Member Profile with... Lee Johnston

I belong to Yarraville LAC and have been president for the last few years. My favourite activities are: Book Club, Mah Jong, UFO (Un Finished Objects), craft, walking groups, local café/brunch/dinners and day outings exploring Melbourne and beyond. Book Club initially drew me to YLAC and meeting local people in my age group.

My favourite holiday in recent years was my first ocean cruise holiday to New Zealand in 2013. We had great weather, good seas and happy passengers and crew. New Zealanders show off their cities with floral streetscapes and embrace their first nations culture proudly. I caught the cruising bug, and to tell you the truth, I am much steadier on my feet on watercraft than I am on land! I have enjoyed 2 more overseas cruises since and hopefully, maybe in the future I will be able to cruise again.

My favourite composers are Bach, Handel and Vivaldi, very peaceful and soothing music. This vibrant Baroque style to me is so uplifting and also helps me ‘leave the big noisy world outside’. Growing up as a teenager in the ‘60’s, my favourite all time pop/band was and still is The Beatles. Their music lives on with such happy memories.

I love spending as much time as I can with my family and playing with my young grandchildren, as they all grow up so fast and are so precious. I have 5 grandsons with a 6th due any day.

My favourite pastime is craft – sewing, patchwork, hand embroidery and knitting. If I could combine that with cruising and being pampered, it’d be a dream.

As well as family, I’m looking forward to spending time with close friends including YLAC members. This is the value of LAC’s, true friendships have blossomed as we really appreciate each other’s company.

My Dad made the biggest impact on my life. He passed away when I was 19 years old after suffering multiple ongoing WW2 illness and injuries. He had been stationed in Singapore the day it fell to the Japanese in February 1942. Incarcerated in Changi Prison as a POW, having lost one arm saved him from being sent to work on the Burma Railway. Fortunately the good old Aussie humour and mateship got those poor men and women through a living nightmare. He weighed only 4 stone (25.4kgs) on his return. Why am I telling you this? Dad suffered in silence - physically and mentally. So when I have aches and pains and don’t feel so chirpy, I say nothing and smile.

Dads story has helped me to be patient and positive during this year in lockdown.

By Lee Johnston, Yarraville LAC

UFO Craft Christmas