Beaudesert councillor John Mann remembered for building Khmer schools for poor villagers

A former Beaudesert councillor has been fondly remembered as a family man who promoted multiculturalism and helped establish four schools in Cambodia.

Students outside one of the schools built by John Mann in Cambodia.

A former Beaudesert councillor has been fondly remembered as a family man who promoted multiculturalism and helped establish four schools in Cambodia.

Former Beaudesert Shire councillor John Mann died in Sydney at the weekend after a long illness.

He served as a councillor from 1997 to 2004, representing Division 3 which, at that time, extended from Rathdowney in the south, to Kooralbyn and Cedar Vale in the north.

He campaigned unsuccessfully for the mayoralty in 2004.

But constituents and those living in the new Scenic Rim Council area have paid tribute to the one-time actor who worked in England, New Zealand and Cambodia as a teacher, politician, nurse and philanthropist.

After a trip to Cambodia in 2008, Mr Mann realised a dire need for education in the area and the schools provided an education for 1300 children who attended classes every day in two shifts.

One of the villages that John Mann helped.

His ashes will be scattered in the Prey Veng Province in Cambodia, where he helped set up the first Beaudesert Rotary School in 2008.

That was followed by three more in the same region, thanks to the Beaudesert Rotary Club and his persistence and determination.

He often regaled family and friends, including his son, with his letters from Koh te Cho, a small village south of the capital Phnom Penh.

In a 2009 letter, he wrote: “We gave out uniforms and there’s a beautiful photo of four children the next morning about to set off for school at 6.30am,” he said.

“I didn’t comb their hair. Just look at the pride. One girl found a watch and a bangle. I cried when I saw these children. It was a good moment.”

His colourful life will be celebrated with a private cremation and, in accordance with his wishes.

Mr Mann’s family has asked that in lieu of flowers, anyone wishing to honour his memory should consider donating to educatingcambodia.com to pay teachers and bring resources to the village.