Bill’s century of going with the flow

Joined by RSL and RAAF representatives, Bolton Clarke Westhaven residential aged care resident Clyde, better known as Bill, celebrated his 100^th birthday in style this month.

Surrounded by friends, family and even his bank manager, Bill joined the Centenarian Club over a special luncheon – a celebration that he didn’t think would ever come to fruition.

“Goodness no, I never thought I would live to 100. I thought whatever will be, will be – I’ll just go along with the flow,” Bill said.

Growing up on a farm in Dorrigo, NSW, Bill was one of 10 children and would travel to school by horseback. He helped his family grow fresh produce before starting his career in the Airforce as a young adult.

“Dad joined the Airforce when he was 20 and when the war was over in 1945, he came back to Williamtown Airbase in Newcastle,” daughter Dianne explained.

“They sent him to Jervis Bay in New South Wales for R&R and that was where he met his beautiful wife-to-be, our mum.

“Mum always tells us she was quite happy and thought he was lovely because he was in uniform for their first date and now, they’ll have been married for 75 years in June next year,” she said.

Bill attributes his good health and long life to always eating fresh food, quitting smoking when he retired and the early detection of potential health problems.

“We always had good fresh food because we grew our own fruit and vegetables,” Bill said.

“I did have a heart episode but my carer at the time, from Bolton Clarke, was the one who rang the Ambulance to take me to the hospital.

“They ended up giving me a pacemaker and that’s what I think helped my health because I thought I was alright, but they knew.”

Dianne says that her parent’s laidback approach to everything has let them live a happy and healthy life.

“Him and mum have always taken things as they’ve come. They haven’t stressed to the point of letting it get to them,” she said.