Intro (Ross)

My name is Ross Bird this is Drew Woodhouse for those of you who don’t know us we had the privilege of going to school with Jake since he started at BBC in grade 7.

On behalf of all of Jake's friends our hearts go out to Jake's family in this incredibly tough time. He was very much a family-oriented person and loved you all dearly.

Most of you will remember Jake as gentle, authentic, funny, happy and intelligent.

At various points in his life, he was also an avid traveller, gardener, amazing artist & technical drawer, snowboarder, skateboarder, a keen surfer and a mongrel flanker on the footy field. He also had a talent for falling asleep in peculiar places like nightclubs or at parties.

Authenticity (Ross)

Jake was a unique and authentic character. He was not trying to be someone he wasn’t, just to please everyone. He marched to the beat of his own drum and people liked him for his warm, easygoing and happy personality.

We will miss Jakes's happy personality, he would always greet you with a smile and bring you in for a hug.

True Friend & Happy State Of Mind & Distant Friendship (Ross)

As we grow older and have families or move to different cities we see less of each other and I’m sure many of you here today didn’t get to see Jake as much as you would like because he was living in Orange, Myocum or overseas.

My family and I were fortunate enough to stop in and visit Jake in Orange when we were on a road trip and more recently, we spent a few hours with Jake and enjoyed lunch and a bloody mary while recovering from Jacko and Jessies' Wedding in April.

True Friend (Ross)

Like any true friend, regardless of how much time has passed or the distance between you, we picked up right where we left off. True friendship transcends time and space. Jake spoke about how he enjoyed his work with WaterNSW and how he had thought about potentially getting a similar job in the US to be closer to Ben and his family.

Caring Nature (Ross)

Jake loved kids (and animals) and was always talking about Ollie and Margot and asking about our kids. He was obsessed with his dogs and with his caring and nurturing nature he no doubt would have made a great dad.

Optimism (Ross)

Despite his life being cut short, Jake sure did experience life. He travelled the world with stints in places like Costa Rica, Colorado, New York the UK, Amsterdam and at one point was living in a tent on the beach in Portugal living off the land and cooking boiled pippies for dinner. This is a life most people only dream of and Jake was a true vagabond experiencing life to its fullest.

Travel (Woody)

I was fortunate to do a bit of travelling with Jake, the majority of our trips were to North American to snowboard. They were glorious times; what wasn’t to love? Great company, great beer and a ton of snowboarding. Our days were pretty repetitive, and it was awesome. They would start by waking up

and putting the feelers out to see how many were keen for a day on the mountain (Jake and his red DC Jacket would never let you down, he was always keen), someone would get on the tool and start breakfast, then we’d hit the mountain for a full day, with a beer break in the middle of course. Then the end the day we’d have a few more beers, some tasty chicken wings as we’d laugh and talk about Jake’s insane goggle tan and the great the day of riding. I never understood how someone so small and light, managed to beat me down the mountain every time – let along while flipping me off with both hands as he zoomed on by with a loud chuckle.

Funny (Woody)

Jake loved to laugh; and it was an infectious laugh. It’s something that I’ve realised was so enjoyable to me. Over the years I found myself constantly saying and doing just about anything to get Jake to let out that goofy laugh. I’m going to miss that, and his fun quality of repeating the punchline of a joke or the stupid thing you said, right after you told it.

Friends Messages (Woody)

Two of Jake’s friends that were unable to make it today, have passed some messages on for us to read.

First up is Johno Ramsay – Johno went to high school with Jake and and was fortunate enough to meet up on trips overseas.

Johno Ramsay “ One of the nicest, most genuine guys I have had the pleasure to call a friend. Always laughing, smiling and super generous. Biggest memories are having a great time hanging out on the deck at Fewing Street, how much he loved animals and also sharing a laugh over one of the great comedians he loved, Mitch Hedberg (who he kind of looked like as well). RIP to a great bloke gone far too soon and wishing courage to his family and friend there today”

Next we have some words from Joe Lister, Jake’s long time best mate, they have been best mates since about the age of 7 or 8 years.

Joe Lister – “I I first met Jake 27 years ago, just up the road, at Ironside State School. Our families were practically carbon copies of one another. We both had an older brother, and a little sister, who were all in the same grades at Ironside. Because of that, or perhaps because we were both suffering from middle child syndrome, Jake and I hit it off immediately.

Jake was very into sport back then. Our friendship grew closer through swimming club on Friday nights, tennis squad before school, and water polo and tennis camps during the school holidays. Jake was also playing rugby at Wests back then and I remember his room being plastered in Wallabies posters. Mum worried we were too competitive with each other, but Jake was never like that. I remember a high jump competition at Ironside where I was struggling to make the next height, but Jake was right beside me, urging me on: “C’mon Joe you can do this, you can do this”. And with his help, I did. Jake just wanted everyone to be the best they could be.

