Amazing Grace

Yesterday it was my sombre duty to attend the funeral of one of the nicest men I have ever met. John Grace, co-founder of the Grey Gum International Cafe on the Putty Road, passed away on the 23rd January after a brief but intense battle with a vicious brain tumor. From the time of his diagnosis to the time of his death was just 10 weeks. The family and the wider motorcycling community have been devastated at how soon our good friend has been taken from us.

John was more than just a cafe owner, he was a farmer, had been a champion tennis player, a successful business man and an entrepreneur. He was everybody’s mate as well as being the ever-reliable husband of Kim, father to his children and beloved “Pop” to his grandchildren. Those who spoke at the service revealed to us aspects of John’s life that most of us never knew and the love and affection they had for him was plain to see in every word.

A group ride was organised from Bunnings at Pennant Hills to the crematorium. I wasn’t at all surprised to see a huge collection of bikes in the car park when we arrived. What I WAS surprised to see was that the hearse, containing John’s coffin, was also there and we rode, accompanying John on his last earthly journey, in convoy across a delightfully twisty backroad to the Northern Suburbs Crematorium. I’m glad the coffin was bolted down because the hearse driver got right into the spirit of the ride.

The service began with Frank Sinatra’s, “I did it my way” a song that surely summarised best John’s life and his attitude to life and John’s favourite song. The service was long and the chapel was stacked to the doors with many more people standing outside and listening to the service from within. Yet, for all its length, the time just flew as relative after relative, friend upon friend, spoke of John and the impression he had made upon their life.

John’s neighbour, Ron (Ronnie) also spoke. He’s in his 90’s now and very frail, but he spoke of how caring John was, always checking in on him and making sure he was OK. But Ronnie also provided the quote of the day with this one… “John would come and visit and he’d bring a bottle of Scotch. We’d drink some and listen to Frank Sinatra, who, we both agreed, was the greatest singer who ever lived. We’d drink some more and listen to some more Frank. Then we’d start singing along with Frank. We’d drink some more Scotch and, pretty soon, we’d agree that we were even better singers than Frank.” From such occasions come the best quotes ever and surely this was it.

Last to speak was Kim, his wife of over 30 years. She spoke of their love, their shared vision and she was at pains to mention, by name, all the members of John’s family and that John had loved, every one of them. “And last of all,” she said, “John loved me. He was my husband, my love and my best friend and I will miss him more than I can say.” To say that there wasn’t a dry eye in the place is a gross understatement.

The family and mourners filed out to another Sinatra standard, “Softly as I leave you.” I’m not ashamed to say that I balled like a baby. Outside on the lawn his two grandchildren and the rest of the family released some balloons in his memory and the crowd dispersed to the wake at the local RSL. I didn’t go. I was a bit too fragile by that stage and I felt that everything that needed to be said, had already been said.

I don’t think I will ever go to the GGC again without feeling an incredible sense of loss at not having him bowl up to me and ask me how I was going.

Farewell, John Grace, you truly were an Amazing Grace.