Born a week after the outbreak of World War 1, Jim jokes how a mistake by his father in registering his birth as August 27, 1914 (instead of the actual birth date of August 14), has seen him celebrate twice a year all his life.

“My father travelled into the Holbrook Court House a couple of weeks after my birth to register the details, but mistakenly put that day’s date, so I’ve taken advantage of the situation ever since,” Jim laughed.

Tomorrow will be a quiet celebration with family, many of whom will travel from across the state to share in the special day.

They will include Gaile and Bob Hart who have just moved into Parkes, Jan and Bruce Ellis (Dubbo), Peg and Tony Booth (Warner’s Bay), Robyn and Robert Morphett (Moama), Rhonda Martin (Bathurst), and Carmel and Bob Allan (Maitland).

Not one for too much fuss, Jim is still mourning the death last year of Dulcie, his wife of 76 years.

“I miss her very much. She was my partner in life and I still expect to see her walk through that door,” he said.

“If she was still here with me I’d jump at the chance to really celebrate.

“So tomorrow I’ll be toasting her memory more so than my birthday.”

Jim retains his simple philosophy on life.

“Loyal dinky-di friends is all you ever need and I’ve been blessed to have many throughout my life.

“I was also very lucky to meet a beautiful woman whose parents were very accepting and made me welcome.

“It made a big difference, you know!

“And of course our six wonderful daughters who have gone on to marry and provide us with 18 grandchildren, 37 great grandchildren and four great, great grandchildren.”

Jim was born in Germaton – so named because of the many German settlers in the village. The town was later renamed Holbrook.

Both Jim’s parents were English migrants. In fact his mother was born on a boat travelling to Australia in 1879.

She married James William Davis on March 2, 1899, and the couple had 11 children.

Today, Jim is the sole survivor.

Educated in Holbrook, like many of that era, Jim left school at 14.

A visit by his grandfather and uncle proved the catalyst to his future.

“Mum sent me back with them to the property “Oondooroo” at Tomingley to work as a farmhand,” Jim said.

“After a year or two I got a job share farming with William Tink on a neighbouring property for several years.”

Jim met Dulcie Hoy at a regular Saturday night dance in Tomingley, swept her off her feet and they married in 1937. He was 23 and Dulcie 18.

During the ensuing years, Dulcie gave birth to six daughters – Gaile, Jan, Carol (Peg), Robyn, Rhonda and Carmel while residing at the Tomingley property “Spring Valley.”

“I really want to pay tribute to Dulcie. She was a wonderful wife and mother to our six daughters,” Jim said.

“She prepared wonderful meals in the slow combustion stove, used the old wood-fired copper to wash our clothes. She helped milk the cow, made butter, we collected eggs and grew our own vegetables.

“The changes in this regard alone over the years have been mind-boggling.”

Jim and Dulcie purchased “Spring Valley” which they had leased for many years after Carmel was born in 1950.

“Ours was a mixed farming business that included lambs, cattle on the odd occasion, and cropping.

“Over the years we certainly experienced many ups and downs and a continuation in improved farming techniques – especially in regards to machinery,” Jim said.

“I remember the days of having to use horses to pull the ploughs; life is all so different now.”

Times were often tough and Jim remembers having to leave Tomingley in 1941 to seek work to pay of a machinery bill he had chalked up with Howard and Sons.

“It was one of only two occasions I ever left the bush, the other was in 1978 after we sold `Spring valley” to Jan and Bruce.

“Dulcie and I purchased a unit in Coogee where we lived for five years before deciding to return to the country and live in Peak Hill.

It really was a case of that old adage – you can take the boy out of the country but you can’t take the country out of the boy.

Jim has always involved himself heavily in the community and still remains a Patron and Life member of the Tomingley Picnic Race Club of which he first became part of the committee some 70 years ago.

Today he is a Life member and Patron of the Peak Hill Bowling Club, a Patron of the town’s Trotting Club, and a former committeeman of the Peak Hill PA and H Association.

Jim even dabbled in the trotting game where in partnership with Col Elliott bred a few trotters but with limited success

Blessed with good health, Jim was 90 when he had a pacemaker fitted.

Although he is almost blind, he still resides at home with the assistance of a live-in carer where he enjoys the simple things in life while at the same time missing his independence.

“That’s what comes with getting old you know.

“But I’m looking forward to next Easter for our biannual family reunion.

“We always have about 200 attend the weekend where there is a big dinner get-together and cricket, golf and bowls.

“There’ll be a toast to absent friends and I have no intention of being one of those absentees,” Jim said.