By Luke Voogt
After losing a toe and surviving prostate cancer and leukaemia this year, John Bartlett’s luck is finally turning around.
The Grovedale pensioner was one of the five final winners of the Indy’s Talkin’ Turkey competition.
“You bloody beauty!” the stoked 73-year-old said on Monday.
“Are there cooking instructions on this turkey? It’s pretty big.”
John had just recovered from prostate cancer and was in remission for leukaemia when he spoke to the Indy’s Christmas correspondent.
But that and losing another toe to diabetes earlier this year failed to dim his festive spirit.
“Now I’ve only got two toes on one foot,” he said.
“Everybody has tough years – but I’m good as gold now. Waking up every morning is a bonus.”
The turkey was one of several recent wins for John, said wife Anne, who submitted his entry.
“He hasn’t been terribly well. He will be so rapt with this because he’s never won anything and now he’s had a couple of wins this month.
“He was poring over the Indy for two hours last week. This week he said ‘I’ll have another go’.”
John won a ham, lunch and cash at St Cuthbert’s Adopt a Family raffle after bringing a ute full of toys and food to the Grovedale church.
“He cleaned up on the spinning wheels,” Anne said. “But he bought a lot of tickets – he’s a generous supporter of the appeal.”
John and Anne will join their children and grandchildren in Highton for Christmas.
“I’ll be supplying the turkey,” John said.
Last week’s turkeys were in the advertisements of Cash Stop, Joker Shoppe, Cellarbrations, 1 Fish, 2 Fish and Bob Jane T-Marts.
