Soldier serving still

By Lia Bichel
GUYS Hill resident John Carlyle Wells always said he wanted to continue serving the people of Australia after he returned home from the war in 1967.
The 64-year-old said he was honoured and “a little bit surprised” to receive the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for his outstanding service and contribution to veterans, to education as a principal and to the community of Dandenong.
“My work is just a continuation as a soldier,” he said.
“I met a lot of really good people in the army, people who are good mates of mine. I came back with my arms and legs and bits and pieces, so I wanted to help serving the people of this country.”
Mr Wells serves his community as an active member, president and past president of a variety of veterans’ organisations.
He has been a volunteer of 108 Field Battery Vietnam Association for 40 years, a newspaper publisher for the Ex-Prisoner of War and Relatives Association for five years, actively involved with the Dandenong RSL and was instrumental in the Vietnam War Memorial Project with the Vietnamese community in Australia.
Mr Wells was also a school teacher for 31 years and was principal of River Gum Primary School before he retired in 2000.
Although he was pleased to accept an OAM, Mr Wells credited much of his accomplishments to people who worked with him.
“I have achieved a lot of the community, but it’s about the team around me,” he said.
“You can’t do a lot without great people around.”
In between his community work, Mr Wells said he enjoyed writing history columns for country newspapers, gardening and travelling.
“I enjoy ordinary things in my spare time,” he said.
“But I spend most of my time on committees. It’s a full-time job and I don’t get paid – it’s a wonder I retired!”