For Bethany Aged Care Centre resident John Wareing, life has had its ups and downs.
John, who turns 88 on September 22, is doing it tough, but not without an exuberant essence of positivity and a life that inspires many in the region.
“I was born in Southport in England and trained as a tool maker before serving in the Royal English Army during World War II.
“I served in India as well as in Germany and recall walking through the streets of Berlin thinking, what the hell have we done to each other,” he said.
“Buildings were rubble and those that were alive were muted lifeless zombies.”
Following the War, John discovered that he not only had a newfound passion for the arts but that he was actually quite good at it.
“I found I didn’t have time to paint in England as I was always too busy doing this or that,” he said.
“When I came to Australia in 1959, I thought I would have the time and opportunities to develop my skills. However I ended up working for East West Airlines in Tamworth as an aircraft sheet metal worker and once again was too busy.”
For John, who was a keen roller skater in his day, a series of events turned his life on its head.
At the age of 65 John was met with the news that he had a spinal aneurism inside his T-10 vertebrae.
“I was flown to Royal North Shore Hospital in Sydney where I was told that the rest of my days were going to be spent as a paraplegic,” he said.
When asked to describe this experience, John’s answer reinforced what an amazing man he is and why his positive outlook on life is so addictive.
“When I woke up from the operation to remove the aneurism and realised I was never going to walk again I thought, okay this is a new adventure,” he said.
“The other lads, who were much younger than I was, were playing basketball in their wheelchairs and would say, ‘come on pop’.
“So off I would go and join in.”
Ironically John had what he had been waiting for. For so long – time.
He moved in with daughter Hillary in Newcastle before feeling he needed some permanent assistance, moving to the Bethany Aged Care Facility here in Port Macquarie in February, 2010.
“I absolutely love it here,” he said.
“The staff and other residence are like family and I have lost count of the number of art works that are hanging on the walls around these facilities.”
He has been able to raise some funds to buy paint and art supplies through the production and sale of a calendar which features his works and hopes to continue with this for as long as he can.
For John, who is now terminally ill with lung, lymph and prostrate cancer, his love for art is an enormous distraction from the reality of life.
“My only regret in life is that I was a smoker and if there was just one thing I could get into the heads of today’s kids it would be don’t smoke,” he said.
John’s positive message as a community advocate is follow your passions and keep positive, a reminder to us all.
If you have an inspiring story to share, just like John’s, contact the Port Independent today!
