Receiving one of the last letters from the Queen before her death was a touching moment for Tewantin resident Ern Jackson on his 100th birthday.
It’s yet another remarkable occasion to add to his century of life lived to the fullest.
The great-grandfather with an adventurous spirit first jumped out of an aeroplane at the age of 95, conquered the Kokoda Trail at the age of 85, and walked across England at 84.
Steve Jackson, 76, said they were joined by 30 family members to celebrate his father’s birthday with a Noosa River cruise on Saturday 10 September.
“I’ve got cards for him from the Premier, the Governor, the Prime Minister, the Queen… that’s going to be a bit sad,” Steve said.
“We also celebrated during the week at his home in Hibiscus Noosa Outlook Retirement Resort.
“He was very excited. We walked into the hall and there were about 100 people and they all stood and gave him a standing ovation.
“It brought a tear to the eye. The speeches started and the microphone was passed around and Dad knew everyone’s names. He’s quite a stunning man.”
Ern, who has lived in the Noosa area for about 30 years, is a very fit 100-year-old.
“I’m quite proud of his fitness and everything else that goes with him,” Steve said.
“He’s very adventurous and has lived a very healthy life as far as his dietary things are concerned. He never smoked or drank. He’s always been very conscious of what he eats.
“He was born in 1922 in Sydney and he’s done lots of things since.
“He was in the Surf Club as a younger man, he was involved in the Boy Scouts as a leader.
“He worked for the railways in a workshop and during the war he was maintaining the ships. After the war he joined the army. He then worked in the building industry doing different things. He built his sister’s house. My parents bought a dairy farm. A very clever man.”
At 96, Ern convinced three generations of his family to go skydiving together at Christmas time.
In the air with him at the time were 13-year-olds Amy and Aiden, and Michelle and Dan.
“I didn’t jump, they can have that,” Steve said.
“Anything he’s chosen to do, I have no concerns whatsoever. In about two week’s time he’s going on a train trip by himself to visit different dinosaur exhibitions.”
There’s no stopping Ern, who starts each day in Tewantin with early morning walks at 4.30am, followed by weightlifting exercises and a cold shower.
The music and jigsaw puzzle enthusiast is proof that life is a gift that keeps on giving.
