Walking towards a vision for care

All the best with your last couple of walking days Brady. One of your dad’s greatest blessings was having you as his son. Bruce

I always enjoyed seeing your Dad, either when he came to see me (teeth) or I went to see him. We chatted about our visions for our respective practices and the difficulty of attracting young talent. In 2009, my daughter had just left school and was gravely ill in a Melbourne hospital and I was feeling distraught and helpless. The comfort your Dad John extended to me when I was seeing him for a checkup is something that I will never forget. A beautiful man.

Heard you on 774 this afternoon- well done Brody

Brady, what an amazing way to honour your dad. He’s left such a legacy, though you & Chelsea. Much love, Sarah

A great initiative Brady and one that will enable you to collect a lot of different perspectives about the man to add to your own. Keep on walking!

Thank you to all those that donated in person including: - Happy days accomodation - Carol - Wayne - Vardy’s - Tinamba Hotel - Alex - A legend on a bike - and more

Loving memories of your dad and the great work he did for so many

Wow Brady. What an amazing thing to do. Your Dad would be so proud.

John provided our boys with such professional care, and reassured us that we weren't terrible parents for missing how challenged their vision really was. Even when we lived overseas, the annual appointment with John was top of the list. It made us want to move to Maffra - which we did. Thank you John for exemplary service to the rural community. Very grateful, and always remembered!

Good job Brady. Dad would be so proud.

Thinking of you Brady

Sending lots of good wishes for a great cause, from Rachel’s parents.

What an amazing tribute to your beautiful dad, Brady, so proud of you! John was one of the world's true gentlemen, genuine, caring, and all round wonderful human. We miss him so much, but are so grateful to have known him and experienced his exceptional care of Malachy.

John will be looking down on you all with so much love and pride. He was an amazing human and his legacy is proof of that! Congratulations to all involved.

Congratulations Brady on your walk and fundraising for such a meaningful cause. Your dad was such a wonderful man, He looked after our son Levi from a very young age up until he retired, he was so patient and caring. I remember calling up to make Levi an appointment, but was advised that John was retiring in 3 weeks and was fully booked, within 10 minutes I had a call back saying that John wanted to see Levi before he retired and fitted him in.

So inspirational Brady and such a great cause. Did not meet your Dad but if you are anything like him then he was a great man. Walk well and stay safe .

I am proud of you every day Sweetheart. I know Dad’s heart will be bursting with love & pride. You will always be his favourite son. ♥️

An awesome adventure for a great cause! I know uncle John would be so bloody proud of you and Chels. We'll be thinking of you on your walk! Love from Hayden and Julia

Good on you Brady. Your Dad was a great man who looked after all our family. Hope your journey helps

When you set your mind to something Brady you succeed and maybe this is yet another trait that you have inherited from John. With every big stride you take I hope you feel the support and pride of everyone behind you, can't wait to see you later in the week xx

What a beautiful way to remember and pay tribute to your beautiful dad Brady x

You are an amazing young man, following in your father's footsteps. John made a difference in so many lives and we see you doing the same. Good on you Brady. We are so proud of you.

Unfortunately we didn’t get to meet John who obviously was a wonderful Dad to you and Chelsea and an inspirational man to many.

Great cause Brady. We hope you get lots of support.

Your Dad had the most amazing ability to build connections with kids and parents. Good luck on the walk Brady, what a great job you’re doing

John was one of the most genuine, amazing people I've ever met. Just the best person ever 💛 Your mannerisms remind me of him. Such a lovely tribute to John. He would be so proud of you- Abi xx

I am so proud of you little bro, and Dad would be too! So many incredible memories of our amazing Dad. Dancing around the kitchen to “That’s Amore” while I stood on his feed as a kid, getting late night Maccas apple pies on late drives home, and riding around (you and I) in the lawn mowing trailer while Dad drove, just for fun! He was the best Dad we could have asked for and I feel very lucky that he was ours! ❤️

I didn’t have the privilege of meeting your incredible dad, but I have had the privilege of meeting you and seeing the incredible human that you are, a true sentiment to the dad that raised you. Thank you Brady for your support of rural healthcare. Good luck for the last stretch

What a great cause, John would be so proud. Miss my little brother every day. John will be walking with you. Xx

A lovely way to honour John, we miss him everyday in the clinic. Best wishes on your journey Brady, he'd be so proud of you.

