Norman Young Pace plans to celebrate his 100th birthday by realising one of his greatest dreams, to walk down the main street of his home town, Birchip. 25192 Picture: Megan Rogers
By Kelly Yates
A HALLAM aged care resident is set to walk down the main street of his hometown, Birchip, to celebrate turning 100.
Norman Young Pace, who has been living in Hallam for more than 40 years, will travel to the small town in Western Victoria on his birthday, Boxing Day, to achieve one his greatest desires.
Accompanied by his daughter-in-law Anne and son Graham, Mr Pace will walk down the street at 10am to the sounds of a bagpipe and drummer.
His son told the News it was his father’s dream to go back to his home town.
“For more than 20 years he’s been saying that he wanted to do the walk when he turns 100,” he said.
“It will be an emotional time for everyone.”
The local police in Birchip will be closing part of the main street during the walk.
After the event, Mr Pace will enjoy a lunch with family and friends at the local Senior Citizens Club.
Mr Pace, who resides at the Hallam Aged Care Facility, has been involved with the recreation reserve and Hallam hall committees and the Doveton Secondary College Parents’ Association, and was a founding member of the Hallam Senior Citizens’ Club.
After working in the city as a bookkeeper, Mr Pace purchased 200 acres of land in Nar Nar Goon North where he started a sawmill and poultry farm.
Both were burnt out in the bush fires of 1952 and Mr Pace went on to work for South Eastern Timber, which became Raymond’s Timber, until he retired in 1973.
According to his son, Mr Pace is known as the “gardener”, with his love for growing and potting plants.
Mr Pace married Elsie May Wright on 8 December in 1934 and the couple had four children, Keith, Norman, Graham and Lorraine.
Mr Pace has 11 grandchildren and 27 great grandchildren.
