John Returns for Special Milestone
(By Shane O’Shea)
Former Donald resident John Meyer, the great-grandson of Johann August Meyer, the man credited with being Donald’s founder, returned to town on Saturday, November 29, to celebrate his 90th. birthday anniversary with family and friends at the Mt. Jeffcott Hotel.
Thanking all present and speaking on behalf of John’s family, Vivienne Davidson provided a brief summary of John’s life and his involvement in the local community.
John, the only son of Jack and Emma Meyer, entered this world on November 30, 1935, at Ivanhoe hospital in Donald, Vivienne suggesting that his parents could not have envisaged where life would take him.
As older “Times” readers would recall, John spent a great deal of his life in Donald, where he was involved in many aspects of the community, as a student at Donald Higher Elementary School, apprentice mechanic, farmer and business man (including being the fuel agent for Ampol, in the big shed at the family’s home at 10 Woods Street).
Community
He was also involved in many community organisations. When he had spare time, he fished and hunted.
John married Joan Bray, from St. Arnaud, and eventually they retired to Mildura, where, after many years of ill health, Joan died. John was fortunate to meet Pam and they married, and together they have enjoyed trips throughout Australia, although these days they stay closer to home.
John and Pam are regular visitors to the Murray River at Wemen, visiting good friends Debbie and Robert Burton during their regular camping trips, especially at Easter each year.
Vivienne said she was sure many of those present (and many others who know him) have their favourite John Meyer story.
Vivienne’s is about when John and her father, Gunner, went pig shooting in outback NSW. “Somehow, they got separated and Dad spent several hours lost, while John wondered how he was going to explain it,” said Vivienne, who concluded her presentation by wishing John a happy 90th. birthday anniversary, with many more memories to come.
Very Fitting
John is the only surviving male bearing the family name of Meyer, a name which is synonymous with the establishment of the town of Donald. It was therefore very fitting that he should return to Donald and the Mt Jeffcott Hotel, to celebrate his special anniversary, 150 years after his forebear established the hotel.
John’s great-grandfather, Johann August Meyer, first applied for a Publican’s Licence, on August 16, 1864, for an establishment situated at the Richardson Bridge, Mount Jeffcott (which was located just off the Donald South Road, near the ford crossing the Richardson River), to be known as the Mount Jeffcott Hotel. J.A. Meyer later moved the hotel to its current site at 69 Woods Street.