John would be so proud, he was the best and he’s raised the best! My favourite John memory is his love of the tiges and us embracing as the final siren rang and Richmond became premiers in 2017! Love Tam and Rach

The Pontony’s are very proud of you Brade. We have countless wonderful memories with the great JC - including the trip to Central Aus, our Easter adventures in Inverloch and of course the king of the donut himself at Glenmaggie! ❤️

Our love and hugs with you on this journey Brady. Xx

An amazing effort Brady in memory of an equally amazing man! Be extremely proud of the work you’re doing, as John certainly would be!

We miss your Dad every day. We love that he lives on so strongly in you and Chels. He'd be totally chuffed at what you are doing. See you in a few days!!

Your dad would be extremely proud. Hope the long walk gives you time to remember and cherish those special moments you and Chelsea had. Love Andrew, Val, Isabel and Oliver.

On ya Brady! Your dad would be so incredibly proud and is with you every step of the way.

A great cause. I completed optometric placement with John late 2021 and he was such an inspiration - he was an exceptional optometrist and person. All the best with your journey.

Well done Brady! Its been wonderful to watch you on your journey. Keep it going :)

You're an incredible human Brady and I can only imagine your Dad is watching over you bursting with pride. xx

Thinking of you and your family we will never forget your dad.

Hey Brady, Great job, your dad would be proud, to honour his memory and all the good he gave to many. You have a great vision to better the life of others, to inspire those around you and bring people together.

What an impressive and inspiring young man. Your parents must be very proud.

Inspirational work Brady! Such a beautiful legacy that I’m sure your Dad would be super proud of.

What an amazing feat to honour your dad, I hope this walk can go towards making a difference.

What a beautiful tribute to your Dad! Sending our love & support during your walk Brady. Love, Suz, Bryan, Alice, Bridgette and Fletcher ❤️

You’re an absolute legend Brady, and I am sure John would be so proud of your dedication to this important cause!!

We’re very proud of you Brady as you honour your dad’s legacy and follow in his footsteps by doing great things for others. Much love Zac & Amanda

Whilst I wanted more time to get to know John I am thankful for the time we had. I will remember him for his love for the tiges and his relentless attempts to hand me Richmond stubby holders when we had a beer together.

Amazing Brady, Your Dad would be so proud! 💛🖤

Maybe Maya Angelou describes your Dad well - "I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel." Good on ya Brady!

Amazing effort Brady for a great cause. John would be so proud x

Bravo Brady on your wonderful venture! John will be so proud of your initiative; Maffra is not the same without him. Please accept our contribution with love and congratulations

Brady , I heard you on 774 , great work and the McGrath nurses are just fantastic at supporting people in need of help .

Well done Brady on such a wonderful and inspiring achievement. Your dad will be so proud of you.

Love you Dad ❤️ There are too many to capture, but to start the memories shared on this page, one of my favourite memories I will cherish is when we would play our basketball game of up to 10. I created the rule of “scoring behind the head” to give you a second chance because I never wanted the game to end. Little did I know you’d become the best “behind the head” specialist the game had ever seen.

Way a wonderful way to honour your amazing dad, Brady. He was an absolute legend and some of my fondest memories of him were listening to 60’s and 70’s music in ‘the truck’. ❤️

You're a superstar, Brady. Your Dad would be incredibly proud of you. Carn the Tiges!

