Loyal Shoalhaven servent John Christmas farewelled in style

Mr Christmas passed away on  August 16 in Adelaide, aged 90.

Around 100 people attended the memorial service at All Saints Anglican Church, Nowra.

Son-in-law James Rackham presented the eulogy, describing Mr Christmas as the finest man he have ever known.

His daughter Anna carried out a special reading while tributes were also presented by John Merritt on his involvement with Rotary, while Barry Hatter spoke of his Christian beliefs and work.

The service, overseen by Reverend Geoff Thomson, also included a special presentation from Mr Christmas’ grandchildren along with a slide show of his life.

Mr Merritt met John Christmas in 1982 - three things happened the day they met - first a lifelong friendship began, he began doing technical work for Mr Christmas and his Rotary journey began and continues today.

He was the inaugural charter president of the Bomaderry Rotary Club in 1970.

“Over the years the club has raised large amounts of money and helped the community with things like building a park in Leonard Street, Bomaderry, raised money for a new Ambulance rescue truck for the region, which was one of the first vehicles equipped with the jaws of life and started work on the Bomaderry Creek walk,” he said.

“It was also John’s idea in 1998 to raise funds for a chemotherapy cancer treatment centre in Nowra  which eventually led to the current Shoalhaven Cancer Care Centre.

“He also had a sense of humour - for many years the club would deliver presents each christmas eve. John would dress up as Santa. Some of the kids would pull his beard down and say ‘you’re not Santa’ -  he’d say ‘No I’m Father Christmas’.

He described him as a man dedicated to service - “John was one of the key people that kept organisations like Rotary operating,” he said.

“It’s a testament to his esteem in Rotary and the wider community with the awards that have been bestowed on him.

“He was an outstanding Rotarian and has left an impressive legacy.

“John was a very humble man without and ego and he had humanity.

“He was one of those rare people you meet in life without any airs or graces - he was willing to be your friend and was always generous with his time and experience.

“He cared about his fellow man, be it through his church, Apex, Rotary or through his work in the community.

“I’m a better person for having met John and we are all better for having known John and the world is a better place because of John.”

Mr Hatter described him as a “wonderful fellow,” who “was always there”.

“John lived his life in service - the service of other people, not only locally but overseas as well.

“He was a quiet achiever who just got on with the job - he was always there helping.

“I would hate to think how many lives he affected or how many people are better people due to his influences.

“John was an inspiration to all who knew him.

“The world was a better place for him being in it.”’

Mr Christmas had a special place in his heart for Nowra and his ashes will be interned with his son’s David in the Shoalhaven.

Son-in-law James Rackham’s eulogy -

John Franklin Christmas was born to George Victor Christmas and Ann Franklin in Ashfield Sydney on October 27, 1927.

He completed his leaving certificate at Fort Street Selective Boys High School and eventually moved into the dentistry field.

Although it wasn't his initial choice, he went on to see and treat literally thousands of people.

In 1946 at the suggestion of his uncle, Hylton Christmas who was a dentist in Wollongong, he enrolled to the Sydney University Dental Faculty. He graduated in February 1950 having passed each exam, and excelling in anatomy.

He had been promised work with his uncle but that didn't come to fruition so instead he went further down the coast to Nowra and worked for two years with John Sullivan in 1950-51.

After two years he started his own practice – If ever a man built a career from absolutely a standing start, John was it - he started in rented rooms with equipment financed from a loan guaranteed by his mother – with a book that had no patients in it.

But slowly, the practice grew and ended up with over 6000 patients.

In 1958 he took eight months off and travelled - spending five months travelling through Europe, England, Ireland, the US before working at a practice in London for three months.

John, and Lynnette Lamond,  a registered nurse from Nowra, were married on September 30, 1960 in St Clements Church Mossman.

They built their home at 64 Illaroo Road, North Nowra. Anna was born on July 21, 1961 with David following soon after on December 16, 1962.

From this time John’s life through to the early 70s life expanded to become a fascinating tapestry of interests and loves.  

On May 11, 1978 David was accidentally killed during a school trip in New Caledonia - a tragedy which had profound effect on John, Lynnette and Anna.

They built a tennis court for, and donated two stained glass windows to All Saints Anglican Church Nowra in his memory. He also became a founding member of the All Saints Church committee for Chesalon Homes for the Aged.

He retired from full time work in 1988 and began a long period of voluntary and part-time work until 2002.

In March 1988 John sold his practice and a few weeks later lost his right index finger accidentally touching the fan belt on his car. He had just cancelled his fingers and thumbs insurance policy the week before, after maintaining it since 1952.

They were due to go to Broken Hill for a month to manage the Mines Dental Clinic and despite his missing digit they did go and spent three months. The couple went back twice more and included a lot of work with the Royal Flying Doctor Service.

Between 1989-1994 they travelled to the Philippines, Jamaica and Guatemala, working as a volunteer dentist through the Rotary Foundation and the United Nations High Commission for Refugees.

They were away approximately a month at a time, with Lynnette working as John’s dental nurse. They worked on Vietnamese refugees in the Philippines in clinics with dirt floors.

In 1994 he was presented a Rotary Award for Outstanding International Service and in 1997 Rotary’s highest award for Service Above Self, of which only 150 are awarded annually world-wide.

In 2000 his work, and his other community service was recognised with an Order of Australia Medal for service to the community, particularly through Rotary International.

John and Lynnette eventually sold up in Nowra and moved to SA, purchasing a home in Walkerville Adelaide.

Soon after John began volunteering in the Allity Nursing Home and ran a men’s group for six years.

He had been diagnosed with bladder cancer in 1996 and lost a kidney in 2002.

He always said he could never have achieved all he did without Lynnette.