I first met Tonny when she came to New Zealand for Oma and Opa's 60th wedding anniversary.in 1984.<br /> She stayed with us as Oma had other family staying there. As she had made prior arrangements to travel to the South Island I made an instant decision to join her on her tour. We cackled, laughed, disagreed on numerous things but had fun nevertheless.<br /> After that she always came to N.Z for Christmas where we would take her North to old friends. She always enjoyed it there, and it was company for what otherwise would be a lonely Christmas for her.<br /> Whenever Tonny came to NZ she stayed with us, and I believe that her returning to Holland after she retired was not the best decision for her. After all she had lived the previous 30 + years in Australia and had initally made plans to retire to a place north of Sydney.<br /> She did say on one of her trips back here from Holland that she felt that she had made the wrong decision to go back to Europe to live. She had good friends in Australia and was very close to Jack who kept an eye on her.<br /> However, life is what it is, and we make decisions and live with the consequences.<br /> When Joe and I last visited her in 2005 in Holland she was already losing the plot, and therefore when I saw her again in 2008 she really had no recollection of me.<br /> She lost most of her ability to speak English as her illness progressed and as I do not speak Dutch I ceased phoning her in 2009.<br /> I am sure she is happy with her Clive, I know that she missed him all the time.<br /> Goodbye Tonny. Soar with angels<br /> Pip

Thanks Jack, for starting this initiative in memory of Tonny. Having lived in both Holland and Australia, her heart was on both sides, and this virtual memory makes it possible for us all to remember her together. We met Tonny a long time ago in bus and hovercraft on a trip from Holland to London, and she immediately impressed us with her vivid talks. We changed adresses and met, and met, and met, and had fun together. Ton went with us to Milly la Foret (near Paris), and visited us in Amsterdam and later in Rotterdam. She touched us straight into our hearts with her humour and direct and young, adventurous and openminded nature. She slept with us on the ground in a sleeping bag when we had nothing better to offer and stood on the luggage-carrier of our bikes, laughing at the world! Ton became our reference of how we would like to be when we ourselves would be old. We also had good talks. She told us of Australia, Clive of course and moeder Anna, and the things she had learnt from life, and was willing to hear us talk about our ideas of life. And although she cherished freedom, she friendly critisized our ideas and gave us good and friendly advice. We learned a lot from Ton, above all that the meaning of life is not always in great thoughts, but most of the time hidden in the small things that bring happiness, and that we people can help eachother to find this. She did this with us, and we and Ton became real soulmates. It gave us great pain to see Ton loose her memory and grasp of life during the last years of her life, but even in her vulnerability Tonny maintained to socialize and make the best of it, like she always had done during her journey here on earth. We are grateful that we have got to know Tonny and are sure she is sitting on her little cloud in the sky, together with Clive (she referenced a lot to this image when we were talking about the end of life) and that she throws her good laughs to us all. We wish you and your loved ones all the best. Hugo van Velzen and Marcel van Winsen Rotterdam, The Netherlands

Thanks Jack, for starting this initiative in memory of Tonny. Having lived in both Holland and Australia, her heart was on both sides, and this virtual memory makes it possible for us all to remember her together. We met Tonny a long time ago in bus and hovercraft on a trip from Holland to London, and she immediately impressed us with her vivid talks. We changed adresses and met, and met, and met, and had fun together. Ton went with us to Milly la Foret (near Paris), and visited us in Amsterdam and later in Rotterdam. She touched us straight into our hearts with her humour and direct and young, adventurous and openminded nature. She slept with us on the ground in a sleeping bag when we had nothing better to offer and stood on the luggage-carrier of our bikes, laughing at the world! Ton became our reference of how we would like to be when we ourselves would be old. We also had good talks. She told us of Australia, Clive of course and moeder Anna, and the things she had learnt from life, and was willing to hear us talk about our ideas of life. And although she cherished freedom, she friendly critisized our ideas and gave us good and friendly advice. We learned a lot from Ton, above all that the meaning of life is not always in great thoughts, but most of the time hidden in the small things that bring happiness, and that we people can help eachother to find this. She did this with us, and we and Ton became real soulmates. It gave us great pain to see Ton loose her memory and grasp of life during the last years of her life, but even in her vulnerability Tonny maintained to socialize and make the best of it, like she always had done during her journey here on earth. We are grateful that we have got to know Tonny and are sure she is sitting on her little cloud in the sky, together with Clive (she referenced a lot to this image when we were talking about the end of life) and that she throws her good laughs to us all. We wish you and your loved ones all the best. Hugo van Velzen and Marcel van Winsen Rotterdam, The Netherlands

I shall always retain fond memories of Tonny I believe that Tonny had a good innings at 88 and and she always ejoyed her glass of wine (or two) in the evenings when she stayed with me in OZ. Tonny also claimed that she did not drink. Ha Ha. But for such a small lady, Tonny had a great appetite for both food and life. Tonny never a bad word to say about anyone. The photos I have posted is of Tonny, Anita, Amiel, Julie and myself at sydney airport. This was taken on Tonny's last Australia visit and shortly before the others in the photo moved back to the USA. The other photos were taken of Tonny in Holland. I still think there is still a cheeky grin there. She will be sadly missed, but never to be forgotten.

Tonny was my aunt, she was a sister of my father. She could tell lovely stories about her live and was always very interesting about me and my family. She always told about "moeder Anna" who she loved and of course her husband Clive. When she started talking after a while she always said "You must be bored" but I liked her stories very much. She didn't like flying but she travelled a lot.

Tonny Wilkinson is my aunt. The last 20 years she lived in Holland and in that time I always visited her. I took her with me to go to p.e. a little town in Holland. She liked that very much. I'm sad that she is not longer with us but she was 88 years old! I'll never forget her. Jos Ingenhoes-van Steensel The Netherlands

Thank very much for letting us know about Tonny, and our sincere condolances to you and the family. 88 years is a long life and we think she has spent them well, serving humanity with a compassionate heart. Perhaps it was not always easy, but then life isn't easy, she made it interesting and had wonderful stories to tell. We know how she loved and adored Clive, who was taken away from her far too early. We know and heard how you were always on her mind, and when she spoke of you, her face and voice was sweet and kind (there was also a little twinkle in her eye). So as an outsider we can say that she loved you very much, and that in itself is a blessing, which you can cherish. And we will smile at you and Tonny for that. For us she was very kind, the difference in age was never a problem, which was nice because you could make jokes and speak your mind freely. We had some good laughs, interesting discussions and nice evenings together. She was an inspiring travelling companion in the journey of life. We hope you are not too sad, well a little bit is okay, so are we. But Tonny might throw a joke at us and a smile, while lighting a cigarette. We wish you and your loved ones well. Kind regards, Mariette and Raymond Baptist The Netherlands