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Johnny Johnson - Source: ONE News -
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Spending hours cleaning a rugby park is far from being most people's dream job but this week's Good Sort does just that.
And Johnny Johnson's pay consists of a little bit of petrol money, the odd free beer and a smile.
It is not hard to find Johnson because he is at Memorial Park in Masterton all day, most days.
He cleans the toilets and does "a million other jobs", including looking after the touch flags and goal post pads. And he marks the lines with string, followed by the line marker.
Then, with the aid of the lawn mower, he installs the shelters the players sit in.
Johnson is old-school and would prefer the ball boys had clean boots and the scoreboard attendants watched the game. And he is especially tough on the linesmen when they scuff his lines, says touch judge Dean Gooden.
"He gets aggressive when people mark his little white line so he doesn't have to come back and do it during the week...he's a great guy though, (I have) a lot of time for Johnny, I call him Mr Rugby," Gooden says.
Deb Castles from the Wairarapa-Bush Rugby Football Union says Memorial Park is Johnny's park.
"He'll know if someone's been training on it and you haven't actually told him. That's one of the first things he'll do in the morning is go out and check if there are any sprig marks in there," says Castles.
Johnson cares about this park because he has found a home there.
"I'm single, lost my wife some time ago, and most of my family is now in Australia...that loneliness sort of thing."
Rugby doesn't survive because of corporate sponsorship, the All Blacks or television audiences - it survives because of blokes like Johnny Johnson who do it all for a smile, a free beer and some petrol money.
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Add a Comment:
Post new commentRuralWomenNZ said on 2011-06-17 @ 09:09 NZDT: Report abusive post
Hey! We thought you might be interested in the aftersocks projects that will raise money for the Chch Mayoral Fund. The idea came from two Cantabrian sisters called Justine and Jo Ottey. Check out the website www.aftersocks.co.nz from the 20th June or www.facebook.com/aftersocks.
Jazz1 said on 2010-05-24 @ 14:59 NZDT: Report abusive post
Love this segment! What great people!
margi21 said on 2010-04-07 @ 21:36 NZDT: Report abusive post
I have this guys heart i would be dead if it wasent for him , thanks barry !
Jankeal said on 2009-12-25 @ 23:57 NZDT: Report abusive post
Tim is my father and i'd just like to say that i'm proud of what he does bringing happiness to others lives and yet still finds time to talk and see his grandchildren. For a man who's had it rough the last 2-3 years it hasn't slowed him down and he still has time for everyone. Good on you dad/Pop!
TheHoltens said on 2009-12-21 @ 11:34 NZDT: Report abusive post
The piece about Mark Granthams brought tears to my eyes. What an inspirational young man. Has made me look at myself and realise what little I do for the wider community. Thanks Mark :)