Rest in Peace Great Uncle Jack, your smile and warmth of character is the worlds loss x

A true gentleman - kind and generous to a fault! I will miss you Uncle Jack.

To Jack Bonner, my beloved friend in some place. Dear Jack, Thank your niece Cheryl, I can talk you. It’s difficult to find words to say that I feel now, I can’t believe it. I miss you Jack. Jack, I am sorry so much not go back to Australia in last years after the death of Destyn, to share nice time with you. When we met in 1997 in New Zealand, you were very friendly and kindly with me. I remember a funny night drinking beer with you in Wellington. It was lovely and wonderful my time with you in 2003. Jack, you said that God sent me to help you to move from your home in Longueville to Greenwich. I was lucky to know your house of Dettman avenue, you shared with me memories and emotions from forty years of your lives. Two songs, “wonderful world” and “the life is beautiful”, to say cheers! with Australian wine, as you liked Jack. It’s difficult for me to be on 2 November in Australia with you Jack. But I feel, I wish to go to Australia next December, and I would like to visit the garden where you Jack and Destyn rest on the edge of the lake. My best regards for Destyn, she is waiting for you in the havens. Warm regards and thoughts to Jack, a good man. Juan from Spain

Joyce and I first met Jack and Destyn on a cruise from Sydney to Southampton in 2005/6. That particular evening we sat, by chance, at adjacent tables in the ship's lounge, enjoying pre-dinner drinks. When dinner was served an announcement would be made over the public address system for diners to make their way to dinner. The ship's restaurant was situated on the deck below the lounge and was reached by a rather splendid staircase and that particular evening, Destyn and Jack were quicker off the mark than we were. At the bottom of the staircase Destyn realised she had left her walking stick by their table. Jack immediately turned back to retrieve it but was having great difficulty negotiating a passage back to the table against the flow of hungry diners. Joyce, realising what had happened, picked up the stick and passed it over to him as we made our own way down to dinner. He and Destyn expressed their gratitude and we went down to dinner together. After that we regularly met for pre-dinner drinks in the lounge and became very good friends. That was the start of an enduring friendship which culminated in a wonderful visit, as guests at their home in Greenwich in 2007, and earlier this year to be Jack's guests at his new home in Prestons. On this occasion we regularly visited Destyn's grave and Jack seemed to find great comfort and peace there. He spoke at great length about his wonderful memories of their long life together and that he was convinced they would be re-united once more in the future. We would like to share the following poem with his family and friends, as it brought great comfort to Joyce and I at this time of great sorrow. You can shed tears that he has gone or you can smile because he has lived. You can close your eyes and pray that he'll come back or you can open your eyes and see all that he's left. Your heart can be empty because you can't see him or you can be full of the love you shared. You can turn your back on tomorrow and live yesterday or you can be happy for tomorrow because of yesterday. You can remember him and only that he's gone or you can cherish his memory and let it live on. You can cry and close your mind, be empty and turn your back or you can do what he'd want: smile, open your eyes, love and go on. Anonymous Jack, thanks for many very happy memories. Alan and Joyce Daniels, Kingswinford, UK

I first met Jack and Destyn when they came to my home in February 1985 to look at a litter of Pembroke Corgi puppies. They fell in love with a little boy pup they named Rex and they took him home. After Rex passed, they again came over in 1995 to look at another litter and this time they fell in love with Benson. Over the many years from our first meeting I had a wonderful friendship with Jack and Destyn. Many hundreds of long phone conversations about their 'boys' and tales of the holidays they had, and what the 'boys' had been up to while on their 'country holidays' with me. I also enjoyed their company and wonderful meals on visits to their house in Longueville and apartment at Lane Cove. After Destyn passed, Jack still came over to visit and to leave Benson with me while he was off 'globetrotting'. It was a 25 year friendship that I look back on with a smile and many fond memories. I was privileged to know such a gentleman as Jack. He will be very sadly missed. Jenni Davis

Jack and Destyn were our neighbours at Longueville. Our friendship started when our two young sons told us about this kind man they had befriended with while playing in the front garden. Jack soon became their confidant, no more family secrets. We also became friends of Jack and Destyn. Wonderful memories of many laughter we shared over meals and the Bonner famous meat pies at annual Christmas party. Missed you, Jack. May the peace of God be with you.

Through the eyes of a child ….. Searching the dusty recesses of my memory, and reflecting on some wonderful childhood memories of my dear uncle, closing my eyes and letting these lovely thoughts embrace me ……. Probably the earliest memories are of a handsome young man playing rough and tumble with his red setter Prince in the backyard of my grandparents’ house at Wiley Park; I remember sitting on the rocks on the side of the fishpond with him in the same yard staring in wonderment at the big goldfish in the pond. Fun times blackberrying with him and the family, wonderful family picnics at Cattai Creek, the joy and excitement of being taken to pantomimes in Sydney with Aunty Destyn, fun moments visiting his uncle Ted & aunt Ev with the family and running through the huge garden beds of gerberas and poppies. Remembering him and Aunty Destyn arriving on Saturday mornings to visit Nana at Wiley Park, always with a big bunch of flowers and fruit & veges, wonderful memories of the family having fruit preserving days in nana’s kitchen, after them going to the fruit markets to buy big crates of pears and stoned fruit, Aunty Destyn, mum and nana madly peeling fruit, everybody helping and me waiting on the side full of anticipation for an occasional discarded piece of fruit, and then admiring the neat colourful rows of preserved bottles in the linen press. I remember having the occasional sleepover at the upstairs unit at Abbotsford, and sitting rather in awe in their loungeroom, not game to run around because of all their elegant ornaments and furnishings. The anticipation of small children, my sister and I waiting every Christmas morning for them to arrive from the north side, with the loungeroom door closed and entry barred until they arrived so we could begin the festivities and open our presents. The time seemed endless, waiting for them to arrive, even though it was probably only around 9am! And, as the years rolled by, I remember wonderful meals together at Longueville with the masterchefs, and smiling at the occasional disaster happening in the kitchen or at the bbq, or hearing them rouse at Benson. We enjoyed some sumptuous meals together out at restaurants with Uncle playing the always generous host. He continued to always be the most attentive and wonderful host, even until shortly before he went back into hospital for the last time. Thanks for the memories …..I will miss you unc! All my love, Cheryl

My father was a surveyor in the Lands Office at Dubbo and I was still at school when Jack stayed with our family as an apprentice surveyor. I think that time holds the closest memories of him. When I visited him in the hospital we did some reminiscing about those days. We had lost contact over the years until Jack and Destyn had us over for for a family get together a few years ago. We tend to realise the value of family with whom we loose contact usually too late.<br /> Fred Bonner

Our memories of Jack go back some 40 years when Barb and I worked at the MSB. We both got to know Jack very well, when for a number years he was the President of the MSB Staff Club and I was the Functions Organiser. I remember when after each function the three of us would head over to the Pitt Club for a few relaxing drinks and then leave there sometime after midnight, usually dropping Jack back home.. Also remember visiting Jack and Destyn at their home at Longueville and Jack giving us many cuttings from his lovely garden. They where good times. Thanks for the memores Jack......John & Barb Elphick.

My boss in the Survey Branch at the MSB of NSW. I remember the day you killed that huge spider that was sitting on my typewriter and also the day I tripped and spilt that cup of tea in your lap. Good memories. RIP Mr. Bonner.

Cheryl Mason

14 years ago

Thanks for sharing Kim, a great man, and I can imagine a wonderful boss.