DOUG SWINGS INTO THE 100 CLUB
100TH BIRTHDAY PARTY
FROM his war service as a pilot of the Bristol Blenheim bombers to the hole-in-one he shot back in 1987 Doug Stewart has spent his hundred years living life above, or is that below par.
The war veteran was celebrated with a party at the Opal Ashmore aged care facility last week surrounded by friends and family.
Mr Stewart was born in Brisbane and forged his career as a Commonwealth public servant.
He was working for the Treasury department in Port Moresby when the Second World War broke out.
He signed up to serve his country and was enlisted into the Air Force as a Squadron Leader where he was lucky to survive the perilous nature of piloting the bombers.
Following the war he and his beloved wife Dorothy had five children: Roger, Donald, Brett, Margaret and Jenny.
Tragedy struck the family in 1973 when Dorothy passed away and Mr Stewart was left to grapple with continuing to work full time while being a single parent. His youngest daughter was only 11-yearsold.
He retired as the assistant Auditor General of NSW in 1978.
Happily, Mr Stewart found love again when he married Nancy, now 93, in 1980.
He also gained two wonderful stepdaughters, Cherie and Julie.
A keen golfer, Mr Stewart spent the early years of his retirement perfecting his game.
He was rewarded for his efforts with a hole-in-one at Toukley Golf Club in central NSW in 1987.
Mr and Mrs Stewart enjoyed holidaying at the Gold Coast for years and moved to an apartment in Surfers Paradise permanently in 1998.
Mr Stewart eagerly joined the Surfers Paradise Golf Club and was playing 18 holes past his 92nd birthday, at which point he was the club’s oldest active member.
He spent about 10 years as a member of service club Probus.
He moved into Opal Ashmore five years ago.
Councillor Dawn Crichlow joined the family for the celebrations and to make Mr Stewart an official presentation.
“Is it from the Queen?” Mr Stewart called out cheekily as she handed over congratulatory cards from local member Steven Ciobo, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Governor general Sir Peter Cosgrove and, finally, Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth.
Celebrations followed including dancing to his favourite singer Doris Day.
Mr Stewart has 11 grandchildren, five step grandchildren, two great grandchildren and seven step great grandchildren.