On February 28, 2009, Brian turned 80. Friends and family celebrated at a special lunch at the Castlemaine Art Gallery in central Victoria. As a special treat – and BIG surprise – he officially launched this website after lunch.
Guests travelled from across Australia and from the United States and Europe to join the celebrations, drank copious quantities of great Australian reds and whites, ate massive amounts of fresh seafood, enjoyed BBQs galore and played lots of games of Scrabble.
Speaking of Scrabble, Brian’s birthday cake reflected the love and high regard in which he is held – and his fondness and aptitude for the wordy puzzle. Here’s the design, so see if you can work out the greeting. (Here’s the solution!)
For a peek at some of the highlights captured on film of Brian’s adventures and experiences over the last 80 years, we planned to have image CDs available on request (there’s nothing worse than having a plethora of other people’s pictures foisted upon one!) We will also post some photos of the birthday lunch etc. later.
Visit Brian’s Page for his reminiscences, ditties, thoughts and a bit of family history…and for someone who has “never really bothered with computers”, we may still convince him to author a blog every now and then. Well, we can try.
Cheers! Brian enjoys an Australian red from the Chewton cellar, June 2007. Photo by Greg Walsh
11 Comments. Leave new
Happy Birthday, Brian/Daddy. We hope you have a wonderful, happy day!!!!!!
Wishing you a terrific day. Happy Birthday!
Happy birthday! Brian.
Sally and I have grown to love your baby, Caroline. Together we ponder over you, and Jean’s life so often, sitting in sub-tropical Qld evenings. As a collector, historian, and sentimentalist, I congratulate the “driving force” behind the website initiative, because it is exceptional!! and something we all should do!
Love
Richard (The Colonel)
Best wishes and a very happy birthday, Brian!
love from JEAN XX
Dear Dad,
I hope you have a lovely birthday with us all
love and kisses always. Rosemary. oxooxoxo
happy birthday dad.
love you lots,
caroline. xxx
Wishing you a GREAT birthday, Dad. May the red wine and good conversation flow all day long! Love from Greg & Rosy XX
Wishing you a wonderful birthday. It’s lovely that we will be all together on your day. Hope that you receive all that you wish for!! Much love from us both, Janatha and David XXXX
Happy Birthday to you!!!! Lots of love and kisses from Catherine & David XXXXXXXX
Great site folks. Very enjoyable and informative. Great day on Saturday. Everyone looked happy and healthy. It was terrific to see you all.
My name is Lyn Wrobel (nee Lynette Young) and I am writing about an article I found on the internet about my father Betram Wae Young which I believe was written by your father(?). Just wanted to let you know it a lovely story and really gave me insight into my father’s teen years. He passed away 14 years ago but it brought back a lot of memories to hear of the stories of his youth.