The following tribute to the late Adrian Anthony Jones B.Ag.Sc. Dip Ed has been paid by his former College classmate at the 'Old Bluestone Pile' Capt. Prof. Kevin Rickard AM, an Inductee into the Old Paradians' Association Hall of Fame in 2013.

Adrian Jones (Parade 1953) died peacefully surrounded by his family at their home in Montmorency on July 14, 2021. Adrian was a deeply spiritual warm and generous man who discerned the voice of God in many ways. He had been unwell for some time but faced his aggressive antagonist with rare courage and dignity, no more so than over the last 3-4 months before he died.

Born on April 7, 1936, Adrian was the fifth of six children of Ellen and Sydney Jones. He had four sisters, two of whom are nuns. His older brother was Fr Peter Jones, S.J. who died earlier this year in India. Sydney, his English father had brought his Irish lineage wife, Mary Ellen, to Australia. a short time before the birth of their eldest daughter. Ellen and Sydney were determined to give their children a good education.

Adrian was born and bred in Port Melbourne. His family’s religious life revolved around the Parish and the Church of St. Joseph, under the care of the Carmelites. After attending the Parish primary school, it was then to St. Colman’s in Fitzroy. Like his brother, Peter, SJ. before him Adrian then attended the CBC East Melbourne. It was at Parade in 1950 when I first met Adrian. We have been firm friends over the last 70 years. He sang at my wife. Elaine’s 21^st birthday and again at her 80^th.birthday where all the guests joined him in singing “Walking My Baby Back Home”.

Parade College Matriculation Class 1953. Adrian Jones stands in the second front row, fifth from the left, and to the right of future OPA President Rene Stella as you look at the photograph. Another future OPA President Barrie Williams stands two to the right of Adrian as you look at the photograph. Kevin Rickard sits in the front row, fifth from the left, and to the left of the 1953 College Captain (and later Victoria Police Commander) the late Barry Phelan. 

After matriculating from Parade in 1953 he proceeded to the Uni. of Melbourne to read Agricultural Science. During the course he spent the mandatory year at Dookie Agricultural College in Melbourne Uni’s Faculty of Veterinary and Agricultural Science. He graduated B.Ag Sc in 1957. By then he realised he had a ‘call’ and desire to join the priesthood. He joined the Carmelite Order and rejoiced deeply in his studies of the Gospel and the Old Testament. Adrian was ordained a priest at St. Patrick’s Cathedral, Melbourne on July 23, 1966. He was then known by his Carmelite name, Fr. Titus after Fr. Titus Brandsma, a Dutch calced, martyred and beatified Carmelite friar who was murdered by the Nazis in Dachau in 1942.

As Fr. Titus, Adrian was a diligent Carmelite friar. Whilst an active Parish priest in Coorparoo, Adrian obtained the Diploma of Education from the Uni. of Queensland. In 1981 he took a sabbatical year in Chicago, Illinois to attend the Institute of Spiritual Leadership for Spiritual Directors. He spent eight years on the staff of Whitefriars College, Donvale. There he was Asst. Headmaster, Science & Mathematics teacher as well as Religious Education Co-ordinator during the earlier and formative years of the College. After 26 years in the Carmelites and much soul searching, he decided to leave the Order and the Priesthood. However, he remained deeply attached, respected and included in the Carmelite ideals for the rest of his life.

He entered a new phase of his life when he decided to marry a widow, Mrs. Maureen Erickson, who had three young sons, Stephen, David and Christopher. The couple had a small farm holding at Foster in South Gippsland close to Wilson’s Promontory where Adrian was able to return to his “horticultural roots”. He became a respected adviser to local farmers particularly for the horticultural use of chemicals. He co-authored The Ag Vet Chemical Users Course Resource Manual. He was President of the local hospital Board and President of the Bird Observers Group.

After some years in Foster, Adrian and Maureen returned to the family home in Montmorency. He was a member of the Parish liturgy group and a good friend of the local Parish Priest, Fr. Terry Kean. For the last 4-5 years of his life Adrian battled a serious haematological disorder from which he had welcome remissions. Unfortunately, the condition became insurmountable. He died in the arms of his family on July 14, 2021. Adrian and Maureen had 34 years of happy marriage at his death at the age of 85 .

His moving requiem Mass on July 22 was held at St. Francis Xavier’s church in Montmorency. Adrian’s fellow Carmelite Fr. Paul and the Parish Priest concelebrated the Mass. Maureen and three of Adrian’s sisters, Margaret (Sr. Adrienne), Anne (Sr. Martin) and Kath Leonard were active participants in the liturgy. Eldest sister Mary, aged 93, was unable to attend. Among the items placed on Adrian’s casket was the treasured red and white jacket of his beloved ‘Swans’ often referred to by Adrian as ‘the Bloods’. He was buried at the Kangaroo Ground cemetery.

Deepest sympathy is extended to his loving wife, Maureen and her sons, as well as to Adrian’s four sisters. May he rest in peace.

Kevin Rickard