OBITUARY
John Goff
Born 16 December 1915
Died 15 August 2015
CARDINIA councillors observed a minute’s silence at their last meeting for a man whose contribution to the shire could only be described as outstanding.
John Goff spent 23 years serving the LLINC (Living and Learning in Cardinia) as well as devoting time to numerous other causes within the area. He died at Kingston Centre on 15 August at the age of 99.
John was born on 16 December 1915 in Albert Park – the second child of Joe and Henrietta (Daisy) Goff. When he was three years old, the family left the city to live in a farmhouse on 50 acres in Bally Shannesy, now known as Burwood.
He attended the Burwood State School from ages five to 14 before leaving to take up work at various jobs including as a messenger boy, ticket writer, firewood deliverer, fruit tree sprayer and as a tack boy at the Marshall Shoe factory.
Throughout his youth, John had also developed a deep connection to the Methodist Chruch. He took his first communion at 16 and became an accredited lay preacher at 21, undertaking placements at churches in Bayswater, Merlynston, Caulfield and Bacchus Marsh as well as field work in inland Australia.
In 1947, John returned to Melbourne to marry Anne Stephens and begin a life of ministry and family. Together they had four children – Russell, Josie, Murray and Roslyn. John was appointed the church’s Chairman of the Gippsland District in 1967 and the family bought a two-room cottage in Lakes entrance. They moved to South Camberwell and East Hawthorn before retiring in Lakes Entrance.
In 1993, John and Anne moved to Pakenham to be closer to daughters Josie and Roslyn. It didn’t take long for John to fully immerse himself in life within the Cardinia Shire. For over 20 years, John contributed to the LLINC (Living and Learning in Cardinia) in every capacity from tutor to president. His service to the organisation was honoured with LLINC life membership and the bestowing of the Australia Day award for Cardinia Shire Senior Citizen of the Year in 2012.
In an interview with The Pakenham Gazette for his 96th birthday in 2011, John said his extensive history of volunteering was good for his health.
“Just having something to work for, something to get up for every morning, is great,” he said.
“Although I have retired, to know that I still haven’t reached my use-by date, that there is still something that I was able to do, I think this is very important for elderly people, to have that feeling, otherwise you could quite easily vegetate and give in and very quickly go downhill.”
At his funeral on 22 August, sons Russell and Murray paid tribute to a man they described as patient, loyal and independent.
“What words could express the way he would quietly draw alongside someone in a quiet, unassuming way, showing genuine interest in their story and opinion.
“What words could express the diplomatic way he would offer advice and counselling, always listening in a non-judgemental way and carefully and find the words to encourage the questioner to find their own solution.
“What words can express the loyalty to his wife Anne, and faithfully carrying out the mutual decisions they had made well after her death.
“What words can express his self-control, his patience, his calmness in any situation.”
Cardinia Shire Councillor Kate Lempriere said the shire was better for John’s years of dedicated service.
“I’d just like to mention that one of our senior citizens, who was very prominent and prevalent within the shire, John Goff, passed away on Saturday,” she said.
“I respectfully ask you to stand for a minute’s silence.”
