Member behind the Badge ..John Lane
Posted on Jul 05, 2016
John La
ne’s life is bound up with music. As member behind the badge he gave a fluent and interesting account of his travels in life and brought along a wonderful prop being an elaborate decorated guitar which apparently is his most prized possession.
ne’s life is bound up with music. As member behind the badge he gave a fluent and interesting account of his travels in life and brought along a wonderful prop being an elaborate decorated guitar which apparently is his most prized possession. 
John as speaker at the recent club meeting told how as a child under the direction of big sister Rae he and two more siblings regularly got involved with creating and playing in neighborhood concerts. His most first significant recollection was that of being a footman (pushing a Billy-cart) for Cinderella and struggling with a “blood nose” across a stage at the age of about 12.
Interested in electronics as a youngster (he reminded the oldies in the audience of “crystal” sets) John studied electronics at RMIT but it was the performing aspect of music that got his major interest and effort.
As a young man (still a teenager) he joined “The Mighty Echoes” as a singer, and later guitar player. His fellows were much older but they mentored him in music and life skills, and so he proceeded to gain a life time of experience with regular nightly shows at various clubs and bars in Melbourne.(“seedy” was his word for some of the locations).
A first job at “Allans” the musical instrument retailer was natural. While working he formed a duo act with a friend and banjo player. “Lane & Logan” had substantial success with regular appearances on variety shows in Melbourne TV and important clubs in the town.
Further retail experiences with other instrument sellers and an eventual desire to move from performer to his own business saw him start a shop selling vintage musical instruments, after an initial effort to retail electronic gear such as sound amplifiers for bands….at least there was that connection to his early studies into electronics. Highly successful in both of these niche markets John expanded into several retail stores with a wider range of musical instruments and coverage through-out most of Australia.
Semi retired now John is still an avid sailor ( throughout his life) with participation in many of the classic Australian off shore events. He told of his part accompaniment of adventurer/author Richard Buxton in that person's circumnavigation of Australia by sea, and later by air.
More subdued as the years pass John is now heavily involved with “Sing Australia” . He loves singing in this forum but recounts that he can be put off by a person standing next him and singing flat. He acknowledges the fact that obviously like everyone else in the choir they just enjoying singing. A recent inductee to Rotary , John clearly enjoys community involvement projects and with his entrepreneurial background and energy will be a great addition to our club…..maybe even leading us in aspects of song and entertainment at functions.