‘No secret to long life’, Southland man reveals as he turns 100
Laughing and smiling away with four generations of his family, as well as plenty of friends, Tom Johnstone’s 100 years has been an adventure.
From farming in rural Southland, fighting in World War II and now living a busy life surrounded by good mates in Winton, life was just about taking it one day at a time, Johnstone said.
He was born in 1918 and said when he was younger he just hoped to make it to the turn of the century let alone making it to a century himself.
‘‘I really hadn’t ever thought about that [turning 100] I wasn’t too worried, I wanted to see the turn of the century and I got there.’’
While Johnstone never had children of his own he has always been surrounded by his extended family, his nephews, greatnephews, and great-great-nephew making up four generations of Johnstone’s at the celebrations yesterday.
Still living independently, Johnstone has been involved with the Winton RSA, the Blind Foundation and Senior Citizen’s groups.
Keeping good friends and staying in touch with his community was something Johnstone said kept him feeling young.
‘‘There is not a secret to life, just keep young happy people around rather than grumpy miserable old buggers, or you’ll feel like them yourself.’’
Upon opening a letter from the Queen, Johnstone joked about the letter with family.
‘‘She might think more of herself than we knew with her face on the front of her own card.’’
The letter was a touching addition to the celebration, he said.
Esther Hamilton, who became friends with Johnstone over a love of horses, has been a constant fixture in his life for more than 20 years. Helping to make sure he was happy and had everything he wanted, Hamilton said she thought his secret to a happy life was a healthy diet of sausages.
‘‘There is not a secret to life, just keep young happy people around rather than grumpy miserable old buggers, or you’ll feel like them yourself.’’
Tom Johnstone