CELEBRATING his 100th birthday at home with family and friends today is Hamilton’s George Habel OAM.

Mr Habel’s contribution to the community is well known and extensive through the Hamilton RSL, and Hamilton & District Legacy, where he served as a president of both, and pension and welfare officer for the RSL.

He has been awarded life membership of both.

Born and bred in Hamilton, Mr Habel started school at Knebsworth and Hamilton North Primary School, then went to secondary school at Hamilton High School.

After he left school, Mr Habel worked at Cash and Carry, then Crofts Grocery Store before joining the Royal Australian Navy as a teenager, initially shipped to Kenya to board the ship he was assigned to - HMAS Norman.

He and 200 other shipmates joined a convoy escort in the Atlantic Ocean mainly against “U” boats on the East Coast of Africa where 40 boats were lost in one month.

“I was in a naval depot in Mombassa, east Africa for two or three weeks - they called it a depot, but it was really in the middle of the jungle,” Mr Habel told The Spectator in 2021.

“I was glad to get out of there.”

He was enlisted for four years in World War II during which he served in the south Atlantic, the Indian Ocean, and the Red Sea.

He also served in the Bay of Bengal in Burma, bombarding Japanese show posts at night.

After returning home for a ship refit in Sydney he was then drafted to a Corvette HMAS Cowra doing patrols around New Guinea and Rabaul.

When the war ended, Mr Habel returned to Australia, living in Melbourne for five years.

Mr Habel married in 1947 to late wife Hilda, and together they raised six children, five girls and one boy. He is now proud grandfather of 20 grandchildren and 30 great-grandchildren.

In Melbourne, Mr Habel worked at the Department of Civil Aviation Survey working on airstrips anywhere in Australia, and the Trans Australian Airline (TAA).

They returned to Hamilton in 1951.

“Four years later I joined the Hamilton RSL and I’ve been a member ever since,” he said.

In Hamilton, he first worked for Strachans Hardware, then Permewans, then Healing’s Spare Parts and from there to Watson Cameron Spare Parts. 

He then went back to Healing’s Spare Parts as a whitegoods sales’ representative travelling throughout Victoria before retiring in 1980.

It was in retirement that he undertook voluntary work with the RSL and as a Legatee.

He provided care to and assisted veterans and their families after they were discharged with financial support, pension work, their health, including disabilities, and general wellbeing, for decades.

The current RSL sub-branch member and former Navy serviceman was recognised with the highest honour the RSL can invest with a Meritorious Medal in 2019 and life membership. 

On Australia Day, 2021, Mr Habel received an Order of Australia Medal (OAM) in recognition of his outstanding contribution of more than 50 years to the RSL and Legacy.

It was due recognition for his hard work in supporting veterans and their families as a volunteer welfare officer.

Hamilton RSL welfare officer, Danny Bland said, “George is a living legend.”

“When he retired, he became pension officer at the RSL which meant that any veterans that had a DVA (Department of Veterans’ Affairs) claim - he was their claims officer - that involved a fair bit of administration - chatting to doctors (and) making sure they put the right stuff on the forms - it was a lot of administrative work and all as a volunteer.

“He was doing that up until a year and a half ago.”

Mr Bland reflected on a recent case review with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for a veteran.

“I went to see George - he had done the original pension application - not only did he remember the case, but he also remembered where the information was, and he advised me correctly on how to get the right outcome - he was doing that at 98!”

“Another thing about George that blows me away - I have never visited George and seen him dressed in anything other than slacks, a shirt, tie, and jacket.

“He’s just a true gentleman. It’s really kind of wonderful.

“Hamilton RSL wishes George the very best for his 100th birthday.”

Mr Habel was also heavily involved in local football and served for a time as president of the Hamilton Imperial Football Club including their drought-breaking 1977 senior premiership and received life membership in 1991.

Still living at home independently, Mr Habel enjoys good health and has a wonderful sense of humour.

When asked what advice he would give younger people today Mr Habel said, “always do the right thing”.

He said the secret to longevity was looking after your body, but stressed again, “always do what’s right”.

An open invitation afternoon tea celebrating the occasion will be held at the Lutheran Church Hall in Martin Street, Hamilton between 2-5pm this Sunday, January 28.