Local man, 77, crafts a better Christmas for people in need

Blessings are meant to be shared: John Rowe with his prolific woodworking donations. 

by Janine Hill 

JOHN Rowe always wanted to be a carpenter, wound up working behind a desk, but has turned out to be a local legend.

Working with wood has been John’s hobby, passion and sanity for years. 

Given a hoard of timber, the Woombye pensioner has been putting it to use building gifts for people he has never met.

The results of John’s hard work have been offered to St Vincent de Paul with the request that they be given to people who, through unfortunate circumstances, have lost everything.

His wife, quite the scribe, wrote: 

“John is an unassuming man of 77 years. With quiet dignity he lives life guided by the Catholic belief that the blessings in life are meant to be shared. 

‘I always wanted to be a carpenter but there was no training or job available at the time,’ he said. 

‘I’ve been a desk jockey all my life and just doodled at building things like wooden toys or sewing desks, kitchen chairs; whatever was requested.’

John lives with his wife of 47 years. Louise suffers from MS, Parkinson’s, inflammatory arthritis and numerous other health issues. 

He said that the establishment of the NDIS scheme freed him from full time carer and allowed him to fulfill his life making things that would help those who lost possessions through drought, fire or floods.

John’s Christmas donation includes eight stained garden planters, 14 bench seats and three practical, large storage boxes. The latter can also be used as bench seats. 

All are made from Australian hardwood and will last a lifetime.

The timber was given to John by a neighbour who is proud to be part of this gift to others this Christmas. 

Almost the entire street has been in awe of John’s achievement because they saw his commitment even during his radiology of six weeks of daily treatments for melanoma cancer. He never wavered.

 If Santa’s elves are ever struggling to meet deadline, this is a bloke ready, willing and able to lend a hand.