Growing up in the country town of Beaudesert, life was ideal for Jan Took. With family and extended family all in the same town, there was a strong sense of community. Before becoming Adventists, tennis and ballroom dancing were favourite pastimes.
Faith became a central part of life when the family joined the Adventist Church, and Jan’s grandfather even donated the land for the local church.
Jan completed her education up to Year 10 at Beaudesert State High School before finishing at Salisbury State High. She then trained as a teacher, embarking on a career that led her to teach in several state high schools.
After meeting Jeff, they married and had two daughters, Jillian and Shelley. Now, they are proud grandparents to five grandchildren.
As foundation members of the Springwood Seventh-day Adventist Church, the church has played a significant role in their lives. When asked to teach at Brisbane Adventist High School (now BAC), Jan initially agreed "until they found somebody else." Twenty-four years later, it became clear that they had never found a replacement, and she eventually retired.
Springwood Church remains her cherished spiritual home, continuing to be a place of faith, connection, and community.
