By Bev Jordan
The Hills Bowling Club at Baulkham Hills threw a special birthday lunch for their oldest member who was joined by the club’s other Life Members on Wednesday, March 12th,
Club President Ken Carroll congratulated Jack on his amazing milestone and was joined by Castle Hill State MP Mark Hodges, who presented Jack with a framed copy of the birthday wishes he delivered in State Parliament. Hills Shire Michelle Byrne attended with Deputy Mayor Clr Frank de Masi and Clr Reena Jethi and also congratulated Jack on his milestone.
Jack was born near the wharf in Brougham St at Woolloomooloo but his father’s lungs were damaged by mustard gas while serving in World War I and so the family moved to drier premises at Kurmond when Jack was 3 years old.
His father never really regained his full health and died when Jack was 14. “I had to leave school and go to work because my mum had 5 children to bring up during The Depression,” Jack said.
He joined the Department of Agriculture as a messenger boy at 14 and passed the public service exam at the age of 16.
During World War 2 he worked in manufacturing as part of the war effort despite several attempts to enlist. In 1943 he married the love of his life, Violet, who he met at work. They had two children, Paul and Christine, Jack was an expert in metal finishing and electroplating and was President of the Sydney branch of the American Electroplaters’ Society and was on the executive of The Australian Institute of Surface Finishing.
A keen golfer before he became a lawn bowler, Jack actually played against The Baulkham Hills Team with his local Merrylands Club before moving to live in Baulkham Hills.
He is a past secretary of the Parramatta District Lawn Bowls Association and became a Zone selector.
He was 97 when he played his last game of bowls and 102 when he voluntarily relinquished his driving licence.
“I passed my road test and had my licence until I was 103 but I decided to give it in.”
His life advice is: “Be responsible for your actions, own them and be accountable.”
He says he has been very fortunate to have wonderful family support from his son Paul and his wife Helen and daughter Christine and her husband Ken.
He has five grandchildren, 10 great grandchildren and has welcomed his fifth generation with the birth of great, great grandson, Dalton who is now 7 months old.
For Hills Bowling Club members he is “Gentleman Jack” who has a long lifetime of stories to share… such as witnessing the opening of Sydney Harbour Bridge in 1932 and watching the ”spectacular fireworks” and how his team once beat Baulkham Hills Bowling Club’s hot four.
