(4 December 1935 - 13 March 1996)
John Bell was the model for what they call "a quiet achiever".
A third of a century ago he came to Frenchman Bay as the Cheynes Beach Whaling Company’s first full time pilot to do one of the things he loved most - flying - a career he had formally commenced at age 16. His aerial exploits were legendary and he received an award for bravery for successfully rescuing the skipper of one of the whalechasers, Mr. Ches Stubbs, who lost a leg in a harpooning accident at sea.
In 1974 John and his wife Jill opened a small whaling museum in a Nissan Hut near the present Whale World entrance complex. He traveled Australia in search of whale relics to fill their new museum before the curtain finally came down on a colourful part of this nation’s history with the company’s final catch in November 1978.
Only a few months later, fate took a hand when what remained of the old Whaling Station was donated to The Jaycees Community Foundation Inc. by the Green family. From Boxing Day 1980, John and Jill continued their seven day a week commitment to the Whaling Station site but as Managers of Whale World - and so began a unique, 15 year partnership with the Foundation.
Whale World was a shared vision that John made a reality - a vision to preserve the remnants of Australia’s first industry for the people of tomorrow - An impossible dream - only made possible by his innovation, determination and dedication.
It was never going to be easy - and it never was !
Many scoffed at the grand plan for Whale World but under John, it did become a reality.
Never a complaint, never any hue and cry - so efficient that it was easy to leave it all to John because it couldn’t be in safer hands.
John could make or do things no one else would dare to tackle. The beaching of the Cheynes IV was one such problem he solved when nobody would tender for the job. The relocation of the ship is testimony to his ingenuity and determination - unfortunately he will oversee the ongoing development of Whale World from a more celestial place.
One of his proud but final duties was to supervise another milestone by presenting a special plaque to Whale World’s one millionth visitor.
In the years leading up to his passing, his concern at the deterioration of the buildings and particularly the Cheynes IV was shared - although his frustration at the decline he was witnessing on a daily basis was never really appreciated.
Ironically, the basis of "The Whale World Vision," the first draft of a proposed five year restoration, development and marketing plan to see Whale World into the 21st century, arrived on his desk the day he made his last fateful flight. Tragically, John died in a light aircraft accident, south east of Albany on March 13, 1996, doing something he loved.
Although John had originally thought of retiring when he turned 60 in December 1995, no one really believed he would. It was expected that he would oversee at least the first stage of the implementation of "The Whale World Vision" and that he would ultimately retreat to the Malcolm Green Aircraft Display - one of his proudest achievements - to indulge his other passion - restoring wartime aircraft and in particular the Catalina.
John was a friend and partner, and while he has gone, he will never be forgotten. His life’s work will be properly commemorated as part of the future plans for Whale World and a sheaf of tourism and international awards, and all you see at Whale World today - are his memorial.
"John Bell was a unique Australian whose foresight, courage and determination made the Whale World dream a reality."
Modified from a Eulogy delivered by the Chairman of The Jaycees Community Foundation Inc. at a memorial service held in the Malcolm Green Aircraft Museum at Whale World on 22 March, 1996.
Vale John Bell