Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

John Edward Jansson born 23 July 1927 in Melbourne the middle child between two sisters Mavis his younger sister and Elma. His father known as Jack was a strict disciplinarian having been born in 1901 in Greenbushes WA in a family of six. During the depression years circa 1932-1933 the family moved from Melbourne to the Murray River town of Mulwala near Yarrawonga. Jack Jansson a boiler operator obtained work building weirs and built a home for Gladys and the children. Nevertheless life during the depression was tough. John was tasked with collecting milk from a farm two miles away each day, as a six year old a task indeed.
John became fixated with photography as a child and in his teens was seen at the windows of Peter Fox photographic studios. Sensing the eagerness to gain knowledge Peter Fox came out to talk to the youngster and offered a personal tour of the studio. A friendship ensued and a cadetship was offered whereby John worked every available moment between his family required tasks. Jack Jansson his father wasn’t impressed with the notion of photography being a profession and sent John to Melbourne Technical College to become a mechanic. John combined his attentions graduating as a mechanic and working for Faulkner Motors on Rolls Royce vehicles and British vehicles alongside photography for Peter Fox Studios. He enlisted shortly after his eighteenth birthday in 1945 but was discharged when the war ended after two months. John’s two uncles Bill Jansson and Bob Jansson served in the first world wars both returning with the legacy memories of the Great War.
John Edward Jansson became a professional photographer in Melbourne and developed colour processing in his studio later perfecting nitrogen burst agitation technology possibly the mechanical training served well after all. John lived a colourful and full life having two children Peter and Adrian (deceased) passing away at 91 years of age in 2018. He is survived by his son Peter Jansson.