Len celebrated his 97th birthday on  February 27, 2014, and only recently moved into his own unit at Rosedurnate after living in his own premises for many years.

He’s also still writing books and only this year, published yet another.

The Unger Family Reunion book, published in 2011 on the centenary of the family’s move from Victoria to Parkes gives some insight into Len’s amazing life.

It nostalgically looks back on his past and living throughout the 20th century from his boyhood days to a healthy 97 year-old.

Len was born in 1917 at Nurse Cock’s Private Hospital in Parkes and grew up in Alectown on a property where he attended school until he was 14 years old. 

Len had always had an interest in history which started at the age of six when he attended his first clearing sale. 

He has since attended more than 440 sales in his lifetime, hunting goods for preservation.  

Due to his love of history Len became a member of the Historical Society in 1955, and never looked back. 

In 2008 Len received a Certificate of Achievement by the Royal Australian Historical Society for “outstanding service to the Parkes and District Historical Society and office bearer, writer and member for 53 years.

In 2009, Len received an award during Seniors Week and won an all-expenses paid trip to Sydney to accept his award.

Len has explored his love for history in writing, and has produced 15 publications on topics such as “The Butler Murder Case,” “Bushranging,” “The Early Bogan River Story,” and many more including family publications. 

Len looks back on the 20th Century and is impressed by the progress make in science, technology and engineering. 

“There is nothing that the human mind can conceive that is impossible” he says, when it comes to technology and the advances made throughout his life. 

He writes of telephones, supermarkets, manufacturing and robots taking the place of humans, and all the changes within his life that he has witnessed and is astounded by. 

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PS: When his farmhouse was destroyed by fire in 1991, Len moved from Alectown West into a flat in Talbot Street where he remained until February this year. 

Vacating his flat proved to be quite a challenge - what to do with his two beloved cats and his more than 2500 books, many of which are quite valuable.

He contributed many articles in the Unger family book which marked the centenary in 2011 of the Unger’s move from Dimboola Victoria in 1911.

After several weeks spent in respite care at Niola, Len realised the time had come for him to no longer live alone.

Rosedurnate Aged Care offered him a room upstairs in the Permanent Low Care section. 

Len was pleased to learn he is the oldest resident at Rosedurnate.

By choice he uses the stairs rather than the lift to have his meals in the dining room on the ground floor.

His doctor recently checked out his heart and blood pressure and said he is as good as a 50 year-old!

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Len produced his latest book, Collected Notes and Anecdotes,  this year.

It is available for only $5 from the Champion Post and the Parkes Visitors Information Centre.