The life and service of Jack Banks

John Charles “Jack” Banks was born at Rockdale on July 31 1916 and died at St George Hospital on May 9 2012.

A large congregation of family and friends celebrated his long life at Beverly Hills Church on May 15.

Jack grew up as a member of the Lakemba Methodist Church. His first wife Peggy was a member of that congregation. He enlisted in the AIF in World War II and served some time in the Japanese occupation forces as a captain.

He spent some years with the Rev. Alan Walker at the Central Methodist Mission, during which he was for a time the CEO of Lottie Stewart Hospital, Dundas. Later he was CEO of Waverley War Memorial Hospital.

He was a member of the Methodist Order of Knights and became the Australian Methodist Church’s Grand Knight Commander. He was also a member of Lodge Excalibur, a Lodge of members of the Order of Knights.

When the Uniting Church purchased Leisure World Nursing Home, Jack Banks became the first Chairman of the Board of representatives of Georges River Parishes.

Later, land adjoining Leisure World was purchased and became the hostel for the aged, fittingly named “Banks Lodge”.

At his retirement Jack lived for a while at the Moorfields Masonic Village with his second wife the Rev. Mona Banks and later at the IRT Village at Peakhurst.

Jack gave a lifetime of service to the church and community and received a Medal of Australia as recognition of that service.

The Rev. Harry Roberts