Snug Retirement Village resident Stanley Kilpatrick celebrated his 100th birthday this weekend on Sunday, October 20.
Born in Port Ballintrae in Northern Ireland, Stanley joined the scouts at a young age which would remain a keen hobby of his throughout his life when he moved to Tasmania and got involved with the Blackmans Bay Scouts.
Stanley’s biggest passion, however, is sailing, and it was the allure of sunny Brisbane and year-round sailing that inspired him to leave the United Kingdom for Australia with his family.
Stanley has two daughters, Catherine and Moya.
Catherine said one of her fondest memories is of playing hide and seek with Stanley on kayaks at their local yacht club.
Stanley eventually left Brisbane for Blackmans Bay when Catherine moved to Tasmania.
Here Stanley was an active member of his community, participating in the Blackmans Bay Scouts, the University of the Third Age, the local Men’s Shed and gardening up until very recently.
He even held his driver’s licence until the impressive age of 97.
Since moving to Snug Retirement Village Stanley has kept his mind sharp by reading every piece of World War Two literature he can find and keeping active with an exercise class.
In his younger years Stanley was a keen amateur photographer, with a makeshift studio under the house to develop his photos.
Catherine put on a slideshow of some of Stanley’s photographs as part of the birthday celebrations on Sunday.
The birthday was a quiet affair held at Snug Retirement Village’s chapel with just a few of Stanley’s loved ones present to celebrate.
Kingborough Mayor Paula Wriedt visited Stanley ahead of his birthday to ask him the secret for his longevity.
“Genes,” Stanley said.
