John Sanderson celebrates 95th birthday

REACHING the milestone of 95 years of age was Nagambie's John Sanderson on April 22. John's partner Margaret Rea, his friends, family members and six children, as well as some of his 22 grandchildren and his 43 great grandchildren, helped him celebrate this special milestone at a birthday lunch overlooking Lake Nagambie at the Nagambie Rowing Club last month. John was born in Broadford on 22 April 1928 to parents Jean and Fred Sanderson and was the eldest of their three children. He went to Tallarook Primary School then St Mary's in Seymour. In 1952 he met Margaret Clifton at Broadford and they were married on August 122, 1953 at the little wooden Catholic Our Lady Help of Christian Church. They were blessed with nine children. Sadly their first child John only lived 10 hours. But then along came Maree, Bernadette, John, June, Jillian, David and Damian (his twin Veronica died at birth.) John's family lived at Springvale at Tallarook until 1963 before moving to Nagambie. He worked for Bruce Forbes in his mechanical garage until 1988, then he started his own Massey Ferguson and another machines business in town. John was a successful businessman and has been a popular and respected man in Nagambie and the wider district all his life. For many years he won the top salesperson in Australia award, as well as an international award for his salesmanship with his agricultural business. He retired about 10 years ago and sold his business to his son Damian. John moved into Kelvin Grove Village over five years ago and gets on well with everyone there. John's wife Margaret died in December 2008 and John said he has terrific memories of her. "She was a wonderful person and wife for over 50 years," he said. "Now I thank my carer and partner Marg Rea for caring for me so well at Kelvin Grove and the friends I have made there that share our retirement years together." When asked what did he feel kept him going pretty well and reaching ninety five, he replied, "Plenty of work, no smoking and he only had a can or two occasionally." "Do things in moderation," he said.