“If you’re stubborn enough, then you can live a long time independently”, says John Bestevaar when editor Jaap Vogel asks him about his challenges to live alone, having very severe disease.

“Emphysema is a terrible, disabling disease. But even here on Tamborine Mountain is well possible to live with it, even though we don’t have a hospital. Support by Meals on Wheels and Community Care really help me to live much longer by myself. And in case of a crisis strikes, we have a good ambulance network. In addition, supported living is no option for me because I cannot afford to contribute to the costs of that. I also would really be struggling with the restrictions you have to deal with. I’m a very free spirit, as well as, at times, a pain in the neck.”

After coming to the mountain as a tourist, then Brisbane resident John decided three decades ago to move, and he has not had one second of regret. “It is a magical place, with the forests, the ambience, the people, the laid-back lifestyle and the natural environment. I continued my business in creating fibreglass and polystyrene from the shed on my Licuala Drive property. When Elizabeth Russell called for Landcare-volunteers in the local newspaper, I stepped up because the Esme Street Environmental Park project was a stone’s throw away from my house”. 
 
“That forest was covered in blue morning glory, and I was familiar with the ways to eradicate I, with a low dosage 2.4-D. Two years later, the project was finished, and it still looks awesome nowadays. I joined both Landcare and the Bush volunteers, and these organisations clearly have kept me busy in the past twenty years. But it is necessary always to consider what volunteer groups should and should not do. It is a great thing that the community is actively involved in maintaining the public parks. But, as our previous environmental officer, the late Doug White, used to say: “Landcare is the cheapest department of Council”. 

Nevertheless, I have always been happy to be involved, but because of my health, those years are over.”