John was initially an angry father, but Withington thought that the character would not last if he continued that way, so began portraying him as "funny and very human".

The character was married to school principal Gina Austin (Sonia Todd) and they fostered Jett James (Will McDonald).

[1] The character was said to be a "strict father to his stepson" Trey Palmer (Luke Bracey), and a member of the surf lifesaving club.

He later told Holly Richards from The West Australian that he was content in remaining part of the cast because he had the chance to work on a daily basis.

[3] "John Palmer is a loveable larrikin, he likes to think he is a capable handyman, but an electrician he is not, which was highlighted when he blew up the fuse box on Indi and Romeo's opening night of the Gym.

However he has tried his hand at a few things, running for council, managing the Juice Bar and working as a Surf Life Saver.

"A writer for Channel 5 described John as having "his hand in a number of the town's prized pies: a member of the surf lifesaving club, he was first elected to the local council and then bought the gym.

[1] Art director Marianne Evans has revealed that she enjoys working Withington because he brings a "natural style" to the role.

[6] In May 2011, Michael Idato writing for The Sydney Morning Herald reported that Grant Dodwell had been cast as Gary O'Connor, the boss of the Mangrove River surf club.

The predicament becomes more difficult when John lies to Gina about spending an evening spent drinking with Marilyn Chambers (Emily Symons).

[3] Withington told Erin Miller from TV Week that Gina thinks that Marilyn is after John, despite his protests that she is wrong.

Home and Away publicity told a reporter from Inside Soap that "while it's true that Gina's sad passing wasn't all that long ago, John's been given a second chance at love - so he's going to grab it with both hands.

When John insults Romeo Smith (Luke Mitchell) one day, Mink Carpenter (Matylda Buczko) punches him.

A few weeks later Romeo's mother, Jill Carpenter (Josephine Mitchell), arrives in town and she and John have a brief relationship.

John begins a relationship with Gina Austin (Sonia Todd), which makes her son, Xavier (David Jones-Roberts) unhappy.

Sasha Bezmel (Demi Harman) enters the Austin house for shelter, finding John unconscious on the floor.

Marilyn Chambers and Roo Stewart (Georgie Parker) get annoyed with his laziness and they convince Gina to take him back.

Gina tricks John and Jett into talking to school counsellor, Natalie Davison (Catherine Mack-Hancock).

John was not happy when Chris told him that Josh Barrett (Jackson Gallagher) spray-painted a mural on the wall of the Surf Club for his girlfriend, Evelyn MacGuire (Philippa Northeast).

Jett, Marilyn and the residents of the Bay thought it was nice, but John and Chris disagrees and attempts to clean it off.

Skye told John that she ran away from home because her mother, Carol was abusing her and blaming her for the death of her other daughter, Lisa.

Nate Cooper (Kyle Pryor, his fiancee Ricky Sharpe (Bonnie Sveen) and her son, Casey moved into John's house.

John learns Skye is dating Tank Snelgrove (Reece Milne), the boy who kidnapped Evelyn and punched Josh.

After Hunter King (Scott Lee) fails his Bronze Medallion test, he smashes John's radio.

He sets the bush alight during the Summer Grooves music festival, and the smoke contributes to Billie Ashford's (Tessa de Josselin) early death.

During visiting hours, a fellow inmate sexually harasses Marilyn, and John starts a fight in retaliation.

As Marilyn tries to make many with selling her product it becomes harder when the company doesn't take her calls and ignores her to the point boxes pile up.

Marilyn who is staying at Irene's house has a brick thrown threw the window as John was keeping her company.

[12] A columnist for the Western Mail was left unimpressed when John's attitude towards April Scott's (Rhiannon Fish) recycling plans.

They stated: "Just when we had started to put all our doubts about John Palmer to one side and were beginning to believe that he'd turned over a new leaf he goes and shows us where his selfish priorities really lie.