 During some time spent in Wangaratta (the home town of his wife) in early 2009, Jone was instrumental in getting local Volleyball team "Just Do It" from 9th (of 10 teams) to 4th, and competing with them in the Quarter Finals of the local Volleyball season.In October 2006, Tawake made the tough call to have his right ring finger amputated after breaking it badly during the course of the 2006 Super 14 season.He originally had surgery to hold the finger in place after dislocating it, but the finger developed an infection and the only alternative was amputation.