Funeral service for John White 9 February 1953 – 19 July 2026
On 30 July 2026, hundreds of John’s friends and family came together to celebrate this remarkable man, at a service which John, typically, designed himself with the cooperation of his family, close friend Rev. Lynton Wade and the choir’s Musical Director Rushan Hewawasam. It was held at the church where he and Geraldine had worshipped for many years – and near to their home – St Peter and Pauls’s Catholic Church, Buninyong. Coincidentally, this is also where the choir’s Ballarat chapter rehearses weekly, thanks to the Whites’ generosity. John had planned that Rushan and his beloved Victoria Welsh Choir should be central to proceedings, accompanied at all times by the group’s Ballarat accompanist Mary O’Driscoll.
The choir led the singing of the entrance hymn Morte Criste before Fr Justin O’Driscoll welcomed everybody. Symbols reflecting various aspects of John’s life were placed near the coffin by his family and friends. These included humorously worded socks, photos, magazines and newspapers and his green choir blazer, placed by Rushan.
Geraldine’s eulogy was read lovingly by Lynton, a fellow chorister of the Ballarat branch, of which John was co-founder in 2015. This was followed by eulogies from sister Sue, supported by brother Patrick, from daughter Emily and from son Simon. They all spoke about his intense love of his extensive family, his courage and bravery faced with so many health challenges, his great sense of humour, his rapier wit and his very strong Catholic faith. He was interested in many cultural areas, had a terrific memory and a huge reservoir of general knowledge, once parlaying this by winning $100,000 on Millionaire. So confident was he that he knew the final answer about the Carthage Wars that he told Eddie McGuire to sign the cheque there and then. Career-wise, he had moved out of hospital administration by studying while he was working and achieved a law degree at age 50. Thereafter, he worked mainly as a solicitor in general practice and, later, as a lawyer in child protection cases. Along with all these attributes and talents, the family said he could be annoyingly opinionated and stubborn. All of this was said with some exasperation mixed with pride and love and the congregation were treated to huge waves of laughter and tears at the same time. He was a ‘larger than life’ character for sure.
There followed a photo montage of his life against a background of Charlie Landsborough singing My Father Used to Sing, which was totally accurate. John had a beautiful first tenor voice.
Between readings, the choir and the congregation sang the responsorial psalm The Lord Is My Shepherd, the arrangement of which was by one of John’s university fellow students.
Lynton, with his wonderful gentle delivery and dry wit, beautifully presented his homily based around the theme ‘God loves you whether you like it or not’. Despite all of John’s undoubted talents and impressive careers, in the end all John wanted was the accolade ‘Well done, good and faithful servant’.
Siblings and a friend spoke about John in their prayers of intercession. This was followed by the procession of gifts, during which the choir sang another of John’s planned songs And Can It Be. Many of the congregation then went up to take communion during which the choir sang Pacem (John used to solo on this) and another Latin hymn Benedictus written by Welsh composer Robat Arwyn. The reflection hymn Anfonaf Angel followed.
The whole service had been carefully planned by John and typically – according to his family – he also wanted the last word. In fact, there were quite a few words as his nephew actor Josh Monaghan mellifluously read his uncle’s script which gave thanks to his parents, Geraldine and the children as well as his strong Catholic faith, typically interspersed with words of wit. Despite the tears, the congregation could not stop themselves applauding his cheeky last act, certainly one very hard to follow.
As the cortege formed up, fellow choristers chanted Eli Jenkins’ Prayer finishing with ‘And to the sun we all will bow
And say goodbye, but just for now’.
This was followed by the recessional hymn Abide with Me.
But John wasn’t finished with us just yet. Off we went down the Midland Highway to the Buninyong Cemetery. Once assembled around the burial site, the multi-talented Lynton accompanied us on guitar as Rushan led the singing of another of John’s favourites – How Great Thou Art. And then the special request. As Rushan had sung it at John and Geradine’s 40th wedding anniversary, he reprised Perhaps Love, a beautiful but heart-breaking reminder of whom we had lost, as he was gently lowered down to his resting place.
Rest in peace, John.