Life is Changed not Ended

John Francis Jones

Entered eternal life 21 February 2021

By Michael, Brendan and Christopher Jones

John Jones or as he is better-known Jack, was born on the 4 October 1925 to parents Francis Reginald Jones and Monica Grace Conroy.  Jack was the youngest child with two siblings Leo and Edna, who he adored, and they adored him.

Born under the Librium zodiac sign, he demonstrated such traits as peacefulness, cooperativeness, diplomacy, graciousness, fair-mindedness, and was very social.

Jack attended Our Lady of Victories School for Grades 1 and 2 and then attended St John’s Marist Brothers School till Grade 6.  At age 12, he followed his brother to De La Salle College, where he completed his leaving certificate in 1942.

It is during his time at De La Salle that his love for sports or, as Jack would say at the detriment of academic pursuits would shine. Jack represented the school in 1st X1 Cricket, 1st XVIII Football, Handball, Athletics and was a champion high jumper across the Victorian Catholic Schools Competition for his age group.

At this time, he also developed a love for all things related to aircraft and flying as a result of joining the Air Training Corps at the school.

The Jones family were passionate Hawthorn Football Club supporters, with Jack often watching the team at Glenferrie Oval. It is here we start to see the cheeky side of his personality and an ability to be good with money. He quite proudly tells us he would rarely pay to go into the ground instead with his mate would stand at the player’s gate and offer to carry their bags into the ground.

Jack has never been a smoker, a drinker or a gambler. Having spent many hours with him over the last few years, I was surprised to learn the depth of his knowledge regarding horses, horse racing, and the odds.

He used to spend Saturday afternoons in the garden shed listening to the races on the radio with his father who would put marbles into jars pretending that they were bets on horses. His father would then slip out and put a single bet on with the illegal SP Bookie. It is at this time that Jack would occasionally have a part-time job being the cockatoo standing at the end of the lane to let the bookie know if police were approaching.

Who would have thought?

Jack left school to become a clerical assistant working at the Williamstown Naval Dockyard with the electrical draughtsman as they drew up plans for the fitting of radar to HMAS Adelaide. This was considered a wartime activity that exempted him from serving in the forces.

Wanting to do the right thing Jack enlisted in the RAAF, and when asked what he wanted to do he said he would like to be in aircrew, a navigator if possible but if not, he would be happy to be a pilot. The interview panel burst out laughing because it was the complete opposite to what most young men wanted to do.

Jack quickly moved through the ranks from Aircraftsman Class 1, to Aircraftsman Class 2, Leading Aircraftsman, Sergeant, and then Flight Sergeant. As part of his training, he was sent to Canada to complete a navigators’ course.

The troopship navigated through dangerous waters where enemy submarines were hunting the convoy. The quick-thinking Jack realised that if you befriended the cooks, a cigarette ration got you much better food, vegetables and fresh fruit.

It was a great adventure to leave Australia. Canada was a place with long hours studying and flying. Jack made the most of precious leave time hitchhiking into the USA. Handsome Aussies, in uniform, meant that many doors were opened for them including a catch up with Ruth Terry, RKO Movie Star.

Jack’s conversations about the war were about flying, his favourite aeroplane the Avro Anson, navigation and mates. Jack had a tremendous mind embracing numbers, calculations, solving complex problems, and the manual process of navigation under duress.

Jack, survived two aircraft crashes. The first crash was a result of the plane simply running out of fuel with the pilot ordering the crew to bail out except they didn’t all have parachutes, Jack included. The second crash was during a landing where the brakes locked on and the nose wheel collapsed resulting in Jack who is sitting with the pilot ending up at the back of the plane upside down when the plane flipped. In both cases walking away Scott-free.

After leaving the Air Force, Jack secured a public service job with the office of the Police Commissioner. This was something that became very useful when getting your driver’s licence. Jack also completed a Diploma of Commerce from Melbourne University whilst at the same time doing a night school course in woodwork/carpentry.

Jack found time to play cricket for Hawthorn East Melbourne 3rds and social tennis.

Jack’s total career was spent in the Public Service where he ended up as the Acting Secretary and Accountant at the Government Printing Office.

At age 26, Jack met the love of his life Marie Anderson at a dance at Manresa Hall, Hawthorn they went on to marry on the 20th September 1952 at Our Holy Redeemer, Surrey Hills. Jack always maintained he was batting above his average when he met Marie. They went on to have three boys, Michael, Brendan and Christopher.

Jack was a quiet achiever and achieved much in his life to date. Loving, Laughing and making a difference. It was now time to give back through volunteering. At our school, St Leos College, he was the Parents and Friends Association Treasurer and for three years the Honorary Advisory Accountant, usually involving him being at the school three nights a week. The brothers tell us that he was responsible for the attainment of grants for the building of the Library, Science Labs and Senior School Classrooms. At the same time, he also found time to volunteer with the organisation of the 40th International Eucharistic Congress.

Above all he was a devoted husband, father and great-grandfather.

Jack’s son Chris was very fortunate to have Jack and Marie live in close proximity. Jack would never miss any of the kid’s netball, basketball, football and cricket games. In fact it was seen as a bad omen if Jack wasn’t at the game.

When you think you know someone it’s often not the case. Jack was a petrol head, he loved motorsport and he loved his cars. He had 12 cars ranging from the FE and EJ Holden sedans, V8 Falcons, Renault 12, Holden Commodores , Holden Callais, Astra, plus an Opal.

Now his love for cars also extended to driving his son’s cars. We lived in Scoble Court Forest Hill and every Saturday morning dad would take mum up to the hairdressers which was not more than 200 meters away. Michael had a LJ Torana Bathurst Specification XU1 a very rare and extremely fast car. Instead of walking Marie to the hairdresser Jack would take the XU1. This is a car that when started would rattle the windows, shake the light fittings and was very, very loud. Jack would cautiously drive up to the shops in first gear and then could be heard doing laps of the neighbourhood at great speed.

Once again who would have thought?

In 2004 Marie was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s Disease and it wasn’t long before she needed to be moved to Nazareth House for constant care. Jack would visit Marie from morning to evening, simply being there for her, holding her hand and comforting her. Marie died in July 2007. Jack then devoted his time to his family as well as supporting June (Marie’s sister) and her husband John Lynch.

When the time came for Jack to move into aged care, we were concerned how we were going to convince him to give up his fiercely defended independence. After all he was still driving at age 93.

Simple, to clinch the deal all it took was that we fulfilled his request to have a large television screen in his room and access to Foxtel Sports.

Age and health issues wearied Jack but up until recently you could have great conversations around F1 Racing and together with Brendan they would watch the Moto GP (Motorcycle racing).

Jack leaning in his chair as if he was riding the motorbike.

Jack Jones, a devoted husband, father, and a true man for others who impacted the lives of so many through his gentle ways, has slipped away without fuss or fanfare.

You are sadly missed but lovingly remembered. We are comforted in the fact that you are finally with your beloved Marie.

We applaud a life well-lived.