John Chambers passes aged 87, remembered for decades of volunteer work across Wagga

Mr Chambers, who was known to most as 'Johnny', worked as a commercial printer at The Daily Advertiser for 25 years, but his list of voluntary efforts require the most ink, with his hand reaching out to many local not-for-profits throughout his life.

As co-founder of Chambers and Whyte painting and design in 1977, he was well known for providing charities with raffle tickets and other resources free of charge for more than 30 years.

The business was initially a gamble, and to continue providing for his wife and six children, he had mortgaged the family home, while working part-time as a shoe salesman, and bartending at the RSL - where he always "loved a beer and a punt".

Yet, the struggle to make ends meet never deterred Mr Chambers from helping his community.

Mr Chambers' son, Chris, said his father was always wise with advice, whether you wanted to hear it or not, instilling the message that "no one is better than anyone else" to his children.

"He was such a good community person ... and he was a good father," Chris said.

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He played an instrumental role in erecting vital facilities across Wagga, such as the Lilier Lodge cancer patient and family accommodation centre, and the Edel Quinn homeless support service for men.

He was an active member of the local Cancer Council committee, St Vincent de Paul Society, and was a long-term contributor to the South Wagga Rotary Club.

His decades of voluntary work were later recognised by Rotary International, where he received the organisation's highest honour, the Paul Harris Fellowship, and in 2010 he was the proud recipient of Wagga's citizen of the year award.

Quoted in The Daily Advertiser 11 years ago, Mr Chambers said he had "always tried to do something for the community" and was thankful to receive the "wonderful award".

Later in life, he and his wife Patricia retired to Settlers Village, where Mr Chambers continued volunteering his time to organise activities for residents such as barbecues.

Mr Chambers and his brother Raymond worked beside each other at the newspaper, with the family recalling a long history of relatives working at The Daily Advertiser.

Raymond said his older sibling had always displayed a "heart of gold", becoming the patriarch of the family as a teenager following the death of their father.

"He had the responsibility of looking after mum and becoming a father figure to me when we really didn't have any money," he said.

John Chambers' funeral will be held at St Michael's Cathedral on Friday at 1.45pm, followed by a private burial service attended by family.

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