Vale jeff newnham

My father-in-law, Jeff, passed peacefully in his sleep on Sunday night 11 January. He was a kind and gentle man who loved having his family around, so it has been wonderful that all his grandchildren and great grandchildren were able to visit him recently. Dad, Poppa Jeff to the family, had dementia for the past few years. However, just prior to Christmas Poppa Jeff smiled when his granddaughter Kat told him "this is your 100th Christmas"; and when Mick and I took our son’s dog to visit him, Mick said “Max is here to see you”, even though Dad was non-verbal for many months, he smiled saying “Max”. Then on Saturday 10th his grandson and granddaughter-in-law visited and as in the past took in a Star Trek DVD. Andrew said afterwards that Poppa Jeff watched probably for a total of about 15 minutes between sleeping, but he appeared to be enjoying the movie.

On contacting family and friends about Dad’s passing, many have commented that only in the past few days and even up to the night before, they had been regaling stories of Jeff’s lifetime being part of Australian space history since 1963!

You will be missed
Rest in Peace

---