Celebrating a 100th. Birthday

Uncle Frank & my sister, Venette

On the 10th. August 1913 my mother's young brother, Frank, was born.
On the 10th. August 2013 he looked back on 100 years of life, an event celebrated by family members from here in Australia and from New Zealand, where he was born and lived until moving to Australia in the 1990s.

A birthday celebration was held in the Chatswood RSL Club and along with well-wishes from family and many friends, Uncle Frank also received congratulatory messages from the Queen, the Governor-General of Australia, the Governor of New South Wales, the Prime Minister, the Premier of New South Wales and other dignitaries.

 

On the Sunday, 11th. August 2013, a service was held in the Maori Anglican Fellowship Church of Te Wairua Tapu, in Elizabeth Street, Redfern.
This service marked the 75th. anniversary of the NZ WWII Veterans (RSL Sub-branch) in Australia and honoured not only my uncle but also Major Bob Wood (Ret), on the eve of his 99th. birthday, and also other NZ veterans who were present .
A delegation of dignitaries were in attendance, including Keith Payne, VC (forever now referred to as "Uncle Keith" - see below*) and the NZ High Commissioner to Australia, and the proceedings were recorded by NZ television, Channel 3 News.

This was a wonderful weekend and I was able to catch up with many relatives, some of whom I had only ever heard about from my mother or other immediate family members.

Certainly a reunion to remember and, as my cousin remarked, how precious it was to have everyone together for such a happy event when under previous circumstances we have only seen each other at funerals.

* My sister recognised the face but couldn't put a name to the gentleman.
She went up to Keith Payne, approaching him in a familiar manner, as if she and he were related and made some remark to that effect, then found out who he was!