By CAMERON LUCADOU-WELLS
SPRINGVALE’S John Beus was all but canonised in inspiring words at his funeral service at St Joseph’s Catholic Church in Springvale last week.
His son Alf told the packed church of family, parishioners, police, politicians and representatives of the Embassy of The Netherlands that his father had a ‘‘real empathy for the battler and bleeder’’.
His generous deeds were compared to those of Australia’s only canonised saint, Saint Mary of the Cross MacKillop.
Like St Mary, he tirelessly lobbied governments for more help for the underprivileged and to bridge the gap between the ‘haves’ and ‘have nots’ — and he more than backed up his words with deeds. ‘‘It was his greatest passion,’’ Alf said.
A significant turn in Mr Beus’s life was when the Nazi Germany occupied his native Holland during World War II.
Mr Beus fought in the Dutch Resistance against the occupation and its attempt to exterminate Jews, Gypsies, the disabled, and the Nazis’ other political, social and religious enemies.
He met his late wife Ann, a nurse whose displaced family lived a ‘‘gypsy-like’’ lifestyle but still assisted hundreds of displaced and mentally-scarred people.
Mr Beus’s wartime plight of being without proper clothes, food and shelter shaped his outlook, as did arriving in Springvale in 1950 with two suitcases, Ann and two children but no friends nor means of employment.
He then became a shining light for many waves of migrants and people hit by hard times. In addition to becoming a shilled window dresser, he helped set up the Springvale Benevolent Society and continued his involvement in its 50-year history up until two weeks ago.
He and Ann set up the state’s second Vinnies shop, a migrant resource centre, and Forsythe House — a home for young offenders.
He knew physical suffering as well — he had lost an eye and broke his spine in accidents.
Alf praised his father’s skill as a window dresser, who had lost an eye and broke his spine in serious accidents.
‘‘John could never admit that Australia was better than Holland. He regarded Dutch soccer as the superior ball sport in the world … but I suppose he was one-eyed.’’
A ‘‘man of unquestionable faith’’, Mr Beus combined up to four jobs, work for the Liberal Party and his devotion to St Joseph’s parish for 63 years.
He was named one of Greater Dandenong’s living treasures in 2005. His other awards included Greater Dandenong’s senior citizen of the year, the City of Springvale Award, a Paul Harris Fellowship from the Rotary Club of Noble Park in 1999 and a Medal of the Order of Australia in 2000.
He was known for the ‘‘selfless unconditional love for everyone he came in contact with’’. He was often ‘‘taken advantage by those he cared for’’ but his passion didn’t waver, Alf said.
Chief of all in Mr Beus’s life was his family, Alf said. Mr Beus’s 10 grandchildren laid emblems representing his life at the church altar, such as an image of a the Dutch village, Amersfoort, his cap, a clog and his coffee mug.
Father Pat Moroney in his homily said saints were not just those hanging on the church wall but those who ‘‘live the faith’’.
Mr Beus lived the Sermon of the Mount and found God in the ‘‘pots and pans of daily life’’, Fr Moroney said.
He said Mr Beus had been ‘‘absolutely alive for all his days’’.
After Mass last Sunday week and two hours before suffering the aneurism that led to his death, Mr Beus had enjoyed a dinner at his favourite Vietnamese restaurant with his family.
He died in hospital the next day surrounded by 30 of his closest family.
‘‘He was a man of great integrity and great love,’’ Fr Moroney said. ‘‘The ‘losers in life’ were all friends to John Beus.’’
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