At 100 years old Chuck is still a real Spitfire

Distinguished ex-RAAF pilot Chuck Younger celebrated his 100th Birthday on Thursday 7 January surrounded by friends and family at his home of RSL Care Fairview Retirement Village. 

The staff at RSL Care Fairview hosted a morning tea for Chuck to celebrate his milestone birthday with his wife Anne, extended family and special guests Councillor for Pullenvale, Margaret De Wit, members of the Masonic Men’s Choir and Leukaemia Foundation and an array of television news’ crews.

Chuck was very flattered with all the attention however rather than sit at the head table he chose to walk around the room and socialise. He did however find time to sit down and have a cuddle with his seven-month-old great-granddaughter Evelyn.

Fairview Retirement Village Manager Kathy Cook made sure that this was a special day for Chuck and his family and friends. When presented with his birthday cake Chuck became a little choked up and quickly passed the microphone to his wife Anne to speak on his behalf.

“This is the first time I have ever seen Chuck speechless,” said Anne Younger in shock. However Chuck quickly returned to form.

“I just wanted to say that this Retirement Village is a just a wonderful place to live and the people here are more like family than neighbours. I think that RSL Care is a very special organisation – it feels like they hand pick the residents and the staff who take care of us so well. We are very lucky to be here,” Chuck said.

At 100 years old Chuck is still an active member of the RSL Care Fairview community with all the Retirement Village residents showing up to wish Chuck a happy birthday.

Charles (Chuck) Younger has lived an exceptional life, born in Burwood Sydney on 5 January 1916. He worked as a jackaroo in Queensland and New South Wales and left Sydney in 1932 to start work as a jackaroo in central and North West New South Wales at various sheep properties. He later moved to Queensland, working on a number of properties in the Longreach / Ilfracombe district.

Chuck enlisted in the RAAF in Longreach in May 1941 and was posted for training initially in Sandgate, and later in Tamworth and Deniliquin in New South Wales. It was in Deniliquin 1942 Chuck married Dorn Hudson from the New England district. They had three children, all of whom live in Brisbane.

He was then posted to the UK on general duties, and later as a Spitfire Pilot to 680 Squadron RAAF in the Middle East, and from there to 681 Squadron in Burma. It was in Burma that Chuck was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, before he was finally discharged on 12 November 1945.

Upon returning to Australia after the war, Chuck continued his life on the land, working as an overseer on properties at Bourke, Quilpie and Dalby. In 1950 he joined the Department of Agriculture and Stock and transferred to Brisbane, where he retired in 1981.

Upon retirement, Chuck continued his long involvement in the Masonic Lodge, and joined The Queensland Masonic Choir. He also started volunteering for different organisations such as the MacIntyre Centre who work with the disabled, Multiple Sclerosis Australia and The Leukaemia Foundation where he was awarded Life Membership for his tireless efforts.

Chuck was still volunteering with The Leukaemia Foundation up until the age of 99 years old. Chuck was so determined to continue volunteering despite having difficulty getting to and from the foundation other volunteers would drop off work for him to do in his home.

His other great interest is watching and supporting Rugby Union for which he was also awarded Life Membership for his involvement in the foundation and ongoing efforts in making Goondiwindi one of the strongest country Rugby clubs in Queensland.

After the death of his wife in 1997, Chuck married Anne Lewis in 2000. He is regularly visited at Pinjarra Hills by his two sons, daughter, six grandchildren and one great-grand child.

We had to ask Chuck, what is your secret to longevity?

“A nice glass of Johnny Walker, and if they’re listening my gate is always open and they’re welcome to leave a case on my front porch,” he said winking. 

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