John Harcourt-Horsfield.
John Harcourt-Horsfield.
John  Harcourt-Horsfield
Artist, host, family man
11-9-1942 — 8-12-2013

Generous host and cook, successful businessman, gifted self-taught painter, skilled multi-instrument musician - John Harcourt-Horsfield could never be accused of being one-dimensional.
The relaxed and sprawling home John and his wife Heather built on the shores of Lake Eildon showcased all of John's talents and passions. Their many guests could peruse John's diverse artworks, enjoy a feast and after dinner John might take up his guitar or banjo and lead a sing-along.
John was at his happiest attacking a vast array of ingredients in the house's small kitchen to produce sumptuous themed feasts for any number of family and friends (all the while downing a whiskey or two and holding forth on the events of the day).
Preceding dinner, cocktail hour might be on ''Johnny's Booze Barge'' on the lake, or perhaps at the ''kitsch cocktail bar'' he constructed on the outdoor deck, one of the many humorous touches he added to the cedar cabin he and Heather built in 1976.
John's creativity and zeal for life bubbled up in so many ways - from friendly culinary challenges, like his ''Sausage Roll Bakeoff'', to the lakeside petanque court he built for hosting elaborate and keenly contested tournaments.
Born in South Melbourne, John was the second son of Corrie and Wilbur. He inherited creative flair from his father, a self-employed signwriter. John first found full-time employment in the signwriting business but was also writing the ''sheets'' for the local South Melbourne bookmakers, riding the back lanes on his bicycle.
John moved on to open Riverside Studios, where Crown Casino now stands, a Melbourne advertising agency producing television commercials, film production and graphic and print media. As creative and company director, John went on to own many successful businesses throughout the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s and was known as a generous, respected and well-loved employer. His major clients included Rowntree Hoadleys, Red Tulip, Bowater Scott, Rosella and SPC, and he maintained personal friendships with many clients long after they had retired.
But creative though John's professional life was, it was in semi-retirement at Lake Eildon, in Victoria's north-east, that his talents were fully unleashed. John taught himself to paint, producing works ranging across styles from pop art to abstract to impressionism. He used his works for community benefit - for example donating the powerful Black Saturday oil to the Country Fire Authority for fundraising posters - and also exhibited locally and online (thejohnharcourtartgallery.blogspot.com.au).
His musical talents also flourished. He taught himself to play the guitar, banjo, ukulele and lute. Even tin-eared guests would find themselves co-opted to the tambourine or the home-made tea-chest bass at John's post-dinner sing-alongs. His tastes spanned the spectrum from blues to folk.
His fun-loving nature and insatiable enthusiasm for life attracted friends from all age groups and backgrounds, who knew John as loyal and generous. John and Heather travelled the world many times but it was in Taylor Bay on Lake Eildon that John found his ''spiritual home''. The surrounding bushland inspired his creativity and the friendly community gave outlets for his professional and personal talents.
John and local business people were in the process of establishing Eildon Major Events when John passed away in December after a battle with skin cancer.
Heather, John's wife of 43 years, business partner, companion and confidant, was the great love of his life. Despite his diverse talents and successes John recently told a friend that his family was his greatest achievement. As well as Heather, John leaves behind four children, 10 grandchildren, his artist brother Ramon Horsfield and many friends who mourn him deeply. John's spirit endures in the creativity, enthusiasm and humour he inspired in family and friends.
Written with the assistance of the Harcourt-Horsfield family.
From the Harcourts: With thanks and love to Ingrid Svendsen (of Ingrid Svendsen & Associates), close family friend of John: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/ingrid-svendsen/19/3a2/a78