General News
17 April, 2025
Looking good for 100
A CAMPERDOWN Men’s Shed life member and regular at the Camperdown Uniting Church’s community meals has celebrated a century of life this week.
Albert Beasley turned 100 on Monday, with a celebration held last Saturday at the Hampden Hotel with 50 friends and family members sharing in the milestone.
Attendees included family members, friends, volunteers of the Uniting Church community meal and Camperdown Men’s Shed members.
Mr Beasley was also treated to a birthday cake for dessert at the Camperdown Uniting Church’s last community meal of Term One.
He said he was thrilled to be able to mark the special milestone with friends and family.
“It’s no different – I’m still cooking and still eating too,” Mr Beasley said.
“I still look after myself.
“Go to bed, get up again.
“I don’t know what the secret is.”
Among the various cards he received from friends and family, Mr Beasley also received letters from King Charles III, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, Governor-General Sam Mostyn, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan and Victorian Governor Margaret Gardner recognising his milestone birthday.
His niece, Ann Stephenson, spoke about Mr Beasley’s life at the lunch event and said she could not cram 100 years into a few minutes.
“Albert has always lived in Camperdown at Grandma and Pop’s house - we spent every Sunday there with our grandparents and Albert because he was a bachelor for 54 years,” she said.
“Grandma was a really good cook, and she used to cook Christmas puddings and put sixpences and threepences in them and Albert used to always save them for me because I didn’t eat plum pudding.
“Cards were always on the agenda every Sunday, and Albert was a keen card player – playing cribbage and euchre – but he hated cheats.
“I remember him throwing the cards in with Barry’s father and mother because someone was cheating.”
Mr Beasley was born on April 14 in 1925 and survived his five siblings as well as all but four of his nieces and nephews, with many great nieces and nephews and great-great nieces and nephews.
He has also survived his wife of 36 years Vi, who he was introduced to by his sister, who passed away in 2015.
Ms Stephenson said Mr Beasley could “turn his hand to anything”, having spent his life doing all sorts of repairs and odd jobs throughout his life.
“He (Albert) has lived in the Camperdown area all his life – being brought up on a farm, he would milk for many families around the area,” she said.
“After farm life, he made a living in upholstery.
“He’s a man of many talents, and over the years has refurbished bathrooms, built a caravan, and fixed anything that needed fixing – nothing would deter him, he would fix it.”
Ms Stephenson said his family and friends were all proud of his achievement.
“Albert is still alive and kicking today because he tells me he hasn’t found the bucket to kick,” she said.
“The Men’s Shed has been a big factor of extended life, I’m sure – I believe it gives him a purpose to get out of bed and do something he enjoys rather than staring at four walls.
“Thank you to everyone for their friendship to Albert.”
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