TRIBUTE TO SENSEI JEFF GREEN
SENSEI JEFF GREEN - A MAN OF WORTH
30-01-48 to 27-08-03
Aged 55 Years
There are countless words to describe the late Jeff Green, among them husband, father, son, brother, sensei, leader, diplomat, friend. His unexpected passing on August 27, 2003 sent shock waves reverberating all over the world and the JKA family joined with his loved ones in mourning this much-loved and respected man.
Pictured Left: Jeff & Greg Symons in Bundaberg Dojo Demo.
Since that time many tributes have poured in paying homage to Jeff and his commitment to JKA and his great love of family. None could be more poignant than his own son, Michael, at Jeff’s funeral service at St. John’s Lutheran Church, Bundaberg - “If I could ever be half the man my father was, I will die a happy man.”
Jeff’s karate life began in the early 1970’s when he started training Kempokan in Bundaberg. He then began training Shotokan (JKA) with Peter Richardson and first met Takahashi Sensei in 1973. This was to become a unique friendship, based on mutual respect and loyalty, spanning over 30 years. As time evolved, teaching JKA, especially children, became his love, and the administration of JKAA became his other major role. Toss in amongst this making a living on a sugar cane farm in an industry slowly declining, coaching soccer teams, sports medicine commitments, and his family, and here was one very busy man, who never complained about his lot in life, just got on with it, in his relaxed, jovial, no-nonsense manner. He garnered the respect of everyone he ever dealt with for this approach.
Pictured Left: Takahashi Shihan and Jeff
Family, was the other great love in Jeff’s life. Not only Jeff’s imme
diate family including his wife of 30 years, Noela, and children Sally, Tracey and Michael, but also his Japanese family, numerous Japanese students who lived with the Green family as a real part of their family whilst in Australia. In recent years Jeff’s greatest delight was his grandchildren, Shae and Blair, whose photographs were quickly pulled out of Jeff’s pocket for display to anyone interested with great pride and love glowing on his face.
Pictured Right: Jeff & Noela's family at the marriage of daughter Tracey.
Jeff’s passing leaves a huge hole in the fabric of JKA, one that can never be repaired, but as a mark of respect to Jeff, those left will pull together to continue building JKA into what Jeff dedicated his life towards. He will never be forgotten, always remembered with respect and caring for being strong and reliable, happy and caring, and overall a dedicated and committed man, a man of honour. To quote David Collins, a friend of Jeff’s for many years, “a man of worth”.
Pictured L to R:
Greg Symonds, Takahashi Shihan, Master Nakayama & Jeff Green at the Official Opening of the Bundaberg Dojo in 1986.
Pictured L to R:
Sensei Jeff Green, Takahashi Shihan, Sensei Mike Connolly & Sensei Steve Andrews after presentation of 30 Year Badges by JKAQ President John Russo March 2003.
Debbie Russo
Click here to read the poem written by David Collins in tribute to his mate, Jeff.