By BRIDGET COOK
AS THE saying goes ‘there’s a first for everything’.
But at the age of 100, you wouldn’t think there would be any firsts left to achieve.
But that was not the case for Jack Power last week when he celebrated his 100th birthday and become the first male resident of Embracia Aged Care, Lynbrook, and in his family to live for a century.
Mr Power celebrated the milestone occasion on Thursday 18 July with about 30 family and friends.
Mr Power was born in North Carlton and was the youngest of seven children.
After finishing school, Mr Power joined the family business, Power Bakery, and eventually took over as manager.
Mr Power has vivid memories of delivering bread by horse and cart, street lamps being gas and cable cars travelling down local roads.
Mr Power met his first wife Jean at a dance at the Palais in St Kilda and they were married in 1941.
Jean passed away in July 1965.
Mr Power married Hilda, who passed away in 2006, in December 1969.
His daughter Diane Brown said her father was always a keen sportsman when he was young and was one of the first members of East Ivanhoe Bowling Club later in life.
Ms Brown said she believed that was one of a few reasons he had lived so long.
“He always played a lot of sport and walked regularly up until he couldn’t any longer,” she said.
“He was a social drinker, but never smoked.
“He was the youngest of seven children, and four of them lived into their 90s.”
Ms Brown said her father was still very mentally alert.
“He is an avid Carlton football fan and still has a great interest in current affairs and keeps up with politics,” she said.
“His brain is so bright. He often laughs at my sister and I as he can still do calculations in his head quicker than we can on a calculator.”
Mr Power has three daughters, six grand-children and seven great-grandchildren.
