Johan II of

Clarence community farewells JK

By Tim Howard

More than 150 mourners made the way to the pews of St Mary’s Catholic Church, Grafton, last Wednesday to farewell John Joseph Kenny.

Mr Kenny, who died peacefully on August 28 at the age of 88 lived a life dedicated to his family, his community and his work.

Eldest son David delivered a eulogy during his funeral service which revealed the extent of his dedication to all three.

He told how JK, as he was affectionately known, gave up a promising school career at the age of 15 for an apprenticeship at The Daily Examiner, where he spent the entire 52 years of his working life.

All except for six months of National Service in 1953, where his prowess with a rifle led one of his NCOs to comment he was not just a good shot, but a “marksman”.

In 1965 Mr Kenny and Dianne Mason married in St Mary and in 1969 they welcomed their first child, David and later another son, Peter.

During the 1970s Mr Kenny became involved with the Clarence horse racing community.

It was a role Clarence River Jockey Club chief executive officer Michael Beattie remembered well and paid tribute to in an article posted on social media.

“The Clarence River Jockey Club (CRJC) and local racing identities were shocked and saddened to learn of the sad passing of John Kenny last week.

“A prominent figure amongst the Clarence Valley community, and a regular attendee at race meetings in Grafton, Mr Kenny was a life member, former director, and proud ambassador of the

CRJC.

“He was well known and widely respected across the region for his love of horse

racing and his unwavering commitment to the sport which spanned across 50 years.

“Mr Kenny served as an assistant race day judge at Grafton between the early 1970s and 1980s, prior to his appointment as an official judge, a position he held for 10 years.

“He served on the board of the CRJC from 1982 until 2018, and ensured every winning owner was made to feel special when their horse was first past the post.

“Renowned for his willingness to always offer others a helping hand, Mr Kenny was strongly supported in his work with the CRJC by his devoted wife Dianne, who like her husband, also dedicated countless hours to the promotion of the club.

“Mr Kenny will forever be remembered as a true gentleman, who always made racegoers feel welcome.”

Mr Beattie also shared his personal feelings as a colleague of Mr Kenny

He was working as an assistant judge when I first started as an official way back in 1975,” he recalled.

“In fact, we often joked that we were the two oldest things on Grafton Racecourse, with the exception of the heritage grandstand.

“John has been a wonderful board member and ambassador in my time with the CRJC.

“He was always at me with ideas of how things could be improved for both members and guests alike.”

Mr Kenny shared his other passions, golf, fishing and shooting with his family and David remembered his father’s determination to get to his favourite Yamba Golf Course for a game even as his health deteriorated.

He also recalled his father’s involvement with the St Vincent de Paul Society in Grafton, working for decades selflessly behind the scenes helping the less well off in the community.

“If more people had his honesty, integrity and compassion, what a wonderful world it would be,” David Kenny said of his father.

“He was a special human being.”

Disclosure: As a journalist I worked at The Daily Examiner with JK for the final years of his working life. His passion for the paper and the community were invaluable. Much of the contributed copy volunteered to the paper came past his eyes and he was an astute judge of what was fit to print and what was not. That judgement alone was a worth much to a newspaper.

John Kenny followed his many passions in a long and distinguished life in the Clarence Valley.

John Kenny’s coffn is carried to the hearse following his funeral in St Mary’s Catholic Church, Grafton, on September 7.

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