"He, who owns the show, runs the show!"
A brief history of the man behind Banjo Nominees Pty Ltd

John (Banjo) Patterson, O.A.M., J.P.
John Edmund Patterson was born on 30th May 1932 in Coburg, Victoria. He joined the 4th Moreland Scouts and Rovers at the age of 10 and was educated at South Melbourne Technical School.

At the age of 16 he commenced an apprenticeship in Plumbing & Gas Fitting with A.E. Atherton & Son. While an apprentice, he joined the Citizens Military Forces and became a Corporal in the Provost Corps (Military Police) in which rank he served for a period of four years. On completion of his apprenticeship, he spent the next four years working for the State Savings Bank, V.P. Harris Ship Refitters, Altona Oil Refinery and CSIRO.

John Patterson was married at the age of 24. There were five children from his marriage and because of the growing family financial demands and responsibilities he decided there was only one way for him to go and that was to start his own business. Hard work and dedication saw the business grow, at one stage employing 25 plumbers and servicing the needs of a long list of highly satisfied domestic and industrial clients. It is a matter of record and source of great pride that many employees and clients have stayed with the business to the present day.

As the years rolled by, together with running his pluming business John became interested in real Estate. He began to purchase local properties; his acquisitions grew quite extensively in time and include a Dairy farm in Forrest, Victoria. A number of the properties acquired were of considerable historical and architectural merit. His family home, 7 Esplanade, Williamstown is over 100 years old and much time and money has gone into restoring it to its authentic state.

Having become a successful business man, John Patterson enthusiastically and energetically entered Public life in which he remains actively involved. He was appointed Commissioner for Taking of Affidavits and Justice of the Peace and has been one for the last 36 years. He sat on the Magistrates Court bench for 16 years and is a past president of the Western Justices Association. He is a Trust member of the Altona Memorial Park, been its Chairman on three separate occasions and has represented the Trust at conferences all over Australia. He represented the Victorian Government overseas while undertaking a study of new equipment for the Cemetery Industry. He has been a member of the Fairfield Hospital Board, Prince Henry Hospital Board and is currently a Director and Member of the Finance & Audit Committee of the Peter MacCallum cancer Institute. John is a current member of the Australian Institute of Company Directors.

John Patterson has done voluntary work for the Salvation Army at the Gill Memorial, assisting in the homeless persons program and the red Shield Appeal and has been actively involved with groups working on solutions to the drug problem in Australia. He is a Foundation member and was Director of International relations and the David Templeton Trust of the Williamstown Point Gellibrand Rotary Club and is president of the Williamstown Conservation and Planning Society. During his 43 year association the Conservation Society he fought tirelessly for land taken over for a railway yard to be given back to the people of Williamstown. This land is now known as Point Gellibrand Coastal Heritage Park. Another gain won for the people of the area was the prevention of the filling of the old quarry and its conversion into a natural reserve now known as Newport Lakes. His overseas interests and activities have taken him to over 50 countries and have included a stint picking coffee in Nicaragua in an attempt to aid an ailing economy and a short tour of India with Community Aid Abroad.

John Patterson is a Foundation Member, a past President of the Williamstown Jaycees with which organisation he has served for 15 years. He was a Director of the Newport Sports Centre for several years and is a member of the Altona Alligators Swimming Club.

In 1995 it was decided to change the one-man plumbing and contracting business known as John "Banjo" Patterson Plumbing to Banjo Nominees Pty Ltd. But old names die hard. People still ring up asking for "Banjo Patterson Plumbing" The great thing is that after more than 50 years Banjo is still there to serve them.

In 2003 John Patterson was awarded an O.A.M. (Order of Australia Medal) for service to the Community and Health Services of Victoria. He is also a strong campaigner for Human Rights, it is not uncommon to pass his house and see a billboard in his front garden raising awareness to the community.