July 15, 2022
A funeral service in Cherbourg for former Mayor Ken Bone attracted a big crowd of friends and relatives on Friday.
The service, led by local pastor Max Conlon, was held in the Les Stewart Memorial Sports Complex and featured country gospel songs by Charlie Pride, Alan Jackson and Jim Reeves.
Kenneth Bone Jnr read a touching eulogy, which included an explanation of how his father had received his well-known nickname of “Burra”.
“Kenneth had a cheeky laugh they reckoned sounded like a kookaburra, hence the nickname from then on,” Ken Jr said.
Kenneth Kevin William Bone was born on December 12, 1946, in Cherbourg. He was the eldest son of Alice Blinkhorn and Bowman Johnson.
He spent his early years being raised by his grandmother Chlorine Bone (nee McKenzie) in the Cherbourg and Wondai areas.
Burra’s working life started at the Wondai Sawmill at the age of 13. He later worked on the railway, did tordoning and worked in the funeral industry.
“Kenneth was a very active member in his community. He was staunch, strong-willed and fought for his people, never backing or bowing down to injustice, corruption, individuals or organisations that went against what was right for Cherbourg or his people in general,” Kenneth Jr said.
“At the same time, being a humble man, he always had an open-door policy for community members and non-community members alike.
“Ken was a proud Cherbourg man; he wouldn’t tolerate anyone putting Cherbourg down.”
He was involved in the establishment of the first social security office in Cherbourg, the early days of the radio station, social events such as “Golden Oldies”, and managed the community hall cafe.
“Kenneth started with the Cherbourg Council in 1991 where he served as Chairman in 1994 and 1997, was elected mayor in the year 2000, 2004 and for a final term from 2012 to 2016,” Ken Jr. said.
Ken Jr recalled his father’s cheeky sense of humour and his love of the Cherbourg Hornets, Brisbane Broncos and golf.
“(He) will be dearly missed by his wife Marlene, nine children, 36 grandchldren and 49 great-grandchildren and stepchildren,” Ken Jr said.
The funeral was followed by interment in the Cherbourg Cemetery.
