If you’ve been into Rutherford shopping centre in the past decade there is a good chance you have seen John Gibson.
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Mr Gibson, or Johnny as he is known to the shopkeepers and customers, has been voluntarily cleaning the centre six days a week for 10 years.
He starts the day doing odd jobs at Whizzer’s Hairdressing for Men, checks in at the post office and helps at Le’s Bakery to stack chairs and tables at the end of the day.
His friend, barber John Quinton, nominated Johnny for the Maitland citizen of the year in the Australia Day awards.
“He’s a pretty good bloke, everyone likes him; they all seem to stop and have a chat,” Mr Quinton said.
Born and bred in Maitland, Mr Gibson hopes that his good deeds will not go unnoticed.
“I’m happy to do what I do for the community. One day someone might offer me a job,” he said. “I just love to be a part of the community, I love to get out and meet people, have a chat and help them out; if they can’t find a shop I’m there to help them.
“It’s good to go to a clean shopping centre.”
Mr Gibson could hardly believe it when he heard he had been nominated.
“I’m so pleased I’ve been nominated and so grateful there are people like John [Quinton] who look out for other people, I’m so thankful and very proud.”
Mr Gibson’s volunteer work doesn’t stop with the shops. As a member of the Telarah Rutherford Rotary Club he is regularly involved with graffiti removal.
“I get good feedback about the work we do on graffiti around shopping centres,” he said.