Jonah Lomu remembered: 'Sometimes he paid my bills for me, he was like that'From a childhood friend to the principal at his high school, the Māngere community in Auckland where he grew up is in shock at the sudden death of an inspiration
file pic of Jonah Lomu
“Growing up this area was so saturated with gangs and crime but Jonah managed to escape that,” says Tasha Tasmania, a childhood friend speaking after the death of Jonah Lomu.
“Lomu’s dead,” a bus driver tells his passengers bluntly as they board in central Dunedin. What? They say. Gone? But he’s Lomu. Invincible. And he was only 40.
Steven Hargreaves, the principal of Wesley College in Auckland, which was Lomu’s high school, was similarly incredulous. “When I heard it was like getting a punch in the stomach, it has really taken the wind out of the sails of the whole school.
“The mood is quite sombre and we are all very down and quiet, which is very unusual for a high school. Today there has been a shadow cast over the school.”
The principal called a special assembly and the school chaplain announced Lomu’s passing. “Lomu has been a huge inspiration for our students. Today we still get students enrolling because they want to be the next Jonah Lomu and Wesley College and Jonah Lomu are tied together,” Hargreaves said.
“All the kids know Jonah came from very humble roots. And we all know the heights he reached and he is an inspiration to them, that maybe a future like that is possible for them too, no matter where they come from.”
“We have asked the boys to conduct themselves with the dignity Jonah would have shown in adversity. To do his memory proud.”
Jonah Lomu, the gentle giant of rugby, died in Auckland overnight on Tuesday. He had suffered kidney problems since 1995 and received a transplant in 2004. He leaves behind a wife and two children, who have asked for privacy.
Lomu, of Tongan descent, was the youngest player to wear an All Blacks jersey (at 19), and became the most famous rugby player in the world for his theatrical and thrilling play on field.
After battling health problems for many years, he retired from the game in 2002 and since then has dedicated himself to mentoring young players and setting an example of grace and level-headedness in an age where rugby stars have become fully fledged celebrities.
Many New Zealanders left work early on Wednesday to raise a pint and remember one of the greatest rugby players and – almost more importantly – a strong but gentle man who rarely raised his voice and was kind to a fault.
“When Lomu came back to Māngere, he sometimes used to pay my bills for me, he was like that,” said Tasha Tasmania, a childhood friend of Lomu’s and chairwoman of the Māngere East Hawks rugby league club, where Lomu played for two seasons.
She said the Māngere community in Auckland where Lomu grew up was in shock, and people were walking from house to house, talking, crying, eating and remembering their local boy the world came to love.
“The most important thing about Jonah is he wanted to live,” said Tasmania, her voice cracking. “He loved life, he didn’t want to die. His life was full of wonderful things and fantastic people. He gave a lot to our area.
“Back in the day, it was a rough area and a rough time and Jonah spent a lot of time giving back. Growing up this area was so saturated with gangs and crime but Jonah managed to escape that. So the younger brothers growing up now, they look up to Jonah, and he tries to teach them there are other options in life than crime and violence.”
Lomu’s primary school teacher Heather Harvey put a sign outside Favona primary school in Māngere – “Jonah Lomu, ex-pupil, rest in peace”.
On Wednesday night she planned to visit Lomu’s mother to pay her respects. The community of Māngere, she said, would not sleep a wink.
“I am very sad this afternoon, we all are. Jonah was a lovely kid, and then a lovely man and he deserves all the accolades he got,” she said. “People couldn’t help following his lead. He was physically so big – a typical Tongan – and he just impressed everybody, everybody liked him.”
On Wednesday afternoon social media was awash with tributes to Lomu, many focusing on his personality, as well as his sporting prowess. Lomu’s close friend Polly Gillespie posted a moving tribute to the man off the field.
“I don’t know what to do with my aching heart. I don’t want to answer the phone. I can’t believe it’s true.
“Jonah, I’m going to miss your calls from all the strangest places in the world ... I miss you arriving in the middle of the night with a big feed and presents for the kids.”
Guy Williams, a local comedian tweeted aptly: “Jonah Lomu was even bigger than Elvis in New Zealand RIP.”
Cory Jane, an All Black, said he had always aspired to follow in Lomu’s footsteps. He posted on Twitter: “1994 I was 11years old & saw my hero play for the All Blacks ... A legend of the game & someone I wanted to be.”
Rugby commentator Keith Quinn told Radio New Zealand Lomu’s appeal was timeless and universal. “It was ongoing, and he modestly accepted it, lived with it every day, and had time for everyone. I never saw him ignore anyone, ever. He was such a gentle person.”