What a beautiful way to honour your day and highlight the importance of receiving care where you live and love. Hope you see a king fisher or two! Xx

You’re an inspiration Brady ❤️ Can’t wait to follow along on your journey! Lots of love, James, Caito, Ollie and Harvey xo

Both your parents would be so proud 💕

Love to you always Brady. So very thoughtful and inspiring. 💕

Beautiful cause for a beautiful man! Your amazing Brady, good luck ❤️

You live up to the motto 'we're strong and we're bold' Good luck Love the Anketell Family

So proud of you, Brade ❤️❤️

Wishing you all the best for this journey Brady. John will always be remembered so fondly by the Soutar Family. ❤️ Our daughter Brooke was one of John’s early patients, we formed a wonderful bond with him. Creating his ‘eye board’ with my husband and then continuing to look after my granddaughter Evie with her eye problems. A truely caring, warm human who helped so many. Xx

What a beautiful way to honour an amazing man. Can't wait to follow your journey

What a wonderful way to honour your amazing dad, Brady. Me, like most people, have lost loved ones to cancer, which makes what you are doing so important to support our community. Thankyou Brady. 💚 Enjoy the walk.

My love to you and to John, Brady. Will never forget him holding court and being the life of the conversation over a few beers at your place. Best of luck for the walk x

You’re a legend Brade. Proud of you and all that you do! Will forever be grateful that I was a patient of your dads, that he set Chels and I up as mates, and then I was introduced to your beautiful fam. Sending heaps of love and all the best for your walk.

Best wishes for a wonderful walk Brady. I know your Dad was your hero. He would be so proud.

Inspirational stuff Brady - a fantastic initiative for a fantastic cause. Go well

It's a wonderful tribute to the great man we all loved so much! All the best on your walk Brady x Matt & Polly

You’re such an amazing inspiration Brady and I can see how selfless and caring John was through you and Chelsea!

Amazing initiative Brady! Your dad has raised a great man. X

I’m so proud of you, Brady. What you’ve put together with this fundraiser is such a powerful and moving tribute to your dad. It’s a reflection of the strength, love, and compassion you carry - and I have no doubt he’s unbelievably proud of you. The way you're honouring his vision while helping others is truly inspiring. Big love to you and the whole family.

What an achievement Brady, your dad would be super proud of you

All the best for the week to come Brady. I hope there’s lots of memories and conversations to get you through and celebrate your dad xx

Your Dad was a good man, so are you. I'm very proud of you. Lotsa love

Amazing stuff Brady. Your Dad would be so proud.

Love you Brady ❤️ Always inspired by everything you do xx

Great work big fella… Hope the walk goes well 👍🏼

Amazing job Brady, such a great cause and person to be walking in memory of. All the best for the rest of your walk ❤️

When I first saw John so many years ago, he was the first one to take my vision issues seriously and he helped me through so many complications over the years. Our appointments were always lengthy, in part because we’d end up chatting about things like Star Trek, or my latest trip to San Diego Comic Con, or in later years my work in the solar industry. At my last appointment when he told me he was retiring, i felt so sad, I think he did too, the last thing he said was that he felt like we’d become friends. It was such a shock when I heard he passed. John made a difference, I don’t think anyone else would have taken so much time and care over my complicated and somewhat baffling vision problems, he never gave up trying to help and he is missed.

We are in awe of what you are accomplishing Brady, a wonderful tribute to your father x Love Jenny, John, Zara and Jordy

Such an inspiration - he would be very proud of you 🫶🏼

Your very proud mum told me about the journey you were undertaking in honour of your Dad. Great effort !

Well done Brady!

I haven’t met you Brady but I know John would be very proud of you.

Well done Brady, for honouring your dad's legacy in such an inspirational way. Hats off to you mate - what a stellar effort!

Your Dad would be so proud. You are an amazing young man. Love from Aunty Tiny & Aunty Kez❤️🤗

What a great idea and great cause!

Brady, this is such a wonderful gesture in honour of your lovely Dad. I hope your tremendous walk goes well as you fundraise for a great cause.

Hi Brady, I met your dad in the mid- eighties in Traralgon and house shared with him for three years. He was a great friend and wonderful bloke. He was a bit of a party animal back in the day and threw many memorable parties that were the talk of Traralgon.

Your dad would be proud of you Brady! Can’t wait to see you and Annika soon. Love Rodi and Katie

On the home stretch now. What a huge effort Brady and such a lovely way to remember your dad.

