The late Jack Hawkins.
EXHIBITING honey at the Redland Show was one of Jack Hawkins' passions in life.
The 90-year-old great-grandfather, who died last month, was known through the Redlands for his golden honey and prized bees.
His love of bees led him to rise through the ranks to chairman of the honey section at the Redland Show, a position he held until the show folded.
Before retiring, Mr Hawkins, who lived in Wellington Point for 30 years, managed a mowing business.
John Patrick "Jack" Hawkins was born at Sunnybank on May 29, 1922, and went to school there before being an apprentice a butcher.
Early in World War II, he joined the Queensland Cameron Highlanders 61st Militia Battalion.
In 1941, he was trained as a signal officer near Townsville and his 61st Battalion was assigned to the 7th Brigade New Guinea in mid-1942.
As a 20-year-old, he served in the 1942 assault at Ahioma and against the Japanese when they attacked Milne Bay.
His 61st Battalion was forced back but two days later, at the edge of No. 3 airfield, he was given a rifle and told to stop the Japanese advance.
He was part of the reinforced 7th Brigade, which stopped four attacks by 1300 Japanese troops in the early hours of August 31, 1942.
In 1943, he married Stella McLachlan, of Morningside, and they had two children, Leigh and Dennis.
He is survived by Stella, his two children, five grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.