The secret to living to the age of 100 is 'getting off your backside', according to former Narromine resident Ronald Jackson who is celebrating the milestone this month.
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"Exercising all the time, never stop, I don't like to be sitting on my backside, I rather be doing something," Mr Jackson said.
Ronald Kieth Jackson was born in London on March 10, 1921, before moving to Australia at the age of three and growing up in the small village of Beelbangera near Griffith.
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He left school at the age of 15 to work on the land around the Griffith and Riverina area, before enlisting in the army in August 1941.
He fought during the Second World War for five years serving in the Middle East and Papua New Guinea.
After the war in 1946, Mr Jackson settled down in Griffith and met his wife Jean Forrest who grew up on the farm next door. The pair married in 1947, before purchasing a soldiers settlement block near Gosford.
Together the couple had three children, Robyn Wall (71), Allan Jackson (70) and Leonie Reid (64).
However in 1953 made the move to Narromine, taking on the job as the citrus orchid manager at 'Buddah'.
Mr Jackson worked at the farm until he moved into town in 1981, however stayed on as a part-time orchid consultant for five more years.
Between working and retiring, Mr Jackson enjoyed playing golf in Narromine until he took up bowls, which is where he "fell in love with the game".
He also went on to supervise and coach local high school students who chose bowls for their sport.
"He loved the game so much, that he thought everybody should love it," daughter Robyn Wall said.
In 2006, Mr Jackson and his wife moved to Swansea on the north coast to be closer to his three children, his six grandchildren and twelve great grandchildren.
He took up bowls with the Swansea Workers club, before moving to Warratah where he now plays with the Hamilton North bowling club, still playing one day a week.
"One of his aims in life was to be bowling at the age of 100, and he still is," Ms Wall said.
To celebrate the milestone, Mr Jackson's family will gather for luncheon at his beloved bowling club at Hamilton North. Friends will get to celebrate with Mr Jackson for his 100th birthday at a bowls gala day on March 11.
Zaarkacha Marlan
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
Court and crime reporter at the Daily Liberal. Formerly the sole journalist for the Nyngan Observer, Narromine News and Trangie Advocate.
