From The Desert To Dad. Aged 100

New Zealand Listener, Volume 8, Issue 192, 26 February 1943, Page 7

From The Desert To Dad.

Aged 100

+ O be able to hear a greeting from his son on the battlefield was an experience that enlivened the 100th birthday of George Henry ("Jan") Romans, of Arrowtown, the other day, and it was an experience that he must share with very few, if any, other centenarians, The father of 11 children, Mr. Romans was born in Tasmania on February 9, 1843. Two years ago, according to a friend of the family who lives in Wellington, he was playing bridge until 1 o’clock in the morning as quite the ordinary thing, and on one occasion

our informant saw him get up at 6 a.m, to go out and scythe a paddock. "He reads without glasses, plays a great game of bridge, keeps a big garden all by himself in wonderful order, and he’s generally alert and active." Mr. Romans is known throughout the district as the Grand Old Man of Otago, and has been in Arrowtown itself for 70 years, since the days when it was known as "Fox’s"-a busy cosmopolitan mining centre. For a while he was a contractor, and then had a butchery and store business. He raced his own horses, and is well known on every track in Central Otago. There are three sons overseas (one a prisoner of war), and it was Reg., who left here a captain and is now lieut. colonel, whose greeting was heard over the air at the time of his father’s birthday. Here is part of his message: "Hullo Arrowtown, this is Reg. Dad, I hope you are sitting by the radio smoking your pipe, feeling in good fettle, and listening to me. I am still batting strongly, and feel 100 per cent. . , Dad, we shall be drinking your health at your 100th birthday. Keep it up, sir, we are proud of you. To all Lake Country friends my very best wishes and good fortune. The Arrowtown, Queenstown boys with me are all well and doing grand work. So we say cheerio, lots of love to you all, and keep smiling."