in 1984 and was a wood chop steward for almost 30 years.

Ian enjoyed many, many years of bowling - firstly indoor bowling through the church and then outdoor bowling at Nowra Bowling Club.

In 2007, in the year he turned 80, lan and Theresa moved into their house in Nowra.

This house had been built by Theresa's uncle, Paddy McGrath, and was in an ideal position.

Ian continued with his various activities and loved when family came to visit, especially if they joined him in a game of bowls.

lan was delighted in 2015 to be awarded an OAM in recognition of his many years of community service.

Ian remained in good health up until relatively recently.

He was disappointed to go on to a restricted licence earlier this year, but he could still drive to the races which was a bonus!

In the last few months he became more incapacitated, both physically and mentally, and just two days before he went into hospital on June 5, was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease.

Ian died with Theresa holding his hand.

He is survived by his wife Theresa, children Anne, Beth, John, Mark, David, Clare, Lyn, Terry and Ross and their spouses. He was grandfather to 25 grandchildren and 12 great grandchildren.