BRUNY ISLAND CEMETERY AND CHAPEL ASSOCIATION (BARNES BAY) INC trading as:
BARNES BAY CHAPEL AND CEMETERY ASSN.
ABN: 34 604 284 666

95 Church Road, Barnes Bay, Bruny Island, Tasmania 7150

DENNE, John Henry (Jack)

HEADSTONE INSCRIPTION: In loving Memory of JOHN HENRY DENNE Born 8 July 1913 Died 29 May 1961 Died at Great Bay, aged  48 years. Brother of  Ross, Bruce, Bill and Lucy

John Henry Denne

John (always known as Jack) was born to John (also Jack) and Veda Denne on 8th of July 1913 at Highbury and was their first child. He was christened on 26th of July of that year at St Davids Cathedral, Hobart.  The family resided at Barnes Bay along with other members such as Jack’s grandparents, Arthur Hurburgh and Ellison Denne.  Later the family was expanded to include brothers, Ross, Bruce and Athol (Bill) and lastly came baby sister Lucy.

Growing up at Barnes Bay, Jack attended the Barnes Bay School. His favourite activities were sailing, fishing, cricket and bush activities.

After leaving school Jack sought work in many different fields but mainly as a cartage contractor once he had bought a truck. He was called a ‘bushman’ due to the fact that he worked at Hansson’s mill at Great Bay and was often cutting wood in his spare time, to meet firewood orders for clients and family.

Jack also sought employment as a fisherman when wood cutting was quiet.  He was able to secure work with his second cousin, Rupert Denne who was a professional fisherman.

During WW2 Jack enlisted into the Forces in 1941 but was never sent on assignment.  He reported for duty as a member of the Citizens Army where he trained in preparation for invasion by an enemy.

Jack was a well-loved member of Bruny Island sport teams and a keen competitor in Wood Chopping Events right up until the 1960s.

By the late 1940s Jack had moved to Great Bay (Specifically Smootheys Point) where his parents had purchased a property. Both brothers, Ross and Bill were also there.

During one of his fishing trips to the South and West Coasts of Tasmania with Rupert, the fishing team called in to shelter in Recherche Bay where they knew fellow fisherman, Walter Adams and wife Rose. This is when and where their daughter, Dulcie came to meet Jack. Following on from this meeting, the two became romantically involved and became engaged then married in 1951.

After the wedding Jack and Dulcie lived at Barnes Bay and welcomed their first daughter, Jillian in 1952.  They boarded with Aunt Minnie Lipscombe (nee Denne) at Barnes Bay while Jack, with the help of his brothers started to build a house at Great Bay.  The logs for the home were milled at Lauriston where Ross lived after marrying Josephine Bottomley.

By the time daughter Carolyn was born, the family were living at Great Bay in the newly built house.  Throughout the next few years, Jack and Dulcie were active members of the North Bruny Society and added another daughter to the family unit, Dianne.

During this time, Jack was working as a contractor for the PWD on upgrades and maintenance of Bruny roads.  He also took on a dealership with Mobil Oil Co as their rep and continued to fill firewood orders. In the 1950s and 60s it was very normal to hunt and fish to provide food for the family; this included rabbit shooting and skinning.  Jack had two cows to milk (that he ajisted on his parent’s property) and Dulcie separated the milk mechanically to provide the cream which was turned into butter.

When it was time for daughter Jillian to attend school, Jack and Dulcie moved to Adventure Bay to enable Jillian to catch the school bus to the Alonnah Area School.

Once again, the couple and their family were engaged in community events which also included attending church and functions initiated by the school such as bonfire night, ANZAC Day sports events and flower shows.

Their fourth daughter, Lisa was born on 6th of April 1961 while they were living at Adventure Bay.

Sadly, it wasn’t long after, that Jack was found dead at Variety Bay from gunshot wounds.  He had left home in the morning to go firewood collecting to make a load of wood for his uncle Ted Denne who lived at Woodbridge.  He had called into his parent’s place at Great Bay in the morning for a cuppa and was planning to see them again after his woodchopping had finished.  However, when he never returned, the alarm was raised and Ross, his brother found Jack near to his truck with a gunshot wound to his head.  All in attendance, thought that it was a self-inflicted wound and moved his body before authorities had been notified.  Later when his body had been moved to Hobart, it was discovered that Jack also had a stomach gunshot wound! 

To this day, Jack’s death remains a mystery to his family and friends who have never believed that he deliberately wanted to end his own life. There could be a few different scenarios as to the cause of death but no-one will ever know because his death was never properly investigated due to interference by outsiders and the fact that it wasn’t originally known that he had two gunshot wounds.

The date was 29th May 1961.

Jack’s funeral was a large one and he was interred at Barnes Bay Cemetery. He has been forever missed by his daughters and wife.

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