Congratulations, a well worthy cause. Yellow and Back!

Onya Brady! John would be so super proud of you and what you’re doing. Almost these mate !

Great gesture by you in honouring your Dad.

Well done Brady.

What an amazing and inspiring effort Brady! It's been great to be able to follow along through your stories. So important that rural areas get access to high quality health care.

John not only looked after our daughter and her vision needs but he was also a great colleague…what a wonderful way to pay tribute to an amazing man.

An amazing achievement, well done Brady. From Laura & Jack (Seymour’s housemates)

Great work Brady. Xx👏

Incredible work Brady! John will be so proud and you have done an amazing job keeping his legacy. Will give you a high five tomorrow in passing!

What a wonderful thing to do in dad’s memory Brady ! Congratulations to you , dad will be walking with you ❤️

Great cause and wonderful initiative Brady. Well done!

What an amazing feat to honour your dad, Brady! Such a worthwhile cause close to many peoples hearts. Thanks for capturing this and sharing Annika x

John’s legacy was you Brady

Best wishes Brady

What an incredible achievement Brady! We had a wonderful dinner with JC at our apartment in Hartwood St one night where we had “mad chats” and he was very gracious to us when Richmond beat Geelong in the 2020 GF! 😅 Hope you have the epsom salts ready at the end.

Congratulations and great work Brady

Smashing it!

Brady all the best on your walk. Your Dad cared for my mum and Dad, Peter and Dorothy Smyth optometry needs until he passed. He is sadly missed by them.

Dad would be so proud of you Brady. I missed a msg from him in Rd 1 🐯😔

Such an awesome effort Brady and what a lovely reason behind it all!

A great way to honour Dads memory

Well done, dad would be very proud.

This is such a lovely, wonderful way to remember your dad Brady. You should be immensely proud xx

So proud of your efforts this week Brady (and Annika!!) and exceedingly thankful for everything John did in and for our community. Enjoy a long soak now the walk is done xo

Good on you Brady. My favourite memory of John is him being generous and letting me use his membership for a ticket to the footy with you Brady. The only payment he would accept is a photo of me with a Richmond scarf. One of the only people I would do that for!!

Good walking Brady. Your Dad was an excellent optomertrist and a very special person.

I’m with you in spirit on this journey. Thank you for sharing your father’s story. I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet him. I’ll be following any updates on the socials!

Hi Brady, I love the beautiful reflections you've shared about your Dad. Thanks for doing this in his memory. Look after your feet mate!

Knowing the influence your Dad has on you, Brady, it’s obvious he was a great man of character ❤️ every patient deserves care that looks at them as a whole person beyond the immediate physical demands of their disease. We’ll be with you in spirit throughout the week!

We have a long commitment to South Gippsland and in particular to Gippsland Southern Health Sevice

What an awesome initiative and way to carry on your Dad’s legacy, Brady.

A legend of a man doing a legendary thing

Amazing work Brady!

Wonderful tribute to your very special Dad.

So proud of you Brady for doing amazing work to help amazing people!! No one should ever walk this journey alone 🥰

Congratulations Brady, what a great tribute to your dad whilst supporting a good cause. I reckon your old man would be proud!

What a wonderful man and practitioner your Father was, we were so fortunate to have his care.

Having lost my own father to cancer and father-in-law to oesophageal cancer this is such important work. Well done Brady, you have always amazed me at what you set out to achieve.

Good luck with walk. Many memories of your dad. He would be so proud of you.

Your dad was an amazing man. I wouldn’t have my eye sight without his care and patience. He said to me once “your on the special patient list, ring me any time” I still have his mobile number in my phone still to this day, a number I can never delete and think of him often when I type J in the contacts and his name pops up. Well done he would be beyond proud and I’m sure Maffra Town will get behind you as that’s what we do best.

Good luck and you can do this.

John was a fabulous optometrist and a really lovely guy. He was wonderful with my preschool twins. Returning to Sale after a long absence, we were saddened to learn that the community had lost such a gem.

