Master and commander
This skilled jeweller and dedicated marine rescue volunteer is also a proud member of NSA.
50 years, 50 lives
In the lead-up to National Seniors Australia’s 50th anniversary in 2026, Connect is sharing the stories of 50 people who have made contributions to the organisation over those years. John Jacobsen is pictured, above, with Everald Compton.
John Jacobsen is man of diverse talents and a strong believer in passing on his skills to future generations.
A master jeweller and dedicated marine rescue volunteer from Queensland’s Gold Coast, he was a deserving finalist for National Seniors Australia’s (NSA’s) Everald Compton Community Champion Medal in 2024.
Throughout his life, he has shown a commitment both to his craft and to the safety of the boating public.
John’s dedication to volunteer marine rescue is remarkable, spanning over 40 years, during which he progressed to the position of state president, playing a vital role in the restructuring of the organisation.
Today, he continues his invaluable volunteer work with his local squadron, at Jacob’s Well, which he passionately describes as being operational 24/7, handling three or four call-outs every day.
Many of these jobs involve a simple tow home for boaters whose craft has run out of fuel or experienced engine failure – because, as he aptly puts it, “when you’re on the water, you can't walk home”.
But the work can, and often does, become far more serious, putting the volunteers in life-threatening situations.
A significant improvement for volunteers, for which Jacobsen was a strong advocate, is that they now have legal protection for the work they do.
“Each volunteer is now indemnified through the Queensland government,” he said, noting that this offers crucial protection against lawsuits.
Marine Rescue also operates hand-in-hand with the Water Police, whose officers rely on volunteers to help them cover the vast waterways of the Gold Coast.
John played a pivotal role in transitioning the volunteer association into Marine Rescue Queensland, which involves meticulously transferring assets and liabilities and developing management strategies for each squadron.
He proudly noted that Marine Rescue now comprises 25 squadrons and at least 1,300 volunteers statewide, forming a “great network up and down the coast to protect the boating public”.
Marine Rescue attracts volunteers from all walks of life and provides valuable boating safety training.
John sums up their commitment and exceptional expertise in these few words: “We normally go out when others come home.”
Beyond the waterways, he is a master jeweller with 50 years of experience and a deep passion for teaching the craft to younger people.
He volunteers at TAFE, where he considers it a privilege to talk to students and share his knowledge in the firm belief that “mentoring is the is the key to success for a lot of industries”.
“My aim is to pass the knowledge that I have to the younger generations to get them enthusiastic about the creation of beautiful jewellery.”
John speaks highly of Everald Compton, the co-founder of NSA.
“Everald is a man that you can respect so much,” he said.
“He sent me a copy of his book on (Australian Flying Doctors founder) John Flynn, which I read from cover to cover. It inspires me to walk in those footsteps.”
