No-one could call Johhno Austin’s life boring and despite claiming he’s moved to Tamborine Mountain for a quiet life he doesn’t seem to be slowing down.
After getting expelled at 14 from Melbourne’s prestigious Hailebury College, instead of getting a job in MacDonald’s like many teenagers he began making coffins.
“My Dad said if I couldn’t get a job I was going back to school and I didn’t want to, so I got a job making coffins and did theatre and stage work at night,” he revealed.
“Going through puberty while confronting death was pretty crazy.”
At just 17 he was offered a job opportunity working for a computer company and moved to Istanbul.
A year later Johnno returned to Australia and got back into stage work, touring with some of the world’s biggest artists including Michael Jackson and U2 and building stands for the Australian Grand Prix and the birdcage at Flemington racetrack.
“I’ve owned about 20 businesses including fitting out the Myer Christmas windows and P&O cruise ships then I moved into set construction for movies including several of Steven Spielberg’s movies,” he said.
Over the years Johnno worked his way up in the industry, becoming highly regarded and in a position to spend time with big stars.
“I got to know a lot of the artists personally. When you are touring you become family. I got higher and higher in the industry and built some of the biggest shows in the world,” he said.
“It’s quite daunting but in my 20s it was quite exciting hanging around with big names, but that lifestyle takes its toll.
“It was pretty hectic. Back in those days all the gear was big heavy gear. There would be about 50 semi-trailers we’d have to unload for each show, with up to 100 crew. There is a lot that goes into these big stadium shows.
“Some days you’d do 20 hour days sleep for four hours and then go to the airport and do it all again.”
Last year alone work took him around Australia 16 times.
Robbie Williams was one of his favourite artists, whom Johnno described as “a really genuine guy”.
“Three years after working with him he still remembered who I was,” Johnno recalled.
“Michael Bublé is an absolute legend; looks after his crew really well.
“There are rules and regulations. Like you are not allowed to make eye contact with them when they are going on to stage, but the majority of them are pretty down to earth.”
Johnno’s life has been so wild it sparked the imagination of author Tara Moss who featured him in her book The Hit as the character Body.
“A lot of my life story is in that book, from when I was making coffins in the day and doing stage shows at night,” Johnno revealed, adding, “there are a lot of things I can’t tell you.”
Now, at 53, he has retired from the industry and 18 months ago moved from Airlie Beach for a quiet life on Tamborine Mountain.
“The industry sends you a bit kookoo. I’ve lost a lot of friends in the industry. It’s not for the faint hearted being in a touring lifestyle. I’ve been craving a normal life. I think we all know our cut off point,” he admitted.
“To still be here is a plus for me.”
While travelling up and down the coast and living in his van looking for a place to renovate, he found the perfect spot on the mountain.
“I absolutely love it. It’s the best place I’ve lived, and I’ve lived all around the world. This is by far my happiest place in the world,” Johnno said.
“It’s the perfect climate, the community is amazing and I feel at home for the first time in 30 years.
“I have lived in a lot of places but there is such an eclectic bunch of people here. I’ve met a lot of characters up here. There is a lot of diversity with the people up here and they are my kind of people.
“Some really talented artists and for me it’s like being in heaven.”
Despite claiming he’s trying to calm his life down a bit, Johnno has set up Mountain Man Handyman Services, Swirldog ice-cream van and Uber – driving around the mountain.
“I want to help the community. I am helping the elderly to make their houses safe with my handyman business.
“It gives you a feel-good thing,” he said.
“I’ve been fortunate to have an amazing life and It’s my way of giving back. I enjoy being a part of a community and being able to help people.”
Settling down on the mountain also means getting to spend more time with his beloved companion, Casper.
“I don’t have kids so for me he’s like my best mate,” Johnno reflected.
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