THIS is the first time we have published this photo of the late Jon Trigt of Surf Beach on Phillip Island being escorted out of the September 2023 Bass Coast Shire Council meeting by police.
We didn’t print the photo at the time because the ‘punishment’ of having your picture in the local paper, being taken away by police, didn’t seem to fit Jon’s ‘crime’ of interjecting with “shame, shame, shame” after the council narrowly voted to advocate for a yes vote in ‘The Voice’ referendum.
We needn’t have worried.
As we discovered at his funeral, in St John Uniting Church in Cowes on Thursday, it was one of Jon’s proudest moments.
As too was the incident in December that year when Jon made a stand against the hare-brained idea of having just nine chairs for the community in the council chamber with most people being forced outside, to watch a screen in the foyer.
The council quickly did away with those arrangements as a result.
Jon refused to heed former Mayor Cr Michael Whelan’s directive that he leave the chamber in September 2023, but he still managed to make another point on the way out, with the message on his windcheater “Every question matters Mayor”, although ‘maters’ was misspelled.
Jon explained the reason for his outburst in one of his many letters to the Sentinel-Times: “Bass Coast ratepayers, are quite capable of making up their own minds, remember they voted you in. For the record I will be voting YES… While we continue to see the Mayor, Cr Michael Whelan omit to read out eight questions, submitted by ratepayers at this council meeting September 20.”
Celebrant at Jon’s well-attended funeral on Thursday, Lisa-Anne Prendergast, summed up the contributions during the service made by Jon’s son and daughter, Adrian and Judith, and his four grandchildren.
“As we take a moment to reflect on the stories and the memories that have been shared today, a clear picture of Jon comes into focus of a man who is pragmatic and straight to the point, with a streak of humour that was as dry as it was unintentional.
“He was unpretentious, quietly determined and always guided by a firm sense of what was right, even if it meant challenging the system or the council along the way.
“Jon lived by his own compass. He valued hard work, honesty and a good argument backed by facts. He believed in fairness and had no time for wasting money or words or opportunity. Beneath that no-nonsense exterior was a generous heart, a curious mind and a deep pride in his family and his community.
“In thinking about Jon's legacy, it's not measured by grand gestures or material things, but by the impact of his presence. He taught by example, through how he lived, how he thought and how he gave of himself in practical, dependable ways.
“Whether it was a helping hand or a well-reasoned letter to the editor, he left his mark by showing up with purpose and with conviction. And while Jon may not have sought to teach lessons, he leaves behind many that are worth remembering.
“First, he showed us the value of living simply but thinking deeply. You don't need extravagance to have a full life, just curiosity, courage and a good sense of humour, even if you fudge the punchline.
“Second, he reminded us to speak up, to question, to challenge and to care enough to get involved, whether it was with the Council or at the corner shop, John believed that every voice mattered. He also showed us the importance of finding our own voice and following your convictions, even when not everyone agrees.
“Third, he taught us that generosity isn't about money, it's about time and intention. His loyalty, his help, his company, these were the gifts that were given freely and often. And finally, John taught us to do life your own way, to stand firm in who you are, to follow your own path and to find satisfaction in being true to yourself.
“That's the heart of his legacy, a man who lived honestly, thought independently and cared deeply in his own quiet and steadfast way.”
Jon Trigt was born Jan Van Trigt on January 31, 1941, the oldest of three children to Jan and Francis Van Trigt in Eindhoven, Holland where he lived before emigrating to Australia with his family in January 1954, living initially, as 320,000 other new arrivals did, at the Bonegilla Migrant Camp in Wodonga, before moving to Richmond.
He left school at age 14 but trained as an instrument maker at Kodak, ultimately working extensively in the mining industry, around Australia, and also overseas including in New Zealand, where he met his wife Teresa, a local nurse, PNG, and Iran, with his work often taking him away from home in Warrandyte and his family for up to 12 months.
The couple bought a block of land on Phillip Island in the 1980s with the intention of retiring here, after which Jon also immersed himself in the local community, culminating in a determined run for council in 2024 with the slogan: “We deserve better, and together we can do better”.
As an indication that his passion and persistence paid off, Jon Trigt was accorded a fine tribute at last week’s council meeting in a glowing urology prepared by fellow traveller, Cr Ron Bauer, in the presence of Jon’s son Adrian who joined the Mayor and Councillors at the meeting and afterwards for a cup of tea.
Cr Bauer remarked on Jon’s willingness to hold council to account and his keen interest in local affairs, not only willing to “talk the talk but also walk the walk” after deciding to stand for council in 2024.
“We stopped seeing him at council meetings when his diabetes and cancer became too much… somehow council meetings will never be the same," said Cr Bauer.
It was a welcome gesture that Jon’s son Adrian remarked on at the funeral service.
After screening reflections through the years to ‘You Raise Me Up’ by Josh Groban, followed by Frank Sinatra’s ‘My Way’ at the end, the funeral cortege left the church for a private burial service at San Remo followed by refreshments at the Phillip Island RSL.
