About John Villers
John Villiers was born an Englishman in 1912 but became a proud Australian, and more importantly, in his later years became a proud Central Queenslander. To his family and his Melbourne friends, he was known as John Villiers, but in Queensland he was affectionately known as Jack Villiers.
The young John Villiers
John was one of four children born in England to an English father and Australian mother. At the age of 15 he followed in his father's footsteps and began a career in the merchant navy which took him to Asia and Australia many times.
When the Depression struck, some two thirds of the merchant navy found itself with no business. 60,000 seamen were unemployed including John. Unable to get work he undertook further training but a job remained elusive. In March 1934 he worked his passage to Australia where he found work, still in maritime service, shuttling up and down the east coast and to Perth. By then, John's family had moved to Perth. A seaman's strike which lasted for almost twelve months saw John decide to give up the sea and try his luck on the land.
John spent the next few years in a new career as a jackaroo in Queensland and NSW before the outbreak of World War 2 saw him enlist with the RAAF.
After his discharge, John returned to the land, eventually purchasing a 300 acre farm on the north coast of Queensland. His father joined him there and between them they ran the property until his father's death in 1951.
In 1966, John retired to Yeppoon, a quiet place on the coast of Queensland, east of Rockhampton. He lived there for many years, then moved into Rockhampton in 1982, before moving back to Yeppoon in January 2000 to live at the Capricorn Adventist Retirement Village until his death. He died peacefully on 11 July 2002, 37 days short of his 90th birthday, to which many of his friends were looking forward to celebrating with him.
John never married, but he made many friends in many places. He lived a simple life, but behind his quiet modesty lay great qualities – a sincere caring gentleman, and a generous man to those in need. During his lifetime he made many gifts to charitable organisations, in particular Autism Queensland Inc and the Royal Queensland Bush Children’s Health Scheme, each of whom made him an Honorary Life Member.
The story of John (Jack) Villiers could have ended there but for the fact that under his Will he generously bequeathed his total estate of approximately $6.75 million in perpetuity for the benefit of Queensland charities.
Today the assets of the John Villiers Trust are worth over $13 million. Grants have been made so far to five Queensland charities, including Autism Queensland Inc, one of John’s favourite charities, to enable the acquisition and renovation of a Rockhampton property to become the new AQ regional centre for Central Queensland. It will be known as the AQ John Villiers Centre of Excellence.
Although the trustees are currently dedicated to growing John’s benefaction in Central, Northern, and Outback Queensland, being areas which also have severe limitations in their donor markets, the generous benefaction by John Villiers, being perpetual, will continue indefinitely for future generations of Queenslanders.