Party king of candles

By Monique Ebrington
WARBURTON resident John King needed three 90th birthday parties to accommodate all the friends and family he’s acquired over almost a century.
Mr King, a talented sportsman in his younger years, was joined by former teammates, his wife of 60 years Marie, family and friends who celebrated his birthday with him on Thursday 9 April.
Born and bred in East Burwood, Mr King played football for his local team before being recruited to Hawthorn Football Club in the early 1940s.
There he quickly earned a reputation as a tough and determined player and person, winning a best first (senior) player award and consecutive best-and-fairest trophies.
In 1945 a serious leg injury forced him to retire from Hawthorn, but he continued his love of the game and became a valuable player to several other teams in East Burwood.
He played for East Burwood, Mount Waverley and Scoresby and earned a place in the Team of the Century for East Burwood and Scoresby Football Clubs.
In 1960 when his family moved to Wandin, Mr King coached the local football team, the Wandin Seniors.
Mr King would take time from his work as a market-gardening flower grower to fill his summer months playing cricket. At one stage he played on the same team as his two sons.
His daughter Glenda Towan said both her parents passed their love of sport down to their four children.
Mr King was still able to squeeze in time for music, singing and restoring a 1949 Oldsmobile car.