George Dennis Jia (1951-2022) Obituary and Memorial

Life story

It was also in Alice Springs where George met the love of his life, a young nurse from country Victoria, Elaine Jardine. They would go on to marry and spend the next 50 years together. From Alice Springs, George and Elaine moved back to Cairns and lived in Nelson Street where they had the first of their three children, Joshua, in 1973. They bought their first home together at 41 Wattle Street, Yorkeys Knob, which is still called home today. Alex followed shortly after in 1974 with Jason arriving in 1976. In the following years, George had a range of jobs working at ACF & Shirley's and Dunlop, where he later became manager. He also worked for Mulgrave Shire Council at the Barron River depot, where he travelled to and from work on his beloved motorbike, often taking Joshua or Jason on the front for Saturday morning truck services. George and Elaine purchased a takeaway shop, Milita Takeway on Collins Avenue, which they later sold to their daughter Alex. George went to Ansett Airlines as a baggage handler and later became a supervisor. His last job was working at Followmount, moving full circle to work with Uncle Bo once again. George would later get his nephew Darren a job there, where he still works today.

During the early years at Yorkeys, where the kids grew up, George tried his hardest to get the boys to play rugby league. But Elaine, being Victorian, wanted them to play AFL, so they met in the middle and decided on soccer, while Alex played hockey. There weren’t too many games that George missed, and before long George found himself coaching Josh at the Stratford Soccer Club. George and a few mates would later start their own soccer club at Yorkeys Knob, approaching the local council for land and then building the grounds and clubhouse. George would go on to have a successful coaching career, including an undefeated calendar year with Josh’s soccer team, also taking out Cairns District Junior soccer Coach of the Year. That same year, Yorkeys was invited to attend a rep carnival in Mackay to play rep teams from Cairns to Rockhampton, with George and Yorkeys winning the whole carnival. That was the first time a club team was invited and took out the win. George would later go on to coach Jason at Cairns club level and also rep level, where they won a few state titles. He retired from coaching once both boys finished their junior soccer but continued to support them through their senior years. It was also around this time that Joshua, Jason and Alex started families of their own. Grandchildren soon followed with Jaziah, Jahmarl, Julian, Ahliyah, Jesse, Izrael, Jonah, and Laxton. Jahmarl then went on to have his son, George’s first great-grandchild, Josiah and then followed Jaziah's daughter Aniya. This gave George a new lease on life as well as being a father figure for his nephews and nieces and their children, from both Elaine and George’s side of the family.

Like others his age, George would often call on Alex and Julian to assist with his IT issues. He would go mad if his laptop or mobile phone weren’t working because he loved playing card games on the computer and yarning on the phone. He would ring everyone, and always on the phone to his children, grandchildren, sisters and brothers, cousins, nieces and nephews. George would call or meet up with close friends from his past and present at every opportunity, whether it was for ten minutes or an hour, he just enjoyed picking up the phone and keeping close contact with everyone. George was in constant contact with extended members of the Jia and Ahmat families. It was important for him to maintain connection with these family members and his culture. It was George who kept the family connected, and never failed to attend a family event and was always the first one to deliver news to the whole family. He was a strong pillar for his family especially his nieces and nephews, sharing his wisdom and guidance when needed. Most of us will remember his tormenting jokes, his charming smile, going for a coffee and then complaining about the coffee. George had also formed a love for the Brisbane Broncos and was a loyal supporter from the time of the club’s foundation. A highlight of this was when George travelled to Sydney with Uncle Bo to watch his beloved Broncos play in the 1993 grand final, which they won, defeating poor Uncle Bo’s cherished team, St George. He continued to follow the Broncos right up until the time he passed.

The Jia/Ahmat family, identify with and internalise more than one culture. However, Dad/Poppy was traditionally Torres Strait Island adopted to his Grandparents Solomon Jia and Patima Jia (nee’ Ahmat) and grew up with them as his parents up until his early 20’s. This truly shaped who he was, and also made others question his lineage and sometimes affected relationships. Poppy identified as a black man a man of colour so it’s no surprise that our Elders who grew up on the mainland began to make those connections to family in the Torres Strait Islands. In discovering more bout Poppy we know that we are connected to many different cultures that somehow ended up in the Torres Strait, the family tree crossing many lines, boundaries, boarders and seas. Dad/Poppy’s Grandmother Serai Jia nee’ Mabuai was a Sawi Descendant from Mabiaug, through her father Iburu (Mabua) Bani of the Crocodile – Shovel-nosed Ray clan groups. Seri’s mother Dakantai was a Kris (Iburu’s 2nd wife). An apical ancestor of the Badualgal and Mualgal Peoples, from Badu and Moa Island on Dad/Poppy’s Grandmother Patimah’s Jia’s mother Flora Ahmat nee’ Savage, and her Mother Aiaika/Iaka

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