Good Sorts: Johnny Johnson 

Source: ONE NewsJohnny Johnson

• WATCH the video (2:20)

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.

Do you know someone who is a "Good Sort" that ONE News should talk to? Click here to nominate them.

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simplicity ; 2009-11-15 @ 22:41 NZDT  

Arthur Drower What an amazing man 60yrs in the fire service and 21 in St Johns, Funeral is at 11am Tok Club then He will take his last call from the fire station where he will be driven in a fire truck pass his house and back to the station, The Ambulance that he first drove will be driven down with 10 of the Auckland Ambo Team. Firemen from all around NZ will be making there way to what I am sure will be the largest Funeral that Tokoroa has seen. I am proud to have known a man so warm & Caring

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tabby ; 2009-11-01 @ 21:49 NZDT  

For 2 years Tapai was someone who made our day as I took my daughter to chemo everyweek. You are a blessing to so many and I pray Gods blessings upon your life thank you so much Tapai, my daughter died but just loved seeing you and if you were not there we would go oh no now where to park. thanks you so much keep blessing other people as they go through this time in their life.

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roset ; 2009-09-27 @ 18:03 NZDT  

Gill Fahey has done more than anyone can ever know for waifs and strays, new comers, neighbours, friends, family and strangers. She is the genuine example of a silent angel.

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nolaann ; 2009-09-14 @ 16:57 NZDT  

How can I find out about becoming a volunteer in a programme like this. I enjoy talking to people from other places.

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Kiwigranny ; 2009-09-13 @ 19:12 NZDT  

LOL Margaret Sweet was my French teacher in the fourth form at Rotorua Girls High School. Awesome Lady!!!

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