The Bundaberg community is invited to attend a memorial service to remember Busy Bee’s Kent Wong, share memories and hear about the history and future of the iconic store.
Whether it was the smell of freshly cooked homemade battered chips, the popular 10 cent coin game on the wall, or the friendly greeting from Busy Bee Fish Bar owners Lin and Kent Wong, memories will live on through the Bundaberg community after Kent’s passing.
After 52 years of serving the community from the quaint little take-away store on Targo Street, much-loved owner Kent Wong passed away on 27 February.
To celebrate Kent’s life, his wife Lin and son Andrew will hold a memorial to remember and honour the Busy Bee Fish Bar owner.
The love for Busy Bee’s flavoursome deep-fried food spans across generations, with grandparents and parents sharing childhood memories of riding their pushbikes to collect a paper-wrapped parcel of goodness, before taking their children for a salty, hot treat years later.
A statement posted to the Busy Bee Fish Bar Facebook page said a memorial to remember Kent would be held on 19 March and would give the community a chance to show their respect and share memories of his legacy in the Bundaberg Region.
“This is an opportunity for the many valued customers and people who liked the Busy Bee Fish Bar and saw it as an important Bundaberg food icon to come together to celebrate and mourn Kent Wong,” the post read.
Lin and Andrew will attend the memorial to remember Kent, at the vacant shop across from the iconic Busy Bee Fish Bar, from 7am to 7pm, and they welcome everyone to stop in and say hello and perhaps donate a raw potato or two.
“There will be a table with photos of Kent Wong and some of his personal items he used during the time he worked in the Busy Bee Fish Bar.
“In a funeral service people can give flowers and a card. In this case instead of flowers bring a potato or potatoes to show your respect and a card if you wish.
“The potatoes donated will be used to cook the first batch of battered chips by the new owners.”
At 7pm Andrew will sing a church hymn in honour of his father, then he will share the history and origins of Busy Bee Fish Bar, before providing information about what the future holds for Lin, and the new owners who will carry the legacy of the iconic takeaway shop.
Previous stories:
- Documentary captures five decades of Busy Bee
- Busy Bee Fish Bar unites community
- Busy Bee doco streams online
