He became an apprentice carpenter with his father’s firm K D Morris and Sons Pty Ltd – at that time the largest Queensland-based construction company. He spent some time in Geelong but returned to the family company as a construction supervisor in which role he was responsible for machinery hire and timber mills.

John was keen on all sports and was always extremely competitive. He excelled at activities as far apart as dancing and wrestling. He won the title ‘Mr Greenmount Rock’ in the 1957 dancing competition at Coolangatta and in 1955 he became the Queensland lightweight wrestling champion which entitled him to trial for selection in the 1956 Olympic squad but illness at the time of the trials kept him out of selection.

In 1959 while working on construction at the Mater Hospital John met a young nurse, Marilynne Michel. They of course attended dances at Cloudland, married and had four daughters and two sons. Their eldest son James died in a car accident in 1991. During his years in Gladstone John developed a passion for racehorses and racing. His involvement included being a breeder, owner, trainer and bookmaker and he owned a horse stud at Tamborine Mountain.

John was a proud, loyal Nudgee Old Boy. He was always willing and eager to organize reunions and support all aspects of the Old Boys’ Association. He died after a brief battle with mesothelioma, a cancer usually associated with past exposure to asbestos. His wife Marilynne, children Therese, Bernadette, Mary, Helen, William and Josephine and 13 grandchildren, survive him.