Vale John Austin

It is with deep sadness and a heavy heart that we inform our readers of the sudden passing of our colleague and friend, John Austin.

Many of you will be familiar with John’s work. 

A former journalist who worked as a lecturer, and later as a government and not-for-profit media and communications adviser before joining NSA in 2018, John had a flair for the written word.

During his time with NSA, John worked closely with the Policy, Media, Research and Marketing teams. He penned an estimated 1,000 articles across the Connect newsletter and Our Generation magazine.

Adhering to the old writer’s advice to “write what you know”, John often drew on his own personal experiences to create genuine and relatable stories, especially if they helped others.

His December 2024 article, Prostate surgery to the rescue is just one of many examples of his first-person accounts that informed and educated, as well as his intellect and humour that always shone through.

But it wasn’t just relatable health stories, John also contributed to consumer awareness, writing about retirement income topics, such as his article warning about term accounts not being the same as term deposits.

John also contributed to many articles explaining NSA’s advocacy agenda.

Drawing on his own passion for travel, John also gave us many stories about the promise and pitfalls of one of his favourite pastimes.

As a senior transitioning towards his later years, John gave those who worked with him a unique perspective on the issues facing ageing, which he imbedded into his articles.

Working part time for NSA, he was the perfect example of the value and contribution of older Australians, balancing writing with his “retirement” activities including hiking, golf, and travelling with his beloved wife, Rhonda.

John will be remembered for his storytelling, his no fuss attitude, his cheeky smile, and his wicked sense of humour. He will also be remembered for his integrity, principles, and loyalty.

Our NSA team was fortunate to have known John for as long as we did. We are thankful for the time and stories we shared. Memories we forever cherish.

Our thoughts and prayers are with John’s family and friends as they come to terms with their devastating and premature loss.