When Ron "Jacko" Jackson was born in 1921, life expectancy for males was about 60.
In showing how much has changed in the past century, Ron will turn 100 on Wednesday.
The milestone will be celebrated on Thursday at Hamilton North Bowling Club, where Ron is an active player.
Ron said his secret to longevity was exercise. He still exercises every day.
"I don't like to be sitting on my backside, I'd rather be doing something," Ron said.
He's a sport lover, especially baseball, cricket, tennis, golf and - of course - lawn bowls.
Asked how he feels about turning 100, he said: "I don't feel any different to when I was 80 actually".
"I'm trying to forget about it actually. Trying is the operative word. I can't remember ever knowing a man who's reached 100."
He said thinking positive and forward planning were good ways to live.
Asked about the meaning of life, he said: "It's not worth worrying about unless you're enjoying it".
Ron was in the Australian military from August 1941 to March 1946, serving in World War II in the Middle East and Papua New Guinea.
He left school at age 14 to work on the land in Griffith.
"I had to get a job before my mother would let me leave," he said.
He recalled earning "10 bob a week, tucker and a bed".
He worked in Narromine from 1953 and stayed there until he retired in 1981.
Working on the land, he said, "was the only life, I thought, for family".
"And that's what I did."
A Small World
Margaret Saunders, of Waratah West, answered the door to a delivery of a box of fruit.
The delivery came from An Apple a Day, a business in Mayfield.
Margaret read the card. It was a wedding anniversary present from George and Maureen in Dundee in Scotland, long-time friends of Margaret and her husband Fred.
"So Margaret is thinking after she had read the card, how did George and Maureen know about An Apple a Day? It's a small business our grandson Caleb and his wife Shereen run from their home in Mayfield," Fred said.
"We had not told them in Dundee about the business."
So Margaret rang George and Maureen to thank them for the gift and ask whether they knew about the family connection to the business.
"The folk in Dundee had checked the net for places in or near Waratah," Fred said.
They found a place, but it wasn't doing much work because of COVID-19.
"They said An Apple a Day in Mayfield was near Waratah West and might be able to help."
The folks in Dundee got through to Shereen. They hadn't mentioned any names when Shereen said, "Are you talking about Margaret and Fred Saunders?"
"It is a small world," Fred said.
"The folk in Dundee have been friends for almost 60 years. They must think we are known all over Australia."
Weed Problem
This also from Fred Saunders: "Just found this in the International Express newspaper".
"The new president of the Royal Horticultural Society is a Mr Keith Weed."
Keith must be no fan of weeds, but we imagine he does like his family.
