John
Edward
Randall

John Edward Randall Born on the 13th of March 1938 in Sandringham.

Parents,

Fredrick Charles Randall, and Stella Harriette Lewis.

The youngest of the 4 children, Rosa, Lewis and Bert.

School Years

Primary School: Sandringham East

Highschool: Sandringham Tech

RMIT: where he studied Mechanical Engineering.

Scouts

John became a scout around 11/12 years of age which he loved being a part of. He learnt and developed skills, gaining many friendships.

Rheumatic fever/early life

At the age of 15 John had rheumatic fever. The night he went to hospital his father died under very difficult circumstance after being through both wars.

John was in the Royal Melbourne Hospital for months due to rheumatic fever; his recovery was over 3 years. At age 18 John’s doctor recommended he join an athletics club to gain strength and increase his life expectancy.

Athletics

John joined Sandringham Athletics Club where he met his lifelong friend and coach Roy Boyd, his beautiful wife Bev and many other friends.

This was the start of a very successful Athletics career, many Victorian and Australian Championships, culminating in representing Australia in the 1962 Perth Commonwealth Games. John’s most poignant/heart felt moment was walking out into the stadium behind the Australian flag with his teammates.

Career

At age 18 John worked at Astor as a draftsman which started his interest in vending machines through his boss. John bought his first vending machines when he was 18 years old which he then went on to establish his own business. By the time John was 23, he had a successful business. John has always been very dedicated towards his career, which he enjoyed thoroughly even through the ups and downs. So much so that he never actually retired. John was incredibly proud when Glenn, his son in law, Nicoles husband, joined the business.

Marg

In 1961 on a trip to Marysville on the afternoon of Easter Saturday with his friend Ian, This was when Marg first saw John through a window, at that moment she decided that she would marry him. Infact you could and can say "It was love at first sight."

John asked how old she was, and she asked, “how old do you think I am?" They met at a dance that night, where he asked her to dance, and the rest is history. During their courtship one of the saddest moments in John’s life was when his nephew, Billy, Rosa’s son, was killed in an unfortunate accident. John and Marg’s wedding was on the 22nd of October 1965.

Life with Children

In mid-1967 John and Marg bought their first house in Delos Street, South Oakleigh. Then welcomed their 4 beautiful daughters.

Jodi born in 1967, Nicole born in 1970, Kirsten born in 1971 and Kate born in 1975. In 1976 they built their house in Narre Warren East.

Rotary Club

John joined the Rotary Club of Narre Warren, through their neighbour, Harry and Kath Oakes, who they become great friends. The Rotary Club became a family affair making many, many family friends, and memories. John received the Paul Harres Fellow Recognition.

Church

John and Marg attended Berwick Church of Christ and then Narre Warren Baptist, making many wonderful friends here as well.

Overseas Trip

John and Marg had a lovely overseas Europe trip, visiting Paris, Ireland, and the UK.

Grandchildren

John and Marg are proud Grandparents of the most beautiful grandchildren in the world. Tamara, Jacob, Aaron, Sam, Josiah, Liam, Caleb, Anna, Shankly and Paisley.

Son in Laws

Glenn, Nicole’s husband and John, Kate’s husband.

The strong fight

John was diagnosed with prostate cancer about 10 years ago. He went through radiation therapy which was successful. It then metastasized resulting in chemotherapy from 2021 through many hospital stays. Sadly, John passed away on the 10th of January 2022 with all his family close by.

Timothy, Chapter 4, verse 7: “I fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith.”