Born and raised in Fairfield NSW, John attended Hurlstone Agricultural High School.

Advertise with News of The Area today.
It’s worth it for your business.
Message us.
Phone us – (02) 4981 8882.
Email us – media@newsofthearea.com.au

Having won a scholarship, John trained for just two years at Armidale Teachers College before taking his first teaching job at Nabiac.

It was in Nabiac that John obtained his Lay Reader’s licence with the Anglican church, moved to Newcastle, and established a youth fellowship group organising camps for young people.

John later moved to Oberon where his two sons were born, and his “hobby” of arranging trips became a business called Golden West Tours, which celebrated 50 years of operation recently.

It was in the Blue Mountains that his community involvement grew, taking on roles in tourism associations, church societies, and with Lions and Rotary.

He has also served with Gideons International, a Christian organisation dedicated to distributing Bibles and scripture.

In 2014 John married Nancie, whom he met on one of his tours.

Since moving to Bonny Hills John has remained active in the tourism sector, running businesses Christian Fellowship Tours and Fantastic Aussie Tours.

John volunteers in many ways with the Camden Haven Anglican Church, both in West Haven and Bonny Hills.

Once a month he often heads to Comboyne to take the church service, and assists in leading the service at the Lakeview Nursing Home.

John is also a member of the Parish Council, a Church Warden and a Diocesan representative.

John and Nancie regularly open their home for gatherings and have bought a Honda Odyssey to take locals on small-group day trips.

“One person told me that it was the first time they had been out of town for a non-medical appointment for many years,” said John.

John has also been known to be a bus driver, offering Christmas light tours in a small coach for local residents.

“I regard each of us as little links in a chain of encouragement to others,” John said.

“The Camden Haven community is blessed with so many people, often unheralded and unsung, who serve their fellows in one small way or another.”

“We are just one of the many links that hold our community together,” John said