You would struggle to find someone more local than John, he’s the face everyone recognises when they stroll the streets and the personality many have come to love. For John, it’s the reason he can’t cut back his guest list. Well, one of them anyway. 

This Sunday he will celebrate his 80th birthday and he is inviting, literally, ‘every man and his dog’ along to Riverbank Park to help him celebrate and to raise funds for cancer. 

In 2003, John’s wife of fifteen years Laura died of Leukaemia. 

“It was the most difficult time of my life,” he said. 

“Watching her suffer the way she did and all I wanted to do was make everything better for her. It broke my heart everyday, she was always positive but I could see she was struggling.

“I couldn’t have done it alone, the Leukaemia Foundation was there for us. Most people don’t know how expensive it is, so the financial support we received was what got us through the whole thing.”

John’s pain after Laura’s death was eased by their daughter Kirstin and later,  three grandchildren, Violet, Ezra and Denzil. But nothing could completely fill the hole that Laura left. 

Some people would know John for his music, as one of the great hosts of YassFM or for his three years of service to his country. Perhaps it’s the days before retirement as a baker and getting up in time for the morning's warm loaves. Others may have been lucky enough to hear him as the resident DJ at either Warmington Lodge, Thomas Eccles Gardens or Horton House. 

For good friend Richard Maxwell, it his enormous heart. 

“John is the best person I know. His heart's as big as his personality,” he said. 

 “It’s the only time I have been convinced to shave off my beard for this cause, my wife hasn’t even seen my face for 20 years so I think that shows how much I believe in the cause and my good friend John.”

People are encouraged to come and brave the beard shave on Sunday alongside John and Richard.

“I figure if I can do it than everyone else can. Colour your hair if you like, it’s all about raising awareness and getting the funds.”

John has been organising his 80th birthday for just on two years and hopes that it will be well attended. 

Beginning at 10am at Riverbank Park in Yass there will be live music, a jumping castle, face painting, a sausage sizzle and pancakes. A guest speaker from the Leukemia Foundation will be on hand and the main attraction will be the great shave.

“For my birthday, I’m asking the community to come along and donate a gold coin,” John said.   

“It’s about raising awareness of Leukemia as well as getting everyone together as a community. I’m really looking forward to this weekend and hope that everyone else is too!”

John would like to thank Woolworths the Fresh Food People in Yass for the donation of sausages, soft drinks and food for the big event.