John's songs tell his story

And that's exactly what he has done with the release of his first CD Oasis Balladeers.

The CD is a compilation of country music hits formerly recorded by Hadley Studios, Tamworth, Request Recordings and Songbank Enterprises on the Gold Coast.

"I just felt it was time to put some of them together," John said of the seven recordings, all of which have won prizes in major song-writing competitions nationwide.

At last year's Tamworth festival John and "his mate" Sam Wheatley won a TSA (Tamworth Salute Award) for best novelty country song Inside A Woman's Handbag.

Last December John won two prizes in the Dubbo City Church's poetry competition.

The self-confessed "jack-of-all trades" said he writes from his own experiences.

"I could be just thinking about something ... anything at all. One word would do it."

John wrote My Old Jack Wieneki Saddle from his "rough riding, horse breaking days" and When I was a Shearer's Cook from the same.

"When I ended up on my own I moved around a lot," he said.

The long-time member of Orana Country Music Association started entering his work in competitions in 1990 and has since won plenty of accolades.

But it hasn't always been an easy road for the World War II veteran who has suffered many injuries and been in and out of hospital since 1946.

It was while lying in a Canberra hospital bed in 1972, after recovering from a heart attack, that his first ballad The Bushman's Reward was written.

The inspiration came after asking his dad (Tom Toomey) what his dying wish was.

"He said to me all he wanted was to die in the bush, the place he loved," John recalled.

Part of the proceeds from John's CD will go to the Royal Flying Doctor Service. Contact him on 6884 6528 for details.