Aidan Curtis
A MOUNT Gambier / Berrin man reached a rare milestone when he celebrated his 100th birthday on Thursday.
Cyril Price knocked up his century surrounded by family on August 3, and said he was “still vertical” and had plenty of energy.
“I feel alright, I still get on the scooter and up the road and so forth,” Mr Price said.
“There’s no secret, I don’t think – some people think it is, but I’ve never smoked, I’ve never tasted alcohol in my life.
“I can’t tell you anything, I just live a normal life, eat normal food.”
With 100 years worth of memories in his life, Mr Price said he had a lot to look back on now.
While his favourites included having a very tight-knit family and his lifelong love of golf, one of his best memories was when the Second World War ended.
“I spent 14 months up in Darwin early, then come home and had two weeks leave,” he said.
“I spent around four and a half years in the infantry during the Second World War.
“That’s alright, I survived that.”
He said he was pretty happy with his life, especially with 64 years of marriage with his wife, Fay.
The pair met through tennis out at Glencoe, and went on to form a strong bond that has stood the test of time.
“We don’t argue, we live pretty quietly – it’s easier to do that,” Mr Price said.
Ms Price agreed their relationship had been pretty solid and joked it was because there were ways around arguments.
“I might say a few words under my breath, but don’t we all,” she said.
Despite having lived through many different trends and technologies, Mr Price said he did not believe the world had changed all that much.
“It’s not changed much for me,” he said.
“I’m a pretty normal person.
“I get up in the morning and go to bed at night.”
One of Mr Price’s daughters, Diane Price, said she and the whole family were pretty emotional to see her father make it this far and she hoped to get another few years out of him.
“Mum and dad have done so well looking after us for all the years,” she said.
“It’s just really good that dad has got to 100.”
The Price family, including son Chris Price, daughters Diane Price, Janine Reid and Erica Richards, and niece Shirley McConnell, will come together to celebrate the occasion at the Blue Lakes Golf Club on Sunday.
