MOUNT Gambier community treasure and former prisoner of war Jack Hopgood OAM today celebrates his 100th birthday.
Mr Hopgood – one of the last surviving World War II veterans in Mount Gambier – plans to mark the milestone today with family and friends at Mount Gambier Community RSL.
The former prominent businessman reflected on his enduring and fascinating life with The Border Watch ahead of his birthday at the Lakes Terrace home he built for his family seven decades ago.
Still living independently with a razor sharp mind, Mr Hopgood said he did not allow his prisoner of war experience to define him and had built a wonderful life in Mount Gambier.
“Age has a lot of variables, there’s no two ways about that and I feel for the people who are not feeling well,” he said.
“It’s a mood thing growing old, I think if you are healthy and have friends then it’s marvellous.”
Not a man to seek the limelight, Mr Hopgood said he enjoyed celebrating the occasion with close family and friends at a lunch on the weekend.
“It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster, because by a necessity you have to be involved and my family have been pretty vocal in saying they wanted to celebrate the occasion,” he said.
“I am so grateful to have my family and a number of friends here to celebrate – who have come from places interstate, such as Cairns and Brisbane and even a grandson from overseas – so I’m quite chuffed really they have been prepared to do that.
“Some of these people are long-term customers and long-time friends and I am so glad they still come say ‘g’day’.”
Mr Hopgood enlisted with the Royal Australian Air Force at age 19 and was deployed a year later during World War II.
During the war he was held captive by the Japanese in Singapore, Java and Thailand for more than three years and he recently returned on a “reconciliation” trip to Japan.
“The trip to Japan recently was one of pretty extraordinary significance and one that will never happen again,” he said.
“Trips like that are of course milestones and there may not be a lot of families who have been fortunate enough to go on an overseas holiday with their family, so I have been lucky.”
Mr Hopgood did not let his prisoner of war experience define him and he was well engaged with the Mount Gambier community upon his return.
Following his service, Mr Hopgood picked up where he left off at his father’s garage, which he later took over and expanded and also gave his time widely to the community.
That culminated in being awarded an Order of Australia Medal in 2018, which he said was unexpected, but a humble honour.
“My involvement with things that bring about these sort of awards occurred at a much younger age and I have always believed that while you can put in, you do put in,” he said.
“I have been involved with many organisations over a period of a time and the award was much-appreciated.”
Among his proudest achievements was the establishment of the Blue Lake Golf Course, which he helped pioneer.
“At the time golf was a significant thing in any community in terms of attracting tourism and of course things have changed and golf is not the golden goose egg that it used to be,” he said.
“This has seen the golf course and caravan park recently handed back to the council and I am not sure they realise the asset they have in terms of value.
“I believe the golf course up there has enormous value, which represents input over many years by very dedicated and talented people.”
Passionate about improving the city’s economy, Mr Hopgood was also a foundation member of the Mount Gambier Chamber of Commerce.
He spent 50 years as a member of the Mount Gambier Queen Elizabeth Park Trust and Lakes Beautification Committee to help transform the lakes precinct.
Mr Hopgood also served as president of the Mount Gambier Community RSL (RSL) and has been an active member since 1945.
