Jim followed his father and brother as a confectioner , studying the craft in Europe and becoming New Products Manager at Red Tulip Chocolates . He later operated his own confectionery business , before answering the call of the outdoors and establishing a garden maintenance business .
Jim married Helen Elizabeth Drake at Scotch on 2 May 1975 . Their children were Cameron , Heidi and Sally . After parting ways , a new romance and partnership with Dea ensued , and Julia and Sarah were born .
Aged 62 , Jim reignited his enthusiasm for weightlifting , winning titles in three national masters ’ championships and setting records with personal bests .
In 2016 Jim made a tree change to a small farm at Mirboo North where he bred sheep , cattle and chooks . He enjoyed growing roses and especially orchids , which he had started cultivating aged 13 , winning many ribbons at flower shows . Jim collected native eucalypt seeds to grow habitat corridors across the property for wildlife , which included koalas .
Jim died peacefully on 24 January 2022 in the garden of his Mirboo North farm with his loyal Maremma companion , Bella , by his side .
A person of great spirit and an absolute enthusiast , Jim had a total commitment to every activity and topic that sparked his interest and curiosity . He is remembered as a charming man who was engaging , kind and generous .
WOOD , John Gordon Mackinnon (’ 64 )
John ’ s brother , Don (’ 69 ), wrote :
John Gordon Mackinnon Wood was born on 12 March 1946 at St Andrew ’ s Hospital , East Melbourne , the son of Donald Mackinnon Wood ( born 8.3.1911 , SC 1917-30 , died 20.8.1980 ). He attended Scotch from 1951 to 1965 as a member of Lawson-MacFarland House , briefly boarding in Arthur Robinson House .
Allergies aggravated John ’ s eczema and asthma : Scotch was supportive , but he found participation difficult . He was a 1965 House Prefect and a member of the Camera and Railways Clubs .
John ’ s many Scotch connections included his brother Don ( SC 1957-70 ), cousins Tim ( SC 1960-65 ) and Peter Clarke ( SC 1961-67 ), and Anthony ( SC 1959-71 ) and David Wood ( SC 1964-75 ), uncle Patrick Montgomery Wood ( born 5.5.1912 , SC 1918-30 , died 17.3.2009 ), great-grandfather William Wood ( born 2.9.1850 , SC 1863 , died 27.10.1890 ), and great-great-uncles including Albert Edward Hilton Wood ( born 21.7.1846 , SC 1859-62 , died 16.8.1912 ).
John worked in bookkeeping while studying accounting . He became an administration manager and accountant . His passion was cars , owning over 100 vehicles in his lifetime . He was an MG and 4WD club member . John loved challenges : he bogged his latest 4WD to see if he could get out , and took on 45-degree inclines . Frequent outback trips – captured in beautiful photographs – showed his love of the natural world .
On 4 December 1982 John married Mrs Joan Margaret ( nee Shillong ) Furnell in a Ferntree Gully park . He was a loving stepfather to Adam and Justin Furnell . In 2000 the family moved from Boronia to Bundaberg , Queensland . John worked part-time on the docks , wrote a small book on the Burnett River ( after exploring it ), and grew indigenous plants for public areas .
He founded the Crumbs , Coffee and Cars group which grew from five to 200 attendees . John cycled to improve his health , raising money and awareness for causes including autism and mental health . He aimed to ride 1000km in a month for charity .
John was healthy , happy , and very satisfied serving his community . As a result of a head injury at home , he died at the Royal Brisbane and Women ’ s Hospital , Herston , Queensland , on 26 October 2021 . He leaves his sisters , Helen and Diana , brother and stepsons .
Great Scot Obituaries
THE SCHOOL ’ S POLICIES FOR GREAT SCOT OBITUARIES ARE :
• The names , Scotch attendance years ( where applicable ) and dates of birth and death of current and past students , staff , and School Council members will be listed in the Great Scot obituaries column .
• Family members or friends are invited to submit obituaries for editing by the Archivist and the Great Scot editorial team . All edited obituaries will be sent to originators for approval , to help ensure that obituaries are an accurate , relevant and interesting record of Scotch Family members ’ lives .
• Only spouses for whom full marriage details ( full maiden name and exact date and place of marriage ) are supplied will be included .
• Reference will be made to multigenerational Scotch connections ( e . g ., son , father , grandfather , great-grandfather ).
• Special tributes recognising Scotch Family members who have made an outstanding contribution to Scotch College , the Old Scotch Collegians ’ Association , or to the wider community will be initiated by the Great Scot editorial team . In these tributes , the School will seek to include material , including reflections , quotes and photographs , from family or friends , and from other sources .
• Scotch College takes no responsibility for the accuracy of information supplied by family members or friends , other than information which can be confirmed by Scotch College records .
• Obituaries are limited to 350 words , with the exception of those for very noteworthy people as determined at the discretion of the Great Scot editorial committee .
• Photographs of Old Boys should ideally be from their time at Scotch , and should be sent as TIF files with a resolution of 300 dpi for photographs 6 inches x 4 inches , or 600 dpi for a smaller photograph . Alternatively , original photos can be donated , delivered or mailed to the Archivist for scanning ( and return , if not donated to the School ).
Tributes and photographs should be emailed to the School Archivist , Mr Paul Mishura : paul . mishura @ scotch . vic . edu . au , or mailed to Great Scot Obituaries , Scotch College , 1 Morrison Street , Hawthorn 3122 .