John (Beef) Buffett; 04/05/1946 to 15/01/2016 R I P

Our heartfelt condolences go to the family of our dear friend, Beef.  Like many from Norfolk and from Pitcairn, Beef is a part of an extended and close-knit family.  Son, Jacques, Daughter, Mim were able to spend time with him over the last several days, Jacques travelling from London and Mim, from Brisbane. At this difficult time he has been fortunate to have had his brother, Alan (Kissard) Buffett, sister-in-law, Sue and their family standing by.   Beef came to us in 1968 and departed in 1971. He commenced his service to the project operating drill rigs. He was mainly classified as a Plant Operator. He worked on construction works associated with the early mine access and haul roads and the relocation of Moroni Village.  For a time he was a part of the hydrauliking crew, reporting to Gordon Davis. The family has some excellent photos including shots of the batters supporting Moroni and the dozers lined across the area to be mined. Beef`s final posting was his secondment to Bechtel, reporting to Ed Kell. He worked on the transportation, across the mountain range, of the electric shovel components. He recalled to me that on the first PMAR (the “old road”) the trucks were pulled by his Maori mate, Panda, driving a D6 and he would handle the pushing in a D8. You could say that Beef and his mates were the pioneers on the use of these early MKF road constructions. I remember that Fred Elmore was, at the time, the Manager of Operations for Brambles Kennelly across the mountain road.   I came to meet Beef, in Panguna, through mutual friends, Ian Forrester (Dog), Greg Gamble, Noddy and others.  We well remember a traumatic episode on Dog`s bike when Beef smashed his jaw and hitherto the bike was used for parts only. Jim Holt and Father Barnham also remember some events from these distant days.  We would love to find Greg Gamble (Ox). Is there anyone out there who can help us ?   When we gathered our final cheque and we “go pinis” we would normally return south via Port Moresby. As we all know this could be quite eventful. Beef almost guaranteed that his journey would be eventful. He travelled to Honiara in a MMA DC3 side saddle.  MacRobertson Miller Airlines were a West Aussie aviation company.   From Honiara Beef took several weeks, island hopping on coastal shipping through to Noumea (then known as the New Hebrides). There he was most fortunate to come across an old friend from Norfolk who was crewing on the Jacques Del Mar, a coastal ship that connected the New Hebrides, Lord Howe, Norfolk and other small island communities. The duration of his passage to Norfolk was 36 hours. This was followed by 3 days standing off Kingston waiting for the seas to abate.   Since Bougainville Beef continued to travel across the Region and beyond but Norfolk has always been his home base. Even for the locals it is a challenge to source paid employment there.  Beef put his Panguna experience to good use. He spent many years working in the island`s Forestry Dept and as a stevedore, in Norfolk waters, a hazardous and most demanding occupation.   The Mutiny on the Bounty and the adventures of the mutineers makes for a fascinating story and they are well documented across numerous books and films. Within a couple of decades of arriving in tiny Pitcairn Island the mutineers and their descendants found that their life there was not sustainable. In 1856 the total population of 194 men, women and children moved to Norfolk Island. Many of them carried the name, Buffett. The first John Buffett to venture to the Pacific Region was probably the one who was born in Bristol, in 1797.  This man came to Pitcairn in the waling ship, the Cyrus, in 1823.  He possessed some education and the islanders asked that he remain there to become their teacher and their leader.  I understand that there have been several John Buffetts, spread across Beef`s heritage, on Pitcairn and Norfolk, since those days.   I am certain that Beef would like us to put in a plug for Norfolk. Although it is only small, most interests are catered for and the locals are a friendly lot.  There is a multitude of info that can be found on the WWW.   I have been experiencing difficulty with my com`s.  A big thank you to Beef`s niece, Alana and to Chris and Noddy Jones, from the Sunshine Coast.   On the 5th January my Chris and I were able to visit with Beef and to express our goodbyes, face to face.   Farewell, old mate ! We will miss you !   Davo Remembering our Friend John "Beef" Buffett Reviewing a friendship, it is hard to put into perspective where over 40 years has gone. The secret to that continuing relationship is keeping in touch and enjoying the moments when you see each other which is sometimes not very often. Noddy will especially remember the Bougainville days and the larakin pursuits of two young men on an island. Over the years, John "Beef" had the knack of random visits unannounced, bringing to mind on one occasion when he arrived in Nambour off the train to see us, arriving on the doorstep of our fabric shop saying "Just thought I would drop in from Norfolk". He stayed with us for a night and then went to see others he knew on the Sunshine Coast. Our last visit with him was in Brisbane when we met his daughter Mim. Offering to take him by car to her house, we travelled across Brisbane and asking him for directions he said "It is somewhere around here. We are close" We were a bit lost but eventually arrived at our destination. That was "Beef". We will certainly miss his late night phone calls and this year we will not be able to share Christmas wishes. The most touching phone call of all was one just before Christmas when he phoned especially to say "Goodbye" explaining that he would not be having anymore treatment. It is difficult to put into words how much we appreciated that phone call, the voice of a friend, far away who said"I just love you guys". That is very special indeed and will remain with us as a lasting memory. Thinking about the strong Buffett Family history and John"Beef's" beloved Norfolk Island, we would like to share this verse with you. A limb has fallen from the family tree I keep hearing a voice that says "Grieve not for me" Remember the best times, the laughter, the song The good life I lived while I was strong. Continue my heritage, I'm counting on you Keep smiling and surely the sun will shine through My mind is at ease, my soul is at rest. Remembering all, how I truly was blessed. Continue traditions, no matter how small Go on with your life, don't worry about falls. I miss you all dearly, so keep up your chin Until the day comes we're together again. Although we are not with you in person today, we will be especially thinking of you all. On Wednesday we will visit the ocean and thinking of our friend John we will place a flower in the water which we hope will symbolically drift to the shores of Norfolk Island. "LUKIM YU BEHIND TIME, WANTOK " Rest in Peace, Special Friend Sending our love. Noddy & Chris Jones