John O’Neill Moran was always known in his family as Jack. He was born at Bondi on 10th November 1917 to Leonard and Agnes Josephine Moran (nee O’Nem). After Agnes’ death, Leonard Moran later married Mary Thecla Walz.
Other members of the family are Patricia (Mrs Frisch), Leonard Jnr, Sheila (Sister Cecilia RSM), Marie (Mrs Burns), Clement, Gre-gory FMS, Mary (Sister Mary RSM), Margaret (Mrs Parry) and Frances (Sister Frances RSM). Jack never married.
Jack attended Northbridge Convent School, and at the age of 11 won the first State Bursary from that school, after which he attended the local school conducted by the Sisters of St Joseph. He completed his education at St Aloysius College Milson’s Point (1930-1935) where he gained the Leaving Certificate.
Writing in the Aloysian, the chronicle of the College, a classmate, Bill Norrie, says that Jack was a “reserved character… and a deep reader of almost universal taste. His often unexpected but nevertheless authori-tative knowledge on divers aspects of science, literature, history or what-you-will at times truly astounded and occasiona!!y brought on himself some secretly envious banter from the less well-informed. John was an extremely likeable fellow and his erudition was forgiven at the sight of his quiet smile and the characteristic inclination of his head. He enjoyed to the full that less spectacular kind of popularity that is born of qualities gradually appreciated and worth a great deal more that the more easily captured popular fancy.
He entered the public service with the NSW Justice Departm and served at a number of North Coast Court Houses, including Casino, Murwillumbah, Grafton, Lismore, Maclean and Coffs Harbour. His school friend Bill Norrie visited hlm several times at Lismore and again at Grafton, and “found him quietly enjoying life in the country, pursuing his favourite hobby of photography and his study of social problems, interest in which was maintained by experience arising from his work”.
Jack was about 6 feet tall (183cms) and of a thin build, a gentle and studious giant. He had grey eyes, a fair complexion and dark brown hair. He was an exemplary Catholic, belonging to the St Vincent de Paul Society, the Holy Name Sodality and the Hibernian Society. He was in Sydney for some six months in 1940 and was a keen member of the Campion Society whose study groups gave him ample opportunity for developing his ideas and widening his knowledge.
He enlisted from Murwillumbah in July 1941 joining the AAMC where he became a private in the 2/12th Field Ambulance. With his unit he served for a time at Tamworth, Darwin and Wollongong before em-barking on the voyage that was to end so tragically.
In Sydney to board the Centaur he was met by several of his school friends who remarked: “while very much the man, he was still the same shy, unspoiled Johnny who could tell you the distance to the nearest star or the name of Aristotle’s last work.
The Aloysian states that “of his activities in the army we have heard little, but we know that his service would be marked by the unassuming cheerfulness and devotion to detail that were characteristic of him.” Jack was 25 years old.
The Moran Medal for Courage – Centaur Primary School.
In the early 2000s Jack’s memory, the family instituted the Moran Medal for Courage, Cenatur Primary School, Banora Point, NSW. Each year on Foundation Day in October the medal is presented by Sr Mary and Frances Moran to a child from each class who has exhibited courage in facing the challenges of learning and life.