Former Inverell district farmer and grazier Max Woods has celebrated his 100th birthday with family and friends at a party in Mosman hosted by daughter Susan Woods Giordano.
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Son Ross participated by video link from New York, and daughter Kim Rabbidge visited from Brisbane.
Birthday guests arrived from Inverell, Glen Innes, Melbourne, Nowra, Canberra, Leura, Port Macquarie, Toronto and Sydney to join the celebrations. Video greetings and messages flowed in from Cairns to Perth to Tasmania.
Inverell was well-represented at the party in Sydney: guests included Jenny Cracknell, and many former Inverell residents – Max’s nephew and recently returned Ambassador from Peru, John Woods, former editor of The Inverell Times David Sommerlad and his daughter Debbie, Peter and Amy Longworth and their daughter Philippa, and Graeme and Joan Wickham.
Max and Peter Longworth first met in Inverell in 1949 through the Soil Conservation Service.
David Sommerlad, Jenny Cracknell and Peter Longworth all delivered heart-felt tributes to Max.
Inverell Shire councillor David Jones and wife Christine, who have visited Max in Sydney, were unable to attend, but David delivered a citation for Max at the council meeting which was taking place at the same time.
He was joined by fellow councillor Barry Johnston in conveying congratulations to Max, and by former Swan Vale neighbours, John and Yvonne Courtney, Ron and Roslyn Frazier, Jimmy and Ida Morse and Alison (nee Witts) and Denis McEncroe, and Inverell residents Laural Arnott and Ron and Margaret Harris.
Although Max and Gwen retired from their property at Swan Vale 35 years ago and moved to Glen Innes, their ties to Inverell remained strong. Gwen passed away in 2009, aged 86, and Max moved to Glengarry in Mosman in August 2013.
Among the celebratory messages were letters from the Queen, the Governor General, the Prime Minister, the Minister for Veterans Affairs, the State Governor, the NSW Premier, the Chancellor of the University of Western Sydney and the Chancellor of the University of New England.
“Your achievements in the area of rural sustainability and soil conservation are to be admired,” said UNE Chancellor James Harris.
“The New England region lost a valued member of our community when you retired to Sydney.”
Among other guests were Bob Adcock, 93, who attended Hawkesbury Agricultural College with Max in 1938, and George James, 92, who served in the 14th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers in New Guinea with Max in 1941.
“It was a marvellous party,” Max said. “It was wonderful to see everyone mingling.”
Max could not be drawn on his secret to longevity other than, with his characteristic chuckle, a quip to “keep eating”!
His daughter Susan attributes his long life to his good nature and good humour.
