Bob, 89, feels the breeze under his kilt with bucket list skydive

Aged care resident Bob ticked skydiving off his bucket list with a jump from 15,000 feet with Yarra Valley Drop Zone this week – and he’s planning his next bucket list item!

A proud Scotsman, he made the leap in a kilt and accompanied by Allity Lilydale Lifestyle Coordinator, Maureen.

An ex-Armourman for the Royal Air Force, Bob is no stranger to heights and was certain about what was top of the list when Maureen approached him for bucket list wishes.

“I was in the Royal Air Force many years ago and I was in a bomb disposal unit in Malaysia,” Bob said.  

“Before I was sent out there, I had to do some jumps and we did them out of balloons at 5,000 feet – I was 21 then and I’m now 89.

“When Maureen asked me, I thought why not – I still to this day remember the thrill of jumping.”

Bob admits to being “a bit apprehensive” before the jump.

“But it was tremendous, I really enjoyed it!” he said. “Once we started coming down the person who was carrying me kept me well informed.

“I think I might add something else to my bucket list now!”

Of his decision to jump in a kilt, Bob said “it was a bit cool”.

“But I’ve been involved in pipe bands since I was 10 years old, I was a drummer in pipe bands.

“I came out to Australia with my wife and family in 1960 and I am an Australian citizen, but I’m still a Scotsman at heart!”

Maureen said she looked forward to working with Bob on his next bucket list plans.

“I wanted to bring the bucket list to Lilydale and had been talking to a few residents about things that interest them,” she said. “I asked Bob what he had done before and he said he had done skydiving so we thought that’s what we will do.”

Taking commitment to her work to new heights, Maureen accompanied Bob on the leap.

“We also have a group having a sleepover at the zoo and others who want to ride on the back of a motorbike, so we are working through everyone’s wish lists,” she said.