Your eyes hold it all Jonno
The teeming history
The comings and goings
The pain and the plunder.
Joyful recollections
And the visceral laceration of serious battle.
Moments of tenderness
Understanding
and gentle humour
Tickling around the corners of your mouth.
Mile upon mile of endless dusty red road
In northern Australia,
Kangaroos and cold beer.
That debate over whose virginity mattered
And whether or not she cared....
Why, oh why did you tear yourself up
Over Gods part in the game?
He never really showed up, did he?
I recall that race you ran,
Courageously, mile after mile
And still came second to Southey...
How that ****** you off.
That last message...
Your eyes, the most alive part of you,
Saying more than the words could ever say.
Farewell sweet Prince....
In my heart
You shall always be my brother.
M.
3 September 2018
A call,out of the blue, from my old mates daughter, Jasmine, to let me know that Jonno had passed away Thursday last.
Jonno and I went through ****** Agricultural college together back in the early 60s. We competed furiously with each other right across the spectrum. We ran long distance running races (which he won), played Aussie rules football, debated politics, *** and religion, chased the ladies....
We celebrated our difference in a rough house, admirable way as young men. We ran a whitewater rafting and horsetrekking company together, we fought like Killarney cats, tooth and nail, day and night... but always, always...a deep and abiding respect and admiration prevailed.
We were good mates for the lifetime.
M.
Rest in peace old mate.
BARRY JOHNSTON DDA
23 August 2018
Melbourne