John William Goyen

This has to be the hardest thing I have ever done, saying goodbye to my companion and best friend.
Everyone here knows what a lovely man Jack is, and over the past ten years he has been my rock.
We have had some wonderful times together on our trips, and shared many meals and wine with each other, and with our friends.
My family knew Jack and Margaret for the 40-odd years we lived next door to one another, and my younger daughter Alison is their goddaughter, so subsequently, her two girls became Jack's godgranddaughters. We each became close to the other's families, and had enormous pleasure from the love they all gave us.
Jack enjoyed playing Devil's Advocate with me to start an argument, and I never failed to rise to the bait! As my family will attest, this isn't difficult!
Go in peace, Jack- I will always love you.

My Friend Jack

I have the pleasure of knowing John William Goyen, better known as Jack, for 60 years.  In 1952, at 15 years old, my mother took me off to an interview for an electrical apprenticeship at TA Cartwright Pty Ltd and on the way in we walked passed a car with a Scout hat on the back seat.  The hat was Jack’s.  He was a Scout Master at 2nd Gladesville and I was a Scout at 1st Normanhurst.  I became his apprentice, and throughout my apprenticeship Jack taught me both the trade and about Scouting.  And during the time when my Troop didn’t have a Scout Master, Jack would come and do the investitures.

In 1956, Jack and I went off to the 3^rd Australian Jamboree.  Jack’s girlfriend, Margaret, a Cub Leader at Abbotsford, also went to that Jamboree.  I had to return early for National Service, and Margaret also had to come back for work.  It was my first plane trip and I pretended to be scared of flying so she held my hand for the duration!  She wanted stories of Jack, so I picked out the ones I thought would horrify her most, in the hope that she would change her mind about him.  I didn’t want to lose my mate, but Margaret won! 

We did many things in Scouting together, including forming the Still Creek Supplementary Training Team.  Our mission was to train boys and some leaders in scout craft and we based ourselves at Camp Windeyer at Crosslands.  We used to delight in seeing the looks on the faces of the participants when we would let loose a crate of live chickens which they then had to catch, kill and cook… or they would go hungry! 

As Troop Leader of 1^st Hornsby Scouts I ran many wide games, one of which saw patrols of Scouts on a mission to assist on a covert ASIO operation which involved the boys following and observing suspects for which they had received detailed descriptions of.  One of those suspects was Jack – only he didn’t know that!  As part of the activity, in Hornsby Town Centre, a black American-style vehicle came screeching around the corner with a couple of guys leaning out of it firing starter pistols.  Jack went to ground, grabbing a young lady walking past at the same time and covering her with his body.  You’d get arrested for such conduct these days!

One day in the early 1960’s I was driving past the land Jack and Margaret had bought in Asquith and I saw Jack trying to remove a stump.  I offered to go home and get my gear to help him – on conditions he didn’t know about at the time, but which would later have him agreeing to help with Scouts in the District!  Jack became a member of the Hornsby District Executive and General Manager of the newly formed Hornsby Showtime.  Ross became a member of the 1^st Hornsby Group, where I was the Scout Leader.  Judy later joined the Guides, before joining Ross at 1^st Hornsby as a Venturer.

Jack’s subsequent appointments included District Leader, District Commissioner and Service Auxiliary in Hornsby District, then an Honorary Commissioner in Sydney North Region and a member of the Region Executive, including Regional Chairman. On his call to Higher Service he was an Honorary Commissioner and a member of the State International Friendship Team, supporting me in my role as State International Commissioner.  He attended 7 Australian Jamborees – 4 as a Troop Leader during his Gladesville days, and three during his time with District and State.  His most recent Jamboree service was as the International Manager for the 19^th Australian Jamboree in 2001, where his tireless efforts brought the then-biggest contingent of international Scouts to an Australian Jamboree.  In 2005 he was awarded the Silver Kangaroo for eminent achievement and meritorious service to the Scout Association, and in 2011 he was awarded an OAM.

Jack was also pivotal in supporting the development and training of Scouting in Vanuatu and in fostering Scouting friendships between Australia and New Caledonia.  Since our first Friendship Tour to New Caledonia in 1981 we have developed and nurtured a very special relationship with the people and Scouts of New Caledonia.  Jack has travelled to New Caledonia some 15 times, with Margaret and more recently with Carolyn.  Margaret’s grandfather was born in New Caledonia, and Jack and Margaret were very well revered within the New Caledonia extended Scouting circle.  On Jack’s first trip back to New Caledonia following Margaret’s passing the Scouts of New Caledonia arranged a memorial service in the Noumea Cathedral for her – over 120 Scouts, supporters and friends attended this service.  This was a fitting honour of Margaret’s dedication to Scouting – Jack would never have been able to do Scouting without Margaret’s support which, in his own words, “she gave willingly, always with love and good advice”.  Jack’s most recent trip to New Caledonia was in May this year.

