Yarrawonga identity John Dunstan OAM turned 100-years-of-age last Sunday and celebrated the huge milestone in fine style over the weekend, including a special day at ClubMulwala with family and friends Saturday. John is pictured here with his two daughters, Ann and Jan, and son Peter, to help celebrate the hugely special day.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Love to and by family members, and beliefs instilled early have been key ingredients in Yarrawonga resident John Dunstan OAM reaching his huge milestone 100th birthday last Sunday.
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Some 70 family members and friends joined him last Saturday at ClubMulwala to celebrate his huge milestone birthday over a delicious two-course lunch.
“I never, ever thought I would reach 100 without the love given to me,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
With three figures on it, John Dunstan OAM blows out the candles on his birthday cake.
“I was married to my wonderful wife Joyce for 68 years. I have three children, Ann, Jan and Peter making me as proud as punch, seven grandchildren and 15 great grandchildren. All have made something of themselves – I’m so proud of all of them.”
John met the love of his life while living in Ballarat. “Joy was a very keen dancer. This girl fascinated me – she was a beautiful dancer,” he said. They married on July 7, 1951.
Born on February 26, 1923 in Ballarat as Stanley John Dunstan and known as John (Stanley being a family name), the young boy rode his bike while attending Golden Point State School No. 1493 which had the motto ‘Only The Best Is Good Enough’. Then it was off to Ballarat Junior Tech before the School of Mines.
“Back in those days our job was to look after the old and we were brought up by the golden rule ‘do unto others as you would have done unto yourself’,” he said.
There was also the saying to young John, by a grandparent, that children ‘should be seen and not heard’. With the messages in those 1930 circa days, the overriding belief was to be as good a community person as one can possibly be.
Enlisting with the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) in World War 2 in the Australian Defence Force (ADF) at age 18-years, John became an electrical fitter/gunner in World War 2, being in the thick of action overseas in the South Pacific. He worked on the Catalinas and is a foundation member of the Catalina Club.
Upon discharge, he studied and became an electrical engineer with Australian General Electric (AGE) and much later ran the electrical division at Gilbert Lodge in Carnegie.
“Gunner, Catalina pilot, RSL Life Member, OAM, debonaire man about town, John, you’ve done it all!” current co-vice president and past president of Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub-Branch Ian Summers said in a speech on Saturday.
“I’ve known John for some 30 years upon my arrival here. He was one of the stalwarts then and still is. He’s a legend here at the RSL.
“He joined the Ballarat RSL Sub-Branch in 1941 then the Mornington Peninsula – Rosebud, Rye and Dromana Sub-Branches.”
John and Joyce’s daughters, Ann Bumbers (Corowa) and Jan Gibbs (Melbourne), and son Peter of Yarrawonga loved the special occasion. Jan was Master of Ceremonies while Anne spoke on behalf of the trio, expressing the love and pride they have for their Dad, “who was such a good husband, and is such a good father, pa, grandpa and great grandpa”.
John was surrounded by many family and friends for his 100th birthday celebration at ClubMulwala on Saturday.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
“Dad’s been through wars, the Depression, helping to develop Australia and facing life’s challenges,” Ann said. “It’s been an amazing life.”
The star of the show said he was so appreciative of the organizational skills of MC Jan and the love he’s received from all family members.
“Thank you all who have come here today – many from long distances – and to all for contributing to make this day so special to me,” John said.
At RSL Sub-Branch Rosebud, John joined forces with Mick Loughrey from Rye’s RSL to make visits to hospitals to talk to war comrades.
It was in his thirties when John taught himself to play golf, advancing to a handicap of eight and achieving three-holes-in-one in competition golf at Cape Schanck where he was club captain for three years from the late 1970s.
Yarrawonga in 1999 resuming his passions
After retirement, John and Joyce moved from the Mornington Peninsula to Yarrawonga in 1999 where John immediately became actively involved in resuming his two passions - the Returned Services League (RSL) and golf.
Mick Loughrey, then John, moved to Yarrawonga to establish and run the visitation program to the hospital.
“For 19 years he was the hospital visitation officer in the RSL. John’s been very good to the RSL. He’s been quite outstanding,” close friend Stan Clarke OAM told the Yarrawonga Chronicle.
“John was a mentor in respect of the nine hole golfers. He’s been captain at Cape Schanck, he’d been to school to learn all rules and implementation and became highly versed in procedures.”
So active in both fields for many decades John, in 1996 was awarded the Order of Australia Medal (OAM) for service to the community.
Made a Life Member of Yarrawonga Mulwala RSL Sub-Branch in 2010, and synonymous with the Nine Holers at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort, John said he was pleasantly surprised with the announcement.
“I’m deeply honoured, it’s a wonderful surprise. I never, ever thought of anything like this. You never, ever look for kudos,” he told the Yarrawonga Chronicle at the time.
“There have been many wonderful volunteers who have helped me in my roles over the years.”
John has great admiration for people such as close mates Stan, and Andrew Spilva OAM whom he said, studied and worked so hard, achieved so much and made excellent contributions in life.
Life Member at Yarrawonga Mulwala Golf Club Resort Alex MacKenzie described John as “a delightful person and forthright with good means”. “John has been great as an achiever in his day. Congratulations on his life and being great to the golf club,” the 94-year-old said.
For nearly seven years, John has resided in aged care facility Warrina Hostel. Ward Clerk Sue Daw said she has had the pleasure of getting to know the Room 20 resident who “is very proud of achieving this milestone”.
“I often have chats with John on how things have progressed over the last 100 years and talked about his early days,” Sue said.
“He has also been an advocate on aged care issues and does not hesitate to give his opinions on things he would like to change.
“I have always found John to be kind and thoughtful in my dealings with him.”
John’s room at Warrina Hostel proudly contains memorabilia of immediate and wider family members, war service and sporting achievements.
Last week, the congratulatory cards came flooding in, including those from His Majesty the King, Australian Governor-General David Hurley, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Federal Member for Nicholls, Sam Birrell and State Member for Ovens Valley Tim McCurdy.
A card from Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh includes the words: “Through efforts such as yours, we have gained a proud heritage of courage, endurance and service.” That’s John Dunstan OAM to a tee.
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