Lily Cook-Bonney

Uncle Rhys!

Hi Uncle Rhys it's Lily here. I miss you and I liked the times we used to have together. I remember floating boats in the water in Wanaka, having Christmas together and jumping on your back, and being your flower girl at your wedding. I liked the way that you always played with me and I wish that you were still alive. I am sad because I didn't get to say goodbye to you, but I think I could talk to you in the wind sometimes and you might hear. I like your movie the water horse, it is one of my favourites and I didn't even know that you had worked on it or King Kong until Mummy told me. I like seeing your name at the end of water horse movie.

Goodbye Uncle Rhys - I love you. Love Lily xxxxooo

A poem for Uncle Rhys
I like the way you play with children, you are kind and caring
You are smiling and wonderful and sharing
I wish you were still alive because it's funnny without you to cuddle
It's a bit of a muddle
Lewis and Olive miss you and Aunty Heather too
A 1000 x's I love you!

Regan Edwards-Scott

Thank you Rhys

For you warm and wise words one tough day in Dunedin 1998.

Thanks for sharing your sense of humour, smile, your diverse film and music discoveries, and your infectious enthusiasm with us all.

Vreda Odonoghuefr

To Heather,

I am a friend of your mother Joan, and I am so sorry to hear about Rhys. I am her Irish friend Breda. As when Rhys was ill, he was in my prayers, and I will keep him there. I just want to send you a little Irish prayer for yourself, and your children.

May the road rise up to meet you.
May the wind be always at your back.
May the sun shine warm upon your face,
And the rains fall soft upon your fields.
And until ye meet again,
May God hold you in the palm of his hand.

Yours in sympathy,
Breda

Peter Ono

I had known Rhys and Heather before they had gotten married when we all worked together in Tokyo Japan as English teachers.

I remember that Rhys always brought a smile to Heather's face whenever I saw them around. They were a great couple.

You will be sorely missed Rhys!

David Newsham-West

I had regrettably let too much time pass since our friendship at school and Uni, and to hear this sad news, has been a deep shock. Fond memories of Rhys' quiet and genuine nature joined with his great smile and sense of humour towards life has, and will stay with me forever.

He will be sadly missed, but never forgotten.

My sincerest thoughts and condolences to his family and friends.

David

Naomi Omi

I was very sad to hear the news. It was a great shock to all of us here.

Thinking of you and your family at this time.

Rhys will be sadly missed.

Naomi from Japan

Paul Seyb

Working together at PMI Rhys unselfishly shared his knowledge and inspired me with his endless determination, passion and his great sense of humour. I look back to those long days with fond memories.

I remember Rhys would always have a quirky analogy that he could muster for any particular situation for our amusement. If only we made a book of them.

I wish to offer my condolences for Heather and the kids for their loss.

Rhys you will be missed but never forgotten.

Paul Seyb

George and Janet Ebenhoh

Heather,

I once said of Rhys that he was the most true definition of a "gentleman" that I have ever met - a truly gentle man. It`s measure of what a wonderful spirit he is, that his brief time with us has so deeply touched our lives.

Our thoughts are of him, and with you and your children.

Love,
George and Janet

Donald Ferns

No one will ever wield a Super-8 or Gameboy camera with such grace & skill, your films are still projecting in our minds and always will. We will miss all the geeky talk of the esoterica of the movie world, music, art & everything in between.

Thank you for your true spirit and friendship, RIP good buddy.

Don & Karen

Jeremy Togneri

I enjoyed many fun hours with Rhys both in our work together at the cinema and around campus.

He was a special character with such a gentle nature, great intelligence and amazing wit. I admired Rhys greatly and enjoyed his friendship in our years together.

Our thoughts are with Heather, Lewis, and Olive.

Jeremy Togneri and family

Edward Siddle

I knew Rhys from Opoho primary school in Dunedin, and cubs too. It made me sad to see that someone who was a great guy has gone.

I hope you are all finding support with each other at the moment.

Ed

Edmund Wong

Rhys,

You were a good friend and neighbour. I won't ever forget the two of you and my first night in a very cold Japan in January of 2002 in Minami Nagareyama. We had ramen of course at the local shop. I only had a short time of a year getting to know you, but you were always friendly and helpful in the trials that I faced in both getting accustomed to a foreign land and growing up.

I hope the best for you where ever you may be as well as for your family.

Edmund Wong

Nicola Butler

Rhys

I will always remember you as a hardworking, extremely talented, dry-witted and devoted family man.

You were a quiet & humble achiever, and a great person.

You will be missed by everyone who knew you.

Nicola

Jane Green

To Beryl and Robert

from the Maheno - Otepopo parish, N Otago.

It is with great sadnesss that we hear of your Rhys's death, and so soon after your wedding.

Please know that you and your extended families are in our thoughts and prayers at this time.

With our love
Jane

Rachel Efetha

Heather

I know it is years since we saw each other, but I always have fond memories of knowing you and Rhys whilst you were in London. They are mostly memories of the inside of a pub or two, but we also did some great cultural things together like the Dali exhibition.

I don't think I have met two people more right for each other than you two, and was devastated to hear the news. I hope you can take comfort from your beautiful children and that Rhys's spirit lives on in them.

My thoughts are with you,
Rachel

Cherie Zoutenbier-Bisset

Dear Heather and family.

It was with sadness I read of Rhys' passing, and want you to know that our thoughts are with you at this time.

