When children grow up and go to live in interesting locations, a perfect opportunity is created for parents to visit them and see places they may never have otherwise.
Take John and Paula’s youngest son as an example. As a lawyer he has lived in Addis Ababa, The Hague, Israel, China and the US. Their second son is living in Kuala Lumpur so they have travelled widely visiting family. At the same time they are very happy to have their two girls living in Australia to have family close by and to be able to enjoy their grand daughters.
John was born in Barwon Downs. After boarding school he studied Civil Engineering in Geelong and at that time also met his wife, Paula, who was at Geelong Teachers College. After graduation he worked and lived in Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane before moving to Colac in 1981 to join the management team of AKD Softwoods. By 2001 he had become CEO, a position he retained until he retired in 2011. He describes his career highlight as having watched the small to medium size company he joined grow to one of the largest softwood companies in Australia.
It seems to me John’s passion is keeping fit. He has been a serious hiker for many years, here and overseas. He has climbed mountains in New Zealand and Tasmania, Mt Kenya, Mt Kilimanjaro and four years ago, walked the Kokoda Trail. He is a cyclist and a regular Pier to Pub swimmer.
One Saturday on a morning bike ride, at the roundabout near the Lorne Hotel, he met a group of cyclists who invited him to join them. They were the Great Ocean Road Cyclists and he has since travelled with them to Italy, France and Spain and following the routes of Tour de France and Giro D’Italia. He also rides alone two or three times a week. Who’s game enough to challenge his fitness!
“The wonderful part of living in Lorne is the community spirit and the diversity of people we have met. I am also a member of the Surf Club, Aquatic Club, the Bowling Club and The Mens Shed.”
John and Paula now live permanently in the house they bought for holidays in 2002.
