Tributes have flowed for a local sporting legend and war veteran who passed away last month, aged 96.
China Johnson, of Cotton Tree, was a multiple world and Australian record holder in masters swimming and indoor rowing.
Former marathon swimmer and Medal of the Order of Australia recipient Susie Maroney was among those to share their memories of Mr Johnson, describing him as her best friend.
“It was around February 2022 when I had just moved from Sydney to the Sunshine Coast that I first met China,” she wrote to Sunshine Coast News.
“I didn’t know anyone and had just started a lifeguarding job at Cotton Tree Pool.
“I was rostered on a few days a week and noticed a man swimming in the pool and staying in longer than anyone else. I was drawn to him and just had to say hello.
“I waited until he had finished his laps and asked him, ‘How many laps are you doing? What are you training for?’”
“From that first conversation I knew we would be friends. We had such a connection with our swimming and the same sense of humour.
“I looked forward to going to work just so I would see China swim.
“I was even was told off by the person in charge on duty for talking with China for too long and not walking around the pool and looking at the other swimmers in the water while lifeguarding. China and I had a laugh about that.
“We became great friends and would go to the library or coffee together every week.
“I loved being in China’s company, I loved his stories about his life and how much he loved his family.
“I think especially after I had only recently lost my mum, and the closeness I had with my mum, just made me appreciate China and his amazing gift to make you feel good about life.
“My children would meet China, too, and they couldn’t believe he was in his 90s. China would never forget their birthdays and was so kind.
“I will miss China so much, and the only way I know I will cope with the sadness I am feeling is to keep talking to his lovely children and look at a beautiful photo we have together from the pool when we first met.
“Our special conversations and connection, that very rarely happens in life.
“It’s hard not to cry writing this because that’s what love is, wanting to talk and give them a hug.
“China you will always be in my mind and my heart forever because you were a true gentleman and gave me so much happiness and became my best friend.
“I will truly miss you.”
Sunshine Coast Indoor Rowing Club president Wendy Coghill also paid tribute to Mr Johnson.
“He has been such an inspiration to so many people of all ages and abilities,” she said.
“Everybody adored China.”
Born Neville Johnson, he gained his nickname when he partnered with Chinese girl at a dance at the age of 16. It stuck and that’s all his family and friends have ever called him.
Raised during the Depression, Mr Johnson did his apprenticeship as a steelworker in Port Kembla and was a Korean war veteran, businessman, farmer and family man, with sons Robert and Tony and daughter Cindy.
“I wanted to play footy, but we couldn’t afford the boots, so I took up swimming,” he told Your Time magazine in 2019.
“For 10 cents you could join the local surf club for 12 weeks, so I joined. I spent 15 years in the surf movement in New South Wales and enjoyed it.
“Then I gave it away for 30 or 40 years … there was family and I had an electrical contracting business. Around the time of the Beijing Olympics I saw a clipping that said that anyone who was capable could join the Masters Games in Australia and I thought, ‘Wouldn’t that be terrific?’”
His favourite saying was “it has been a great life”, so much so that he self-published several books about his life with just those words as a title, “for the grandkids”.
“It has been a great life,” he said. “I’ve been in everything. I think life is marvellous. I can’t understand these kids who get hooked on drugs and stuff, there’s so much in life for kids.”
Mr Johnson was a member of the Maryborough Masters Swimming Club before shifting to the Sunshine Coast and the Cotton Tree Masters Swimming Club.
His last competition was the Pan Pacific Masters Games on the Gold Coast in November, where he won eight gold medals and was the oldest competitor.
His last indoor rowing competition was the 2024 Australian Championships in October, where he won four gold medals.
Mr Johnson passed away on February 21 and his funeral was held in Buderim on March 5.
Additional reporting by Your Time contributor Glenis Green. Your Time is an over-55s magazine by Sunshine Coast Publishing Company, the owner of Sunshine Coast News.