We all had a lot of fun and games working at Hoyts, and I remember Rhys being a really gentle guy, with a dry sense of humour and passion for the movies.
Even though we have lost touch over the years and those times seem like ages ago, we are thinking of you, and send our condolences and love to you.

Love from Cherie and Andy

John Howell

Rhys,

It's been such a long time since I've seen you but the news of your
passing has still shocked me deeply. I remember you as a gentle, kind and thoughtful guy with the coolest record collection of all of us! (My Bloody Valentine will be playing on my stereo tomorrow!)

You will be missed.

My sincere condolences to all your loved ones.

John Howell

Tracey Russell

Kia Ora Heather

You may not remember me, which is all good. I met with you to sort our your affairs when Rhys's condition became very serious.

Please accept my heartfelt aroha at this time.

Kia Kaha

Tracey Russell

Rob Verhoeven

I had the privilege of knowing Rhys while he was at South Seas. He was an inspiration of vision and determination, without ever compromising anyone. In his kind and gentle way Rhys gave and achieved more in his life than many can dream of - and Rhys had only just begun.

The dream lives on, but the man will be missed forever.

Rob

Jean and Brian Monk

Dear Rhys

We have treasured memories of your childhood in Opoho, and later the pleasure of seeing you mature into such an amazingly talented and special young man.

You'll be so sadly missed and remembered always.

To Heather, Beryl, Iain and families our sincerest sympathy, thoughts and love.

Jean and Brian Monk

Nancy and Barrie Rutledge

71 Sligo Terrace
Roslyn
Dunedin

Dear Beryl, Iain and families,

Please know Barrie and I are thinking of you all at this very sad time. I know your faith will help you all, but it is hard to lose a son, brother, husband and father at such a vital and young age.

We send our deepest sympathy and hope to see you in person Beryl, soon.

With our love,
Nancy and Barrie Rutledge

Emma Alldridge

Reading through the Tributes for Rhys makes me realise what a full life he lived and how many interesting things he did.

I met Rhys in Japan and continued a friendship with him and Heather when we returned to NZ. I remember Rhys as a calm, gentle person with a quirky sense of humour. I loved hearing about his eclectic taste in music and film.

My thoughts and love are with Heather, Lewis and Olive and the rest of Rhys's family at this time.

Victor Billot

Sad to hear this news about someone whom I will remember with respect as one of life's gentlemen.

Tony Hanning

Prayerful and sincere sympathy to Beryl and family at this time of loss.

Unable to be with you, except in spirit, as in Canada until Tuesday.

The special moments make more memories than the years.

Love to you all - Tony Hanning

John Forde

I was devastated to hear about Rhys's death. I got to know Rhys in my last two years of university at Otago, where we were both studying Film Studies. Our honours year film studies class in 1997, made up of 16 aspiring film geeks, was one of the most enjoyable, creative and stimulating communities I've ever been involved in, and Rhys was absolutely fundamental to the group.

Rhys was a gentle soul, quietly witty, and brimming with creativity. He had the rare ability to express his point of view quietly and calmly, acknowledge different points of view, and never trod on anyone else's right to express themselves. As a budding filmmaker, his work was very much like his personality - subtle, clever, curious and technically accomplished, and his future prospects seemed limitless.

I can still remember sitting in a pub in Dunedin, talking film theory with Rhys, who was probably wearing his old brown courduroy jacket, skinny jeans and sneakers, with his hair falling across his face, and I feel sad that I won't ever be able to do that again.

To his family, I send my sincere sympathies and love.

Rhys will truly be missed.

Tabitha Yap

Dear Rhys,

I will always appreciate the little times we spent at film school; on the few projects we worked on together. Although we didn't know each other on a deep level, you have nevertheless touched my spirit and I'll always remember you.

Incredibly talented yet transcendingly humble, outspokenly witty yet gentle, you are a living testimonial to the goodness that exists in human nature.

You'll be sorely missed but may we all be inspired to live and love life to the fullest, just as how you have!

Your family and loved ones must be so proud of you... :)

Blessed be.

Nola and Barry Hambleton

Dear Beryl and Iain and families

It was with sadness that we read the bereavement notice in the Auckland Herald for Rhys.

It seems no time at all since our boys were at school together at Opoho and Otago Boys in Dunedin We remember him as a lively intelligent young boy, a credit to the great upbringing he had from his parents.

Please accept our deepest sympathy to you and to Rhys' young wife and family. This will be a difficult time for you all. We hope that the kind thoughts of old friends may help a little.

Kindest regards
Nola and Barry Hambleton

Gareth O'Neill

When I think back to the last time we had a good chat, it was at the Owhiro Bay School fair almost a year ago (that was fast!).

I remember a loving father, and wonderful husband, and a great guy. You were so full of life.

And that is how we will remember you.

Gareth, Yoshie, Tasi and Mika

Carl Ayala

Certifiably the most genuine person I've ever met.

I enjoyed our short friendship, Rhys. You'll be greatly missed.

Ilya Klarich

Rhys,

I really enjoyed your company and look back on our time spent together as film school students with great fondness, humor, appreciation and respect.

Your friendship was valued and cherished by me, I'm so gonna miss you dude.

Ilya

Jim Ebenhoh

A dear friend from day one in Dunedin, over 13 years ago. Gentle wit, impeccable taste and unbounded creativity nestled in a heart of gold. Too many memories to recount here, never enough to replace the genuine article, to stave off the yearning for future memories and mutual plans, but a treasure nonetheless.

Thank you Rhys, for what you brought to us, your adoring family and your many other loving friends.

We will miss you so very much.

Jim and Kelly