Perhaps the most enduring of all of Jack’s scouting successes was his Gang Show involvement.  In 1974 he became the first General Manager of the Hornsby Showtime, and continued in that role for 13 years before ‘retiring’ to various front of house roles. Most recently he was known as one of the ‘old blokes’, assisting with the VIP guests, and also having the very important role of ensuring the coloured light globes in front of the theatre were up and running. It was only last Saturday week that he packed away what would be his last shining light. 

At the time of taking on the role of General Manager Jack had never seen a Hornsby scout show.  Yet with Arthur Ball and me, he threw his support behind the concept.  We financially guaranteed those early shows and in doing so also overcame the reluctance of traditional scout leaders who believed scouting was an outdoor activity and performing on stage in costumes and make up was not for real boys.  We realised our dream and, in Jack’s words, thousands of young Scouts and Guides “have enjoyed the creativity, the self-assurance, reliance, friendship and personal development this activity offers”.  Jack’s efforts set the foundation for the success of Hornsby Gang Show today.

Everyone loved Jack.  My mother thought he was a lovely person and was so grateful to him for teaching me lots of things – not that they were always good things!  Dad enjoyed going into the County Council office when Jack was based at Hornsby.  He didn’t mind having to pay the bill because he got to spend some time talking to Jack.

I learned a great deal from Jack. I feel blessed to have lived my life journey with him by my side.  Deirdre and I have wonderful memories of time spent with Jack and his family.

Jack was a very fine Scout leader – not just to the benefit of thousands of young people, but also to just as many leaders.  He was committed to the ideals of Scouting and his life’s work had Scouting at its core.  He was a great listener and took interest in everything and everyone.  There are many people here today who have grown up with Jack looking after their best interests.

In BP’s final message to Scouts all over the world he said “…the real way to get happiness is by giving out happiness to other people. Try and leave this world a little better than you found it and when your turn comes to die, you can die happy in feeling that at any rate you have not wasted your time but have done your best. "Be Prepared" in this way, to live happy and to die happy - stick to your Scout Promise always when you have ceased to be a boy - and God help you to do it”.  Jack was a happy man.  He fulfilled BP’s dream to be the best he could be and, importantly, he has helped thousands of others to live by the same principle.  

The world is a much better place because of Jack Goyen.

Hello and bonjour

I would like to thank you all for being here today to celebrate Dad's life.
Dad's passing was a great shock to me as I'm sure it was to you.
It was only last week Judy and I had dinner with Dad, one of his traditional roast lamb dinners and he cooked a pretty good roast. We talked about his life and he said he was planning on being around for a few more years. Unfortunately that was not to be but he was living life to the fullest. On Wednesday he was out to lunch and then to the club for his usual weekly afternoon drink.
My Dad was known by many names: John, Jack, JW Goyen, Jakala and sometimes when he played up, he was called a few others - but not for long.
He was a loving Father, Partner, Father-In-Law, Uncle, Brother, Cousin, Grandfather and a dear friend. To some a lifetime, for others a short time.
He was a very modest, gentle, caring, special man. He touched all of our lives in many different ways.
As a Grandfather to my children Luke, Meg and Molly he enjoyed watching them grow up. He would always turn up with a packet of nappies for the girls when they were babies. He would enjoy watching Luke play soccer and come back to the house with a teabun for a cuppa. He was a Grandfather who was interested in all aspects of their lives.
I know he was very proud to have received the OAM just before his 80th birthday last year and being a modest man, He said to me he did not deserve it. I said to him "Don't be stupid. As far as I am concerned, you have more than earnt it".
And I am sure you will agree that he did.
I always thought of Dad as a Timelord just like Dr Who. Someone who had been around for a very long time. Who had the answers and the knowledge of almost everything that was asked and if he didn't know, he would do his best to find out for you. He was the first person I would ring, Dad was always on the end of phone call. I will miss Dad on the end of those phone calls.
After Mum passed away, I was worried that Dad would be lost but he found a new life with his friends who included him in their travels, their love and the numerous social occasions. He was having a bloody good time.
He enjoyed spending time with Carolyn - his partner in crime - they shared a very special relationship and I am very grateful that he had her in his life.
So, to you Dad -
You were my hero, mentor, shoulder to cry on, to answer all of life's questions and problems, to have a drink and a talk. I'm going to miss you so, so much.
Bye Dad