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HIS smiling face beneath a wild, often multi-coloured beard is as recognisable as any other in Newcastle.
But few knew his real name. Most referred to him as Johnny Bongoes, Johnny Rainbow or Busker Johnny. He was as much apart of Darby Street as Goldbergs or The Delaney Hotel. Most of the time you would hear him before you saw him; ‘‘How you goin’ mate. Got any spare change?’’ he would shout in his distinctive tone, his fingers madly thumping across a drum or tamborine.
Those who were generous and reached down with a dollar or two could be counted a friend for life. Those who declined could expect a few choice words. But they always came with a smile. If he knew you he would shout your full name down the street and wave madly. He was an icon in Darby Street and well-known in Beaumont Street and the Hunter Street Mall. He loved rainbow paddle pops, in fact he liked everything rainbow, from his beard to his art.
Some of the names given to him implied he was homeless or a vagrant, but friends say that was never the case. Besides, he preferred to be called Happy King Spirit or Johnny Day Brightener.
His real name was John Philip Pittman.
On Sunday, after suffering a debilitating stroke last year, he died of pneumonia in a Lake Macquarie nursing home. He was 62.
He leaves behind a son, Eddy, and a sister, Mary.
Mr Pittman lived on the top floor of a flat in Light Street that he called ‘‘The Castle of Kindness’’.
Inside, as you may imagine, was a bit of a mess. But the place was full of musical instruments, art supplies and paintings – his two greatest passions. Most days, busted guitar or bongo in hand, Mr Pittman would race through Nesca Park headed for Darby Street. First stop Darby’s Corner Shop. Jo Elliott has worked at the shop for 29 years and during that time became good friends with Mr Pittman.
‘‘I would see him running down the hill and he would come in and say: ‘‘have you got any sandwhiches for me, Jo,’’ she said.
‘‘I would give him any day-old sandwiches and he would go and sit out the front and busk. At the end he would bring me all his change and I would turn it into a note. His guitar used to fall apart and he would bring that into me and I would tape it up for him.
"He will be missed in Darby Street, when he wasn’t around for a while people would come in the shop worried about him and ask if I had seen him. He will be missed all right.
"We hardly sell any rainbow paddle pops now, when Johnny was around we would go through a box a week.’’
Friends of Mr Pittman said he busked to make enough money to buy art supplies, he would then head to Eckersleys in Hamilton, load up on brushes and coloured paper and pens and repeat the process.
Zoe Tjanavaras has served Mr Pittman at the art supply store for more than 14 years. She was also his neighbour.
‘‘I can still hear his voice in my head; ‘Hey Zoe’,’’ she said.
‘‘If he knew who you were he would scream and wave at you, he was fanatical. A lot of people see him on the street and don’t know much about his life, but he was a talented artist.
"I guess he could be described as a modernist. He was all about colours and would do these really bright colourful paintings.
"Colour to him was happiness, him working with lots of colours helped him find his happiness and his spirit.’’
Mr Pittman exhibited his work many times, including at the Gibson Street Gallery and Hamilton’s community art space.
Ms Tjanavaras said Mr Pittman often told her he would like someone to photograph and record his art work and put them into a book. It’s unknown whether that wish was ever granted.
Mr Pittman was helped by Mission Australia for many years and exhibited work in its ‘‘Arts in Recovery’’ exhibition.
‘‘He was a much loved Newcastle identity who we have known for a number of years,’’ Mission Australia Newcastle program manager Rob Theobald said.
‘‘Mr Pittman was always in good spirits, had a generous nature and was always willing to lend a hand to others. He will be sorely missed by the Mission Australia Newcastle team.’’
Other than his son, Eddy, and his sister, Mary, Mr Pittman had little family. His sons’ friend Chris Jarrett said he met Mr Pittman about 15 years ago and the pair became good friends.
Mr Jarrett said Mr Pittman had a stroke ‘‘about 10 months ago’’ that significantly reduced any feeling down the left side of his body. He was placed in a nursing home at Killarney Vale about four months ago and died on Sunday.
‘‘During the week he would go to the Elderly Citizens Centre in King Street and they would fix him up with some sandwhiches, they really looked after him,’’ Mr Jarrett said.
‘‘He was a very spiritual person and on Sundays he would get up at 6am and go up to Christ Church Cathedral to sit on the steps and wait for all the people to arrive.’’
Mr Jarrett said Mr Pittman was a crane driver who moved around from Sydney to Gateshead and into Newcastle. He was an alcoholic in his youth, but was sober for decades in the lead-up to his death. ‘‘I’ve known him at least 15 years, time has gone quick,’’ he said.
‘‘Growing up in Newcastle you see it all change.
‘‘But it seems Johnny has always been in Newcastle, always been sitting on Darby Street, he is the one thing that would never change. ‘‘With him gone Darby Street will never be the same.’’
Mr Jarrett believes Mr Pittman is in heaven, banging away on a bongo.
His funeral will be held on Monday at Newcastle Memorial Park at Beresfield.
His friends have suggested a number of other ways people could pay tribute to Mr Pittman.
'‘Paint a rainbow on the sidewalk in Darby Street,’’ Ms Tjanavaras says.
‘‘That would really represent his spirit and his presence in the community. ‘‘It would be a good way to pay tribute to him.’’
Or you could go and buy a rainbow paddle pop from Darby’s, have a chat with Jo. Spray paint your hair or beard. Go on, Johnny would have done it.