Persistence helps Leonard reach 100
It is perhaps that attribute of persistence, along with enjoyment of a quiet drink every now and then, that may have helped Leonard to that milestone.
Leonard was born on June 12, 1917 in Marlow, Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom. The fourth child in a family of six, Leonard is the only one in his family to have reached the 100-year milestone.
With the family no longer able to afford schooling, Leonard was forced into work at 13 years of age, undertaking a plumbing apprenticeship. While it cost 100 pounds to put through an apprenticeship, a man’s legacy to help young boys learn a trade gave Leonard and his brother that opportunity.
Leonard quickly became multi-skilled, working in building, painting, plastering and carpentry when plumbing was quiet.
In 1937 Leonard joined the territorial army and in 1939, he was sent to Northern Ireland as a dispatch rider. His skills were quickly learnt, and he was seconded as an armour officer to fix guns.
Stationed near Devon in the United Kingdom, Leonard met and married his wife Mary. He continued his involvement in the army with postings in Belgium, France, Holland and Germany before being sent to Norway at the end of the war to convince a group of Germans to surrender.
“We met the Russians on the Baltic coast, where they taught us to drink vodka,” Leonard said.
“They (Germans) were well equipped, but a few shots were fired and fortunately they decided to pack up.”
Leonard holds a letter from the King of Norway, thanking the British armed forces for helping restore freedom to the country.
Leonard left the army in 1946 and returned to Devon, where he continued his trade as a plumber.
In 1955 Leonard and Mary emigrated to Australia with their five-year-old son Michael to look after Mary’s aunt in Warragul.
With Leonard’s trade not recognised in Australia, he went back to school at 38. He worked installing petrol pumps across Gippsland.
In 1960 he joined Peter Gleeson, where he was forced to rush through an apprenticeship for a second time some 30 years after undertaking his apprenticeship for the same trade in England.
The business is still going strong today, now known as Heenan’s plumbing, with John Heenan Leonard’s last apprentice.
In 1975 Leonard made a go of it himself, and continued work until he was 70 years of age when he built a new house.
In retirement, Leonard enjoyed caravanning, woodworking, bushwalking, fishing for trout and visiting the farm where he shot rabbits and foxes. He also enjoyed his visits to the Warragul RSL, where he visited on Friday last to celebrate his birthday.
Celebrations were also held at Lyrebird Village, where he has resided for about five months.
Leonard’s only son Michael grew up and has lived in Warragul his whole life.
Leonard, who has survived his late wife Mary, has three grandchildren and seven great grandchildren.