Carinity Home Care client, Allan Ashton, has fit a lot into his 99 years - both on the ground and in the air!
The Brisbane man, who celebrated his 99th birthday last week, was born in Newcastle in New South Wales in 1926.
Allan went on to work as an electrical fitter for BHP in his hometown. The occupation would later see Allan and his wife Marion - who he married in 1957 - relocate to Ontario in Canada where Allan oversaw a large manufacturing company.
An escalating fear of war during the Cuban Missile Crisis, a confrontation between the United States and the Soviet Union in 1962, convinced the Ashtons to return to Australia with their three young children.
Before he moved back to Queensland, Allan enjoyed a four-day road trip across America with a friend, travelling from Washington DC, in the country's east, to San Francisco, on the west coast.
During this journey, Allan and his Canadian friend dined with Colonel Harland Sanders. Allan recalls that the Kentucky Fried Chicken founder, who tried to convince him to open franchised restaurants in Australia, didn't have chicken for his meal - rather he ate fish!
Allan's love of aviation saw him fly planes in Newcastle for a hobby in his youth. After moving back to Queensland from Kingston, Canada, a career change in his 40s saw Allan begin to pilot planes for a living.
Living in Cairns and Longreach, he worked for Bush Pilots-Air Australia, flying regional routes across the state until he retired from aviation industry at the age of 60.
Allan recalls that on ten occasions the Douglas DC-3 planes he flew suffered engine failures, yet he was able to expertly land all the aircraft safely. Since retiring in 1986, Allan has only travelled as a passenger in a plane once!
One of Allan's daughters went on to work in the aviation industry, serving as a flight hostess for airlines such as QANTAS.
Now enjoying life in Brisbane's bayside suburbs, Allan and Marion both receive support from Carinity Home Care, including in-home personal care and meal preparation. Marion also enjoys weekly shopping outings with her personal lifestyle carer.
Learn more about how Carinity Home Care helps Queensland seniors to remain living in the home they love.
