Tribute to historian John Jansson
John Jansson was last week presented a life membership of the National Trust of Victoria.
Third generation Phillp Islander, boat builder, local historian and author John Jansson was last week presented a life membership of the National Trust of Victoria.
John was a founding member of the National Trust Bass Coast branch and has been a member for 50 years.
Branch president Ross Lloyd on Friday paid tribute to John at an event at Berninneit, saying he had a "deep and thorough knowledge of local history" particularly maritime history dating back to 1797.
"He has set up a private museum of maritime items at his mud brick house in Rhyll, which he built himself," Ross said.
John has also written several books, including on World Wars I and II, and is currently writing a book on Western Port's Master Mariners, even penning a small book on Rhyll maritime history for last week's event, from his large archive of research.
"One of the things I find most impressive about John is his knowledge of and skills in the building and maintenance of traditional timber boats," Ross said.
"In all he has been associated with the building or maintenance of seven classic timber boats at his historic shed opposite the Rhyll jetty.
"The most impressive of these being the 30-foot ketch, the Swan, which he built himself."
He said John worked as a civil engineer at the Shire of Bass before becoming Phillip Island Shire assistant engineer, responsible for engineering many of the buildings in the region.
"The civil engineering work for Phillip Island's Grand Prix circuit is one of his more prominent projects," Ross said.
John belongs or has belonged to the Phillip Island and District Historical Society, where he is also a life member, as well as the Phillip Island Conservation Society, Penguin Reserve Committee of Management, Young Farmers and Landcare.
