After 100 years, Alan McMillan still rides his tricycle throughout Burnett Heads and hand paints rocks for the community to discover.
Here’s what he had to say about his long and happy life:
What’s your secret to living to 100?
I have a nice family around me, five children and a beautiful wife.
We were married at 21, together for 74 years before she passed away around four years ago.
In total there’s around 77 grandchildren, great grandchildren and great great grandchildren.
What do you love about painting rocks?
It’s something to do, I hurt my back years ago and I can’t dig in the garden and I have to wear a brace.
I like to make people happy and enjoy sharing.
When did you move to Bundaberg and what do you love about it?
We lived in Geelong Victoria and moved here in 1966.
I love being by the ocean, we started off on a farm in Victoria.
What are some of your highlights?
Today meeting the mayor, I’d never knew the mayor. It was special to meet her.
When we were in Victoria we had a boat and all the family used to go out in the tinny, 12 foot tinny. We got a wooden boat later and built a front on it.
We used to go on holidays to Cairns, the gorge up there. Granite Gorge.
We knew the people up there and it used to be $2 to stay there the night.
My wife and I used to dance all our lives.
We had old time, modern, round, square dancing, line dancing. We didn’t stand still.
I used to go rabbiting on the farm and sell the rabbits.
I had enough money out of that to buy a motorbike and sidecar and used to go up and see my wife on it.
How have you kept in great shape for your age?
The doctor said to take away dry skin I have a teaspoon of coconut oil each morning in my cup of tea.
I used to be all scaly like a fish.
Alan was surrounded by family for his birthday, who also shared memories:
Dad and I used to work together on the Council and we’ve lived together for a while now and never ever had a fight, we never argue.
The Bundaberg Country Music Club, he started it.
Alan was still driving until 95.
Other news: Streets of Remembrance honours Private Tootell
Thank you mayor Helen Blackburn,
And assistant, for making my Dad’s Birthday such a memorable day we will never forget it 🫶
Happy Birthday Alan, I see you often on my rides from the Marina to the Basin, keep it up, you’re an inspiration.