General News
10 May, 2023
Len Celebrates 100th
TERANG stalwart Len Pomeroy celebrated his 100th birthday over the weekend surrounded by family and friends.
TERANG stalwart Len Pomeroy celebrated his 100th birthday over the weekend surrounded by family and friends.
Hubert ‘Len’ Pomeroy, the town’s last surviving World War II veteran, celebrated the milestone centenary at the CWA Hall on Saturday with around 100 people visiting throughout the afternoon to wish him a happy birthday.
The hall was full of family photos taken throughout the years, news clippings from throughout Mr Pomeroy’s life and a range of birthday well wishes, including letters from King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Minister for Veterans’ Affairs Matt Keogh.
Mr Pomeroy gave an emotional speech, thanking those who had been there for him over the years.
“Thank you to everyone I’ve been involved with, especially one little group, the Terang Returned and Services League sub-branch (RSL),” he said.
“You can’t do it alone, and I’m grateful for all of your support.”
Mr Pomeroy has been a deeply respected figure throughout Terang and, most notably, within the ranks at the RSL – which he has been a member of for more than 75 years.
His sharp wit, anecdotes and spritely enthusiasm for not only what the RSL represents but the social connections forged between members has seen the beloved figure honoured for what he gives back; including the iconic W871 tram at the RSL hall affectionately named ‘Len’s Tram’.
“He found interest in the RSL in later years; he didn’t have the time when he was younger but the RSL has been a great outlet in his later years,” Mr Pomeroy’s son, Chris, said.
“He’s got his RSL buddies, and they do a lot for him.
“It’s brought him out of his shell.”
Chris said his father had not had the easiest start to life; born in Terang to English immigrants.
“His father died when he was very young, and a widowed mother coming out to a strange country after moving out from England with no support was very tough going,” he said.
“He was basically fostered out to friends who considered him a relation, and he didn’t return back to the family until he was a teenager.
“At that stage he was working at the chemist and delivering newspapers, but then he lied about his age to enlist in the army.”
Len Pomeroy was among six Pomeroy brothers who went on to serve their country for over a combined 55 years.
Military service was something of a tradition for the Pomeroy family – Les’ grandfather and great grandfather also served.
He trained in Colac and Geelong under the machine gun and armoured regiments before being shipped off to New Guinea with his brother’s field company.
Les served in New Guinea as a sapper from 1943 and continued through until the war ended in 1945, but remained in New Guinea to help with restoration and clearance efforts; not returning home until 1946 almost six months later.
“When he got back from the war he worked at Trufood factory at Glenormiston, and he also worked for a number of years at Keayang when it was still owned by the Staughton family,” Chris said.
“Not long after Keayang changed ownership, he started at Hampden Shire slashing the grass on a tractor, which hadn’t been cut before because people didn’t have lawnmowers back then.
“Later he started driving the grader, which was were he loved it most; building roads. Over time he became the overseer at the Terang depot before retiring at 65 when the amalgamation happened.”
Chris said while his father had retired, he “never seemed to feel he got old” and always found ways to keep active.
“After that he was on shire council, he had a little dabble in farming when buying a house with about six acres, and at about 80 is when he decided he wanted to travel around the world,” he said.
“He got a great lot of fun out of it.”
Chris said it was “an incredible achievement” to see his father reach the 100-year-old milestone because he had done so independently; which had always held importance to Len.
“He’s had a little medical help along the line but he’s always picked himself back up,” Chris said.
“He gets a helping hand from the neighbours, the bins magically go back in and I’ll get a phone call asking if dad has gone on holiday if they don’t see anything happening, but he’s still healthy and going well.
“You go to his house for a visit and still find him raking the leaves, the wood box is full and he’s waiting to go shopping.”
