Des celebrates his 100th birthday last Thursday at ClubMulwala with sons Tim, Alan, Doctor Tania Jones who has cared for Des for many years and has the same last name but is no relation, and daughter Jenny.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
Being well cared for and a great sense of humour have been key ingredients in Yarrawonga resident Des Jones reaching his huge milestone 100th birthday last Thursday, May 4.
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Des was joined by family for birthday celebrations on both Thursday and Saturday nights at ClubMulwala with many stories from yesteryear shared.
Des was born in Brunswick, one of four children (three boys and a girl) and went to the Albert Park State School in his early years.
With his father being a musician in the theatre orchestra in 1928, early on in life Des realised his love of playing the trombone and went on to be a part of two brass bands, one of which got to play at the Glenelg Town Hall, a fantastic feat for orchestra bands.
While still at school, Des loved to run and was a champion runner, also enjoying hunting for rabbits on the weekends.
Some of Des’ earliest memories are the milkman dropping off the milk and collecting the jars with the milkman’s horse remembering each time where it was to stop.
After leaving school Des worked as an electrician before trying his hand at the defence services.
“At 16 I actually spent a year ballroom dancing at the O’Loughlin School of Modern Dancing. During that time I tried to get into Army, but I was a tall, skinny kid. Not what they were looking for,” Des said.
“They said to me ‘You can go home; your mother wants you’ because I was too young.”
At 17 Des went on to join the Navy, making his way up the stoker ranks. When he turned 18, he became a second-class stoker before becoming a senior stoker at the end of 1943.
Des has lived in numerous towns and cities in Australia, living in Darwin in the six years he spent in the Navy where he became a survivor of the sinking of the HMAS Canberra in 1942.
After leaving the navy Des spent a lot of his adult life as an electrical contractor, beginning and being in partnership of JB Electrics.
He went on to marry and had three children, Tim in 1947, Alan in 1949 and completing the family with Jenny in 1957.
After his children were born, Des took up lawn bowls, becoming a member of Ocean Grove and President of Caloundra RSL Bowls Club where his biggest achievement was signing Australian international lawn bowler Keith Poole.
Des himself made the interstate RSL team for lawn bowls and travelled around areas of Australia competing.
When asked what some of the big changes Des has noticed in his lifetime, travel/ transport and finances were strong responses with him also revealing that working with his brother in a neighbouring town brought him to Yarrawonga and the lifestyle keeping him here.
Des celebrated his milestone birthday with plenty of friends and family last Saturday at ClubMulwala.
Photo by
Les_Garbutt
“Back in my teenage years and early adult life the way to get around was cable cars. They are no more, and money is so different. It has definitely had changes over the past 100 years,” Des said.
“I was working with my brother Bruce Jones at Cobram and really liked Yarrawonga, so I made my way over here.
“I have been off and on at Woods Point for 15 years. I originally went in with my wife who needed extra care so when she passed, I moved out but they look after you well, so I went back and have been there ever since.”
To meet Des you would not be aware that he is now a century old, but he puts his health and wellbeing down to the care he now receives and has received throughout his life.
“Being well looked after has been a recipe for longevity,” Des said.
“I’m feeling that good.”
Des’ son Alan said it was fantastic to see his father in such high spirits and the family loves to hear all of the stories he has retained over his 100 years.
“He’s 100 not out, he even made that in the backyard one day. He is doing well, and we are very proud of him. We always have been,” Alan said.
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