To honour a great man, wishing you well on your journey ❤️

Plod plod plod. I bet Dad's up there feeling proud as punch. We love you to bits xx

From knowing you Brady, I can imagine what an incredible man your Dad was, and how his values live on in you. Thank you for sharing this amazing journey with us and for walking towards such an important vision ❤️

From Devin’s grandma.

Incredibly proud of you Brady, as I know your dad is too x

Goodluck Brady, following along your journey. Hope this helps toward your Dads vision. Love from the Sheens

You’ve got this and your dad would be very proud of you. We are proud of you 🤍

Great tribute! Good luck on the walk.

Absolutely incredible effort Brady! Your Dad would be so so proud. The patients and families benefitting from this are so lucky 💓

fantastic of you to do this Brady, well done!!

Well done Brady, your dad would be so proud. He was such an inspiration

Brady you are an inspiration…. What a fabulous way to honour your amazing dad & help others who will benefit from this amazing care ❤️

Such a lovely way to honour your dad

Keep spreading the glitter Brady. Your Dad would be proud.

We will always have fond memories of visiting “Dr John” as my kiddos call him. All the best on your fund raising event.

I was shocked when I first heard John had passed. He helped many generations of my family. He was great with kids.

You’re a chip off the ol block Brady! Have a great walk remembering dad and connecting with all who fondly remember him. You got this xo

In memory of a wonderful caring man

I never had the pleasure of meeting your old man but the branch doesn't usually fall far from the tree, so he must've been a bloody legend!

Your dad would be very proud 💙

❤️

So inspiring Brady, I’ve loved watching your journey. Awesome effort ❤️

An incredible thing to do in honour of a true legend! Good luck Brady!

Incredible Brady!!

What a legend! Great idea Brady 😊

Thank you Brady, your Dad helped my son a lot & was always so caring & genuinely interested in his life .

When we were in Rotaract, each Christmas we would raise money for charities by visiting children and giving out presents. My favourite memories were playing 'Mary Christmas' while John dressed as Santa. We needed a lot of pillows to fatten him up !! He was so good with kids and his quick humour entertained parents too. After the Santa calls, on the busy Christmas Eve, we'd finish up at my parents house. Mum would be ready with food and drinks for us. Nearly 40 years later - we still meet at Mum and Dad's on Christmas Eve.

X

Your dad was a legend!

My sister found the McGrath nurse a great support and very comforting during her treatment of breast cancer.

What an amazing way to honour your dad and his legacy Brady. Praying Gods strength and grace be with you as you walk.

You're so amazing Brady. Your dad would be proud of you!

What a beautiful way to honour Dad, all the best for your walk xx

Golden

Well done Brady, John will be remembered throughout Maffra for a long time.

Well done Brady

John was the first optometrist I saw back in 1994 and in recent years my children also saw him. He was an amazing man and I’m sorry cancer took him too soon. Good luck with raising awareness and funds for this most worthy cause.

You are so strong, determined & loved. So proud of you. ❤️ Had to get over the $20,000 😉

Very inspiring, excited to follow your journey, Brady! All the best.

Awesome stuff Brady! Xx

Wishing you all the best. Myself and my kids were patients of Dads for well over 20years. He always made you feel calm and that you cared.

Brady what an awesome initiative. I didn't know your dad, but I am certain he would be beyond proud of the human you are. Great cause to be raising money for

Mymum died of esophageal cancer… a terrible disease. I also taught many students who had their sight problems diagnosed by your dad. He was held in very high esteem. Good luck with your walk .

Great work Brady!

This is such a wonderful way to amplify and channel the love and memories surrounding your Dad & support the cause - keep it up Brady - you're the best 💛

You’re a special person brady. Sorry I can’t be there to walk with you this week, but know you have many people cheering you on! How proud I am to know you!

Best of luck for the walk Brady. It’s such a great cause. Paula (friend of Haley+

Such an incredible way to honour your dad and takes so much strength and determination to do those km, all the best!

Great cause. John was a kind man and caring optometrist. We had some memorable conversations in consults.