I always looked up to Jake, even though after I’d had a serious growth spurt, that wasn’t actually possible. As has been said, Jake marched to the beat of his own drum, and when he set the next trend, I followed: When Jake got a new BMX bike, I went out and bought exactly the same bike ... much to the dismay of Jake, and the enjoyment of some local bullies at the skate park....thankfully Jake was very forgiving. When Jake went on a holiday somewhere (probably Byron) and came back with a fire stick, I grabbed the closest broom stick and started practicing.... This particular phase culminated in us performing a fire twirling routine for Steve, Denise and their friends one New Year’s Eve. I think Jake and I must have snuck a few beers, because we thought we were going quite well, until we realised

the cheering crowd was actually yelling “you’re on fire!!!”... luckily we were able to extinguish ourselves in the pool before being burned too seriously.

At some point, the Wallabies posters had come down and were replaced with surfing and skateboarding ones. I remember one weekend Jake teaching me how to skate out the front of Fewings Street, and me going home and immediately asking Mum to buy me a board (not the exact same one this time). We spent countless weekends skateboarding outside Jake’s house, around Toowong and back at Ironside. As with everything he tried, Jake was an excellent skateboarder, and I remember him performing little dances to celebrate whenever he would learn a new trick. He was loved surfing and snowboarding, and I was lucky to share a few surfing holidays (and serious sunburns) with Jake and later a snowboarding trip to New Zealand with Mum.

Jake was always up for trying anything. In fact, at some point we even tried our hands at golf at this very golf club. Jake Will and I borrowed some old clubs from somewhere and after finding some lost balls in the creek, set off to enjoy a full 18 rounds one weekend. We must have been a sight, because a grounds keeper pulled up beside us in a buggy asking “what the hell we were doing”. To which we replied, “Playing Golf with our dads, they’re just up ahead” and somehow got away with it. Clearly, we never became the next Tiger Woods, but we had fun anyway.

When Jake left Ironside for BBC in Grade 7, that could have easily been the end of our friendship. But not with Jake, instead he introduced me to all his new friends at BBC and we remained best mates throughout high school, and ever since. I probably met most of the people here through Jake, and I’m sure many of you can say that too.

As has been said, Jake was a friend you could catch up with and just kick off right where you left off. A few years ago, after both of us had returned to Brisbane from being overseas, we kicked back off again and at the ripe “old age” of 24, even got back into skateboarding! We asked Dad whether we could build a “mini” ramp out the front of his place... to which I’m sure dad thought “a mini ramp, how bad that can be”. I remember Dad’s shock when he came home next and saw we had built a 20-foot- long half pipe on his driveway.

Throughout these formative years, like a lot of young men, I think I carried some anger and ego issues, but Jake never did. He truly was the most kind and gentle person I’ve ever known. He didn’t have a mean bone in his entire body. A constant with Jake was his love for nature and, as I’m sure you all agree, his kindness towards animals. It has been said “you can judge the heart of a man by his treatment of animals”. And for this reason, someone is very lucky to have received such a big heart.

Even after living on opposite sides of the world these past years, I could always rely on a message from Jake or at the very least, a fire emoji, whenever I posted a photo on social media. I am so sorry I couldn’t make it home to be there in person, and my thoughts are with you all. Especially with Jake’s family who unfortunately, there are no words I can say that can be of any real help with this immense loss. Hopefully next time I am home, or if you’re ever over this way, we can meet in person and remember the good times with Jake together.

Finally, I would like to express my enormous gratitude to Jake, for being my best friend all these years, and teaching me so many important lessons, including:

• Always be kind, especially to animals;

• How to skateboard; and of course

• Don’t be afraid to celebrate with a little dance if you land a new trick.

Rest in peace Jake (and see you on the halfpipe in Heaven).”

Thanks Joe, well said.

Woody’s Ending (Woody)

Over the last week of chatting to people, and as you have heard here today, amongst many of Jake’s great attributes, there has been a common and dominant theme around his gentle and calm nature; it’s one of the first thing that comes to mind when I think of Jake – there just wasn’t a gentler or calmer person on the planet, he loved animals and nature, he thoroughly enjoyed spending time outdoors. I can tell you right now, it was that incredibly calm and forgiving nature which allowed him to get away with driving a Suzuki swift that had racing stripes.

To accompany Jake’s good nature, he was a highly intelligent individual. While most of Jake’s close friends were fumbling through school and university, Jake was effortlessly receiving top marks and landing himself on the Deans’ List during most semesters at uni. That was Jake, when he applied himself, he would make light work of anything.

Well all know that Jake had a slight and slender build; but this just meant his massive heart was not in proportion to the size of his body. Jake exited this world is true Jake fashion, by changing the lives of others for the better, by donating many of his organs.

Jake we are going to miss you and your endearing personality. We are all better people for the time we got to spend with you. Thanks for all the memories Jake the Snake, take it easy dude.

Plant A Tree (Ross)

In recent years Jake drew closer to nature by studying Environmental Science, working for National Parks & Water NSW and living in Mullumbimby and spending his days enthusiastically in the garden or with his dogs. As a way to commemorate Jakes love for nature, animals and working in his field, we invite each family or person to take a plant from the entrance and plant it somewhere of your choice. This way we can all leave today, making the world a better place..just like Jake.