Triple celebration as friends reach milestone
THREE friends celebrated a milestone together, with a joint birthday party this month.
Railway Estate Senior Citizens Association members Bevan Pohlmann, Ellen Briskey and Gladys McSherry blew out 90 candles at a morning tea last Tuesday.
The Townsville residents were born within three weeks of each other – Ms McSherry on November 22, Mr Pohlmann on November 23 and Ms Briskey on December 12.
President Brian Wain said 90th birthdays were usually a major occasion for the club members, but this one was particularly so.
“They decided they wanted to have a joint celebration, they’ve been friends for years,” he said.
“The cake was decorated in thirds with their favourite colours.”
Ellen Briskey is one of the longest- serving members of the association, having joined about 24 years ago.
Ms Briskey was born in Charters Towers, where she met her husband Colin.
The couple moved to Townsville about 65 years ago and Mr Briskey, now deceased, worked as a train driver.
“I used to love handicrafts when I had good eyesight. I have macular degeneration now. I used to make all my own clothes,” Ms Briskey said.
Ms Briskey’s daughter Joan Hardy, who lives in Taylors Beach, and three grandchildren will visit the weekend before her birthday.
“The two girls are in Brisbane and the boy is in Western Australia,” she said.
Ms Briskey said the joint birthday celebration was “lovely”.
“We’re all friendly and have a good laugh,” she said.
Mr Pohlmann said he had known Mr Briskey and Ms Briskey for more than two decades and met Ms McSherry in more recent years.
Mr Pohlmann was born in Maryborough and moved north in the 1950s.
“I had a good look around North Queensland. We toured the Tablelands for about six weeks,” he said.
Eventually he ended up in Giru, working at a sugar mill.
“I started working in the machine shop, then got my engineering tickets,” he said.
“Then I was sent to automation and controls. I used to go to Sydney and Mackay for that.”
After retirement, Mr Pohlmann moved to Wulguru in 1992 with his wife Marjorie, known affectionately as Sissy.
He moved to Villa McAuley ment Village six months ago.
Mr Pohlmann has four children, in Edmonton, Bushland Beach, Alligator Creek and Kirwan.
Ms McSherry grew up in Mingela before moving to Charters Towers at 16 to work in a hospital laundry. She then moved to Townsville and worked in hotels.
Ms McSherry married engine driver John McSherry in 1949 and moved to Ingham to start her family.
The couple managed the Ingham RSL for seven years, a Macknade hotel for seven years and a takeaway fish shop in Edmonton before retiring in Townsville.
As well as the Railway Estate Senior Citizens Association party, Ms McSherry celebrated with a big party with family.
Most of her five children, 12 grandchildren and 25 great- grandchildren attended, travelling from as far as Brisbane and Kingaroy. Retire-