back           John Spring : Eulogy delivered by celebrant Sandra Hill

John Francis Spring was born in Collinsville on the 19^th January, 1957, to parents Claris and Clarry Spring.

John′s father worked in the mines in Collinsville and later John would follow in his father′s footsteps and also worked in mines. It was a family tradition as John′s grandfather, and great−grandfather also worked in this occupation.

John′s early life was spent in Collinsville and then the family moved to Mt Isa when John was 5 years old and it was here that he attended school.

When John became an adult he travelled and worked around Queensland and Australia and enjoyed the outdoors.

After John′s first stint away, when the family was living in Mt Isa, he returned with his four legged friend, Snoopy, who was adopted by the family when John again went on his travels as he worked along the way.

He would walk into a mine and always got a job as a miner.

John also put his hand to gold mining at Gaffneys Creek in Victoria and also had a go at copper mining.

He worked at an open cut mine driving a loader at Ora Banda Mine in Western Australia.

John travelled with the circus for a while as a welder and as an elephant keeper − a very interesting time indeed. There was no one else in the circus crew who could weld so John was very sort after and appreciated.

Some of the other occupations John undertook were builder, welder, mechanic and he had a license as a private pilot.

In the early years he went flying with his brother, Walter. A lovely memory the family have is of a time shared together celebrating Claris′s 60^th birthday and John surprised his mum and took the family for a flight over Dreamworld with John as Captain.

Flying came naturally for John.

John always had a very high regard for his parents who also supported and assisted him.

John was very interested in music when he was young. A fond memory the family have of John is a visit to Townsville on holidays and John heard someone playing on the piano a tune Claris had not heard since well before John was born and two weeks later he sat down and played the same piece perfectly.

He definitely had an ear for music.

John taught himself to play a guitar. He always had guitars and was able to fix them and mend other peoples as well.

Playing the guitar was a wonderful pastime for John and he derived much pleasure from helping others enjoy the instrument as he taught them the technique.

John was a very sincere person and formed friendships in his early years and they continued throughout his life.

He was a very likeable person and enjoyed doing good deeds for others.

He was kindhearted to a fault often putting others before himself − and was very self giving − one might say a Good Samaritan.

John was easy going and accepting. He went with the flow of things.

Other attributes John displayed in his life were loyalty and dependability.

John had many hidden talents and the family treasure a beautiful water colour that he painted and it sits proudly in their home and will always be a reminder of the artistic quality John displayed in his life

John died peacefully at his home in his sleep on the 29^th June. His health had been declining but it was still a great shock for the family as it was quite unexpected.

John will forever remain within their hearts and we are all so much more enriched for him having shared part of his life with us.