A World War II veteran who has embraced modern technology and dislikes most vegetables is the latest inductee to the Carinity 100 Club for centenarians.
William Harris from Eatons Hill, a Carinity Clean service user, turned 100 this year. He was born in Croydon, England in 1926 and left school at the age of 13.
He enlisted in the Royal Marines during World War II as a teenager, serving for almost three years including in Asia towards the end of the long conflict.
"The war in Europe was finished and there was millions of troops that were going home. Quite a large majority had to go into England to get boats to go home," William said.
"All us troops had been earmarked for going on the ships out of England. We got as far as India when they decided to send some of us, a signal company, to Ceylon (now known as Sri Lanka)."
After the war ended, William worked as an engineer back in Croydon and continued in that career for 60 years.
William married his wife Stephanie and they moved to New Zealand in the 1950s. After living in Christchurch and Auckland for two decades, the family moved to Australia 50 years ago.
"New Zealand is a unique and country, and so is this one. I used to employ an Australian and he used to say how marvellous Brisbane was, so we packed up and came here," William said.
"We stayed in a caravan park at Aspley for a little while before I got a job. Then we had a flat in Nundah and when I had some money, I bought a house."
William's favourite hobbies over the years have included cycling, lawn bowls and golf, which he played until he was 90.
"I never held a golf club until I was 60, and that was only in the sands that were near the beach. I've enjoyed my retired life," he said.
Nowadays, William likes using his smart phone and iPad and appreciates being supported by Carinity Home Care. He is particular about the food he consumes: he doesn't eat carrots, lettuce and green vegetables, but enjoys potatoes, white beans and tomatoes.
William and his late wife, who were married for 66 years, had two daughters. The family grew to include three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren and two great-great grandchildren.
He says walking one of his granddaughters down the aisle at her wedding "was one of the highlights of my life".
