In Conversation with Bolton Clarke

Bolton Clarke Research Institute's Dr Xanthe Golenko speaks on why intergenerational play is important and how to build lasting intergenerational connections.

A heavy artillery gunner in WWII, Cynthia had some interesting experiences.  She was offered a clerical role in the army but given she had worked as a secretary before the war, something more dramatic interested her. With a military service history in her family in WA, Cynthia shares her story of heavy artillery gunner training in Fremantle, WA and what Anzac Day means to her. 

Pearl Harbour. 1941

Mary was on a day off and watched as the attack on Pearl Harbour unfolded. 

She now lives in our Baycrest community in Hervey Bay and shared her ANZAC Day memories with us. 

A WWII Veteran, Bert was with the RAAF for the bombing of Darwin and actions that followed in 1942.  At just 18 years old, he was part fo a flight crew dropping bombs over SE Asia. 

Bert recounts life in Murwillumbah growing up on a farm, and what going to war meant to him, as well as what followed for him. 

At almost 95, Bert has a remarkable memory and shares his experiences of life after WWII 

Betty & Jean met as young women, whose friendship started when they joined the army as young women. 

They lost contact for more than 50 years, and recently discovered one another at a Bolton Clarke event they both attended.  They share the story of this enduring friendship. 

Stella turned 100 in July 2018. 

In this very moving conversation, she recounts her time serving as a nurse in WWII. 

Through Cairo, Palestine, Borneo and elsewhere, Stella shares the harrowing memories of that time. 

Coral is a prolific poet and lives in our Baycrest community in Hervey Bay. 

This poem is her ode to ANZAC Day 

Henry grew up in the Riverina in NSW, outside of Griffith. 

When Henry was a teenager, his father left for the war and went to fight the Japanese in Singapore.  Henry and his 7 siblings didn't hear from him again. 

Henry was called up some years later and found himself in Indonesia as part of a team building airstrips and a hospital with the RAAF.  What follows is a truly remarkable story. 

One of the founders of the Ferguson Plarre pastry empire, Alan is now 100 and lives in the Bolton Clarke community at Banora Point on the Gold Coast. 

As a young boy growing up in Melbourne, Alan learned pastry from his father who was part of the group who founded what is now William Angliss. 

Alan talks of war and family and growing up in Melbourne. 

 Vernon is a world renowned Codepod expert and has been studying these tiny marine creatures for decades. 

At 93, he is working on his book for the Smithsonian in Washington, is still incredibly adept at woodworking and shares his love of science with us, in a journey taking him from post war London to Canberra, via Nigeria. 

 George is a volunteer at our Milford Grange community

At 89 George is still very active ad is integral to the community at Milford Grange.  

A former army man, George has a love of woodwork and creates amazing items, as well as generously giving of his time to support others. 

 Ray Halliday served almost 35 years in the Queensland Police Force. 

With his wife, he shared some insights and thoughts into policing in the 1950's, and how the force appears to him, today. 

From regional NSW, Ray shares some stories of his early days. 

Les is 101 and quite a character. 

He has lived  a fascinating life. From working on a dairy farm for keep and not much more, to owning his own fish business, driving cranes, losing a brother in WWII and so much more, his 101 years have been very full. 

He shares wonderful stories with us. 

At 102, Jean is as energetic as she was a country girl. 

Heavily involved in sport and the CWA as a young woman, Jean grew up on the Darling Downs n Queensland. 

Both husbands were service men and Jean talk about the change in young men from her time to day. 

Dot is a Bolton Clarke volunteer.  She has always been a volunteer and after the passing of her husband, she was encouraged to join the Milford Grange family in Ipswich. 

Dot loves how much volunteering fulfills her and what it brings to her life. 

 Ken dreamed of travelling to Alaska, but he couldn't do it alone. 

He asked Gary, a Bolton Clarke Personal Care Worker to join him on the journey. 

Hear about the fun, the scenery and the experience these two world travelers shared. 

**Sadly Ken passed away on his next bucket list trip.  His family have asked us to remember him with this podcast. 

A keen poet and writer and rock hobbyist, Bob lives in Hervey Bay. 

He plays a harmonica, and music was instilled in to him in his younger days.  

His father was a musician and as Bob was in an oprhange, his dad would visit and bring him comics and music when he saw him. 

Bob shares life as an orphan and how he managed, as a little bloke, to find his place in the world. 

Doris recently celebrated her 100th birthday. 

She grew up in Melbourne's inner west and has lived nearby ever since. 

She suggests she could have been a bit more disciplined through the Depression.  A keen seamstress , she became a missionary and achieve her dream if ministering to others. 

Aileen and Helen live in Bolton Clarke's Fernhill Community. 

Aileen is from Leeds and Helen was raised in regional Australia. 

They share their journeys and how life has brought them to the same community and what life is like at Fernhill. 

Russell, or Rusty as he prefers to be known, is a mad Broncos fan and recently celebrated 100 years. 

At the end of WWII, he was in Greece and he has fond memories of his time in the war. 

Life has been great for Rusty and he considers himself fortunate to have made a century. 

Gladys grew up in Charters Towers over 100 years ago. 

She cites the simplicity of life as her secret to old age.  Gladys served for two years in WWII. 

Gladys thinks we have become a bit impatient and dont value anything anymore. 

Eunice, or Helen as she prefers, is 100 and lives in Melbourne. 

She grew up in Melbourne's industrial inner west, well before its gentrification. 

She loves to listen to people singing, and cites Michael Buble and Andrea Bocelli as her favourites. 

Eunice is a fan of poeple who strive to achieve.  

Buster spends all of his days bringing smiles to the faces of residents, visitors and staff at our Milford Grange Community. 

A beautiful fellow who adopted our Residential Manager in Longreach, he is now very much a part of the family. 

Stella is 100, is a keen gardener and always wanted to be a nurse. 

Stella served in WWII and shares the story of her experiences growing up, going to war and fulfilling that desire to be a nurse. 

Artie is 100 and apart from travelling to Darwin and Indonesia during WWII, he has spent all of his 100 years in Caboolture and surrounds.  His Dad broke a horse for him to ride to school and then broke the horse to draw a sulky when his siblings had to start school.
Artie is in great physical condition, and only has a hearing aid because of the bombs dropping on Darwin. 

A noted cruciverbalist and a Korean War veteran, Fred lived through the Depression and World War II. With his beautiful blonde, who he married in 1951. He has survived three cancers and three heart attacks, but he muses "they say its hard to keep a good man down, so I guess I am a  good man." 

Arthur will be 101 in 2019.  He lives at home in South Australia. 

Arthur loved sport, he was a keen boxer and cyclist and admits to straightening a few noses in his time. He passed on his love of cycling to his son Charlie who was head coach of the Australian team from 1987-2001. 

 Annette has MS and travelling seemed like it wasnt possible, until a dream to travel back to Yamba was made possible by one of our support workers. Annette talks about life at Bolton Clarke's Milford Grange Community and her trip of a lifetime.