Hip hip hooray — Benalla’s Bill Gregory celebrating 100th birthday

Milton “Bill” Gregory has lived in Benalla since 1939 when he took up an apprenticeship as an electrician.

“My dad was a Station Master at Devenish, so we shifted there from St Arnaud,” Bill said.

"Then I got an apprenticeship with Alec Brown as an apprentice electrician, which is what brought me to Benalla.

“Not long after that I married a girl, then I was in the army for five years from 1941 to 1946.”

At the end of the war Bill returned to Benalla.

"When I came back I had to finish my apprenticeship,“ he said.

“And when I finished that I started my own business as an electrical contractor and had 46 years as an electrician in Benalla.”

When I asked Bill about his hobbies he paused, laughed and said sleeping.

“I do a bit of reading, but generally I’m housebound, I’m relying on carers who look after me.

“And I am really happy to be in my own home. The carers come in and get my breakfast, and tea.

“I get all the support I need to stay here.

“I like listening to the radio, and this (he points to the radio next to him) is also a record player.

“So I can listen to my old record collection. I got that for Father’s Day.”

While today is his birthday, Bill and his family have been busy preparing a special party to be held at Benalla’s Lakeside Community Centre, known locally as the Glasshouse.

"We’ve been working on telephone calls to friends and relatives, so we are having quite a big party, all being well, on Saturday, December 18,“ Bill said.

“I’ve got my daughter heading down form the Sunshine Coast, and I’ve got relatives from Melbourne coming across, there will probably be just over 100 people there.”

Bill said the biggest change in Benalla since he moved here in the 1930s was you could no longer leave your house unlocked.

"In the old days the back door was always left open, and you knew everybody in the street,“ he said.

“But you are lucky if you know your next door neighbour now. And you always need to lock up before going out.”

Bill was recently made life member of Benalla RSL, which is a great source of pride.

“I was at the Remembrance service this year, which was nice after the last few years,” he said.

“I like to keep in with all the RSL guys.”

Happy birthday Bill from everyone at The Ensign.