Remembering Ken Peters

The impact Ken Peters had on Redcliffe and Queensland will not be forgotten after History Redcliffe documented his contribution in consultation with his family.

The long-time Queensland motorsport and photography identity passed away on March 15, aged 87 years, after a short illness.

He was married for 61 years to Narelle Peters who died in December 2021. Both spent their entire married life working and living in Redcliffe.

Soon after national service in 1955, where Ken was a champion marksman, Ken with his brothers Jim, Trevor and Ian became involved in motorsport.

He joined the Queensland Motor Sporting Club (QMSC) in 1956 and was soon on the committee. He won the Qld Motorkana championship in 1963 and was the president of QMSC from 1961 – 1966.

QMSC was largely responsible for working with Lakeside landowner Sid Sakzewski to get Lakeside built and then promote it with huge success, resulting in international drivers attending Lakeside for huge events including two Australian Grand Prix races featuring drivers such as Jim Clarke, Jackie Stewart, Graham Hill, Chris Amon and of course Jack Brabham.

Ken went onto to be the Clerk of the Course in the early years of Lakeside, while also doing some circuit announcing at Lakeside, Lowood and Surfers Paradise.

After many years not driving, he dabbled in hill climbs and competed at the first Mt Cotton event before eventually getting into sports car racing.

Two of his memorable achievements were winning the Queensland Racing Champion in 1974 (across all categories and the following year in 1975 won by Dick Johnson). In 1981 Ken won the Lakeside round of the Australian Sports Car championship in his Auscam 600M which was designed and built by his younger brother Ian, builder of many Auscam race cars.

Ken was also a qualified pharmacist, as was Narelle, but spent most of his working life in the photographic industry which started because of his love of photography, winning distinguished awards, sitting on boards and was president of the Australian Photographic Dealers Association where he formed a link to the PMA International.

Ken’s pharmacy and subsequent camera store were a feature on Redcliffe Pde for nearly 50 years.

Ken and Narelle travelled throughout their working life and retirement, with many of their trips photographed and the images hung in the Redcliffe gallery, and a couple, Antarctica and the Amazon, spending time in galleries around Queensland and NSW.

Ken was a past president of the Kippa Ring Rotary Club, awarded a Paul Harris Fellowship and was Redcliffe Citizen of the year in 2005. He was also a life member of the Peninsula Camera Club, Redcliffe Show Society and the Mousetrap Theatre.

Ken is survived by son Brett and daughter Fiona and their families.

Source: History Redcliffe