John O’Brien, a founding member of Geelong Socialist Alliance (SA), passed away at the age of 89, after a short illness.

John’s life started under difficult circumstances. He was brought up by his grandmother from the age of three, after his mother died from tuberculosis. Later, when he was 16 and his grandmother passed, John’s young life took another difficult turn: he became the long-term carer for his uncle Alan, who had a physical disability.

John readily accepted this responsibility and, together with Alan, shared a good life until Alan went into a nursing home in the early 1990s. In 2016, John’s friend Baz, provided John with care and companionship, enabling him to remain at home for his final years.

John was self taught, having left school at an early age. A curious person, he relished reading, devouring books........

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