Johnno to most of you, passed away early last week. His funeral will be held on Friday 8th September at Pettigrew Funerals, Main Chapel, 7 Murray Dwyer Circuit, Mayfield West.
Greg Nordsvan messaged me on Wednesday with the above details, and provided the following information.
I first met Johnno at a trial at Mount Sugarloaf in 1974, like pretty much everyone in Newcastle he rode a 325 Bultaco from Norm Frasers. He rode a 247 Cota in a couple of events and eventually bought a TY250B. In 1976 he got back on a 250 Sherpa which he rode for a few years while living in Sydney. He moved back to Newcastle in the 80s on a blue 325 Bultaco. In 1984 he purchased a new 349 Montessa Cota but like everyone else he purchased a TY350 monoshock in 85. He rode an RL Suzuki at Denman in the early 2000s after some time out. He got keen again in 2014 and purchased a TY250 which was replaced by a blue 325 Bultaco. At this stage he got really keen with the photos assisted by Facebook. He ended up with a Gas Gas as well. He has always been a keen photographer since the 70s, developing and printing his photos. He was always a keen surfer / photographer as well.
From my personal perspective, Ian was a great Trials mate over many years. He rode a Three Day Trial at Mittagong in April 1975 and that was where I first met him. In those days the Newcastle boys mostly rode Bulties, while the MCC of Canberra Trials Division mostly rode Yamahas. As Greg mentioned above, Ian drifted in and out of Trials and we caught up again when I was Clerk of Course at the Aussie Titles run at Pacific Park in 2004, 2009 and 2015.
You all need to check out Johnnos Trials on Facebook. Ian was a handy Trials rider who was also a brilliant photographer and he always made us all look good on a Trials bike. On his Fb page there just so many examples of his skill. Whether he was photographing a first timer, or the Aussie Champion, he just made us look so good!
I was very fortunate to spend a full day with Ian, and Heather, during the week before the Denman Twinshock Titles back in June. We had lunch with Greg at Merewether Beach and spent the afternoon cruising around the coastal headlands spotting an amazing number of whales.
Trevor Bennett
