User:Jf2hall

The Origin of HALL
Johnathan Francis Hall, known to his close friends as Jack, was born in Lyon, France on the 26th of May, 1988. The son of 2 Australian expats, Basil and Gayle Hall, Jack was the second child, but the first male. Despite being child number 2, Jack was clearly the favorite from birth, indeed Basil was heard to remark that he had "never been prouder" than in the instant his first male heir was born.

The Early Years
While still only young, Jack seemed to mature faster than other children, and learnt at an accelerated rate. At the young and tender age of 3, following the advice of leading French Child behaviorist, Dr. Pierre Giroud, who recognized Jacks potential to become a child prodigy, He was one of the most amazing 3 year olds i have ever encountered, Basil and Gayle, both lovers of classical music, decided to enroll Jack in piano Lessons. Jack took to the piano like a duck to water, and by the age of 5 was beginning to master concerto's by such famed composers as Mozart and Chopin.

Despite Jack's emerging talent and love for playing classical piano, he began to develop an interest in many other activities as well. Basil, as well as being an employee of the Australian diplomatic corps. in France, was also a keen naturalist, and on weekends could be found walking throughout the French countryside, exploring the wonders of the natural world. Perhaps due to his great love of his favored child Basil would frequently take Jack with him on these expeditions. These walks with his father would shape Jack's later life to a very large degree, as he always maintained his interest in the natural world and perhaps as a result of his early walking, Jack also has always maintained his body in peak physical fitness and shape.

The Homecoming
When Jack was 5, however, he was uprooted from his idealistic French lifestyle, as his family moved back to Australia. The reason for this move was that Jack's mother, Gayle, had been offered a position in the Northern Territory Governments department of transportation, and Basil had been offered a similar position, only with the Northern Territory Government's department of Indigenous welfare.

For most children such a move would have proved traumatic, however Jack displayed one of his most advantageous gifts from just the tender age of 5, his ability to adapt to any new situation and challenge. Indeed his only concern was that he would be able to find someone to continue to instruct him in what was fast becoming Jack's first and most abiding love, classical piano playing.

Tragedy
Jack was enrolled at the Darwin p - 12 public school for the first 6 years of his schooling. As expected, his natural intelligence and abilities only served to help him make friends, and Jack's grade 1 teacher, Mrs. Jillian Downie, remembers him being "the most popular boy in his year, with friends who were years older than him, but were simply in awe of his vast range of talents." . Jack's primary school music teacher was also in awe of him, and remembers asking him to play piano at all primary school concerts during his tenure at the school. Indeed his piano playing was progressing so fast that by 8 years old he was already beginning to tackle the most difficult piano concerto of them all, Rachmaninoff's 5th.

However,at the age of 9, on the 11th of June, 1987, just 16 days after his birthday tragedy struck. Jack was sailing with a friends and hi family in the Darwin harbor, when his left hand became caught in the anchor chain of the boat. The resulting injury severed Jacks thumb and first 3 fingers at the top knuckle joint. While doctors were able to surgically reattach all but the joint from Jacks index finger, his piano playing days were done, and the light was dimmed on what can only be described as the most talented of child piano player's careers.

Moving On
After his accident, with no possibility of a future as a classical piano player, Jack had no choice but to channel his energies and exceptional talents into some other activity. Jack decided to persue a different avenuse to his former piano interests, and began athletics. At almost the same time Jack played his first game of junior football, for the East Darwin Stallions, in their under 12's team. At the end of his first season at the club Jack won the vote count as the under 12's club best and fairest, and came runner-up in the league best and fairest, quite an accompishment for a first year player.

As the years went on Jack continued to play football and compete in athletics. By the age of 12 Jack was representing the Northern Territory in their under 13 representitive football squad, and was considered to be one of the best players in the squad. In one game against the Victorian metro representitive team he had 32 possessions and kicked 3 goals playing on the wing. Meanwhile his athletic prowess was developing at the same pace. In his school athletic carnival Jack broke school records in the 400, 800 and 1500 metre races.

The road to a National Championship
After his school athletics wins, Jack realised that he enjoyed the longer distance races more and more, and began to compete in longer distance races. As a result of this Jack soon came to the attention of the Darwin Triathlete Club. After training with the club Jack began to compete in loca triathlons, and while he initially struggled with getting results, he found that he relished the gruleing nature of traithlon compitition. Once Jack decided to devote his considerable athletic prowess to triathlons the results soon started coming in, and within 2 years he was the Northern territory's under 15 champion triathlete. The same year he came second in the national triathlon championships. While being pleased with the result, second was not a position he was used to, and Jack left the nationals vowing to better his performance by one place the next year. After a year of solid training, Jack returned to the national triathlon championships and emerged as the under 16's national champion. He backed up this result by matching it the following year and winning the under 17 championship.

School and Football
Due to his parents both being government employees and civil servants there was lots of focus on Jack's academic performance too!