From tuckshop to theatre and the World Solar Challenge, John is a volunteering legend

John's volunteering journey has taken him all over Australia.

"I do enjoy my volunteering - it keeps me actively meeting other people and sharing time with them. It is very rewarding," he said. "I do believe it keeps the grey matter ticking over."

John is currently president of the residents' committee at Torrens Grove Retirement Village, where he has lived for the past two years, and an active member of the village's finance and social committees.

"I can't say no - that's my problem," said John. "I often tell people I wish I had a job to go to so I could have a rest."

The 79-year-old is also part of amateur theatre group Therry Theatre, helping build sets for four productions a year and working 'front of house', selling programs.

John's volunteering efforts extend as far back as his school days when he would help in the tuck shop. Not long afterwards, he became involved in church groups, and as a parent he gave his time to Guides, sailing and other sports.

"I found myself getting involved on committees, fundraising and doing other bits and pieces," he said. "Even though it did consume a lot of time and effort, I received a lot of enjoyment from it."

John, who worked in electronic engineering, retired in 1997 and, together with his wife Judith, started travelling all around Australia to volunteer with the Uniting Church's Frontier Services volunteer program.

"We travelled all around Australia with up to 25 people, helping with maintenance, painting, cleaning at churches, medical clinics, manses, and aged care facilities," he said. "I've travelled to Mount Isa, Tennant Creek and Alice Springs in the Northern Territory, and many places in South Australia including Andamooka, Marla, Hawker and Port Augusta."

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He is still involved in the St Philips College work party, a two-week volunteering event at the Alice Springs school.

"Each June and July, while the students are away, us oldies move in and carry out work to give the college many more hands with maintenance projects," he explained.

John also volunteers for the World Solar Challenge, a bi-annual international solar car event where teams design and build a vehicle to operate along a 3000km route in the Aussie outback. He has been a control stop marshal/manager for the event since 2013.