DOWN MEMORY ‘LINE’: All aboard 100-year-old’s birthday bash

A Strathalbyn resident received a surprise party for his milestone 100th birthday last week.

Tom Blucher was previously a stationmaster at Strathalbyn Railway Station, and now lives at Estia Health Strathalbyn.

Staff asked him to the station last Wednesday for a photo, and that morning, asked other residents to dress in their best for a day out.

But, the story was all a guise, and instead a birthday celebration was held for the centenarian at Strathalbyn Railway Station.

Guests enjoyed a visit from the SteamRanger, a performance by bagpiper Caitlin Fry, and a lunch spread.

“I just went into shock,” Mr Blucher said.

The visit brought back many memories, as he lived in the historic stationmaster’s building from 1964 to 1967, with his wife Marj and daughter Wendy.

“I can’t believe it. Sitting here, looking at the Strathalbyn sign, remembering living here 60 years ago.

“It felt like it was just yesterday.

“There was always one train that would come in the early hours of the morning, and wake us up, but we got used to it.”

His son Barry remembered visiting on weekends with his brother Gary.

“Where the carpark is now, that was dad’s vegetable garden,” the Belvadere-resident said.

“He filled it up with vegetables, the sleepers are still there.

“He moved 14 times in 28 years, because he was a very ambitious railway man.”

The station was busy, especially the passenger rails between Milang, Victor Harbor, and Adelaide.

“Lots of people travelled by train, it was a good service,” Barry said.

Some of the towns Mr Blucher worked in included Adelaide, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte, Hamley Bridge, Gladstone, Mile End and Renmark, retiring as the Divisional Superintendent for Adelaide.

He also worked as a sound reader during his career.

After a century, Mr Bucher keeps his sharp mind, good memory and knack for numbers, and credited his longevity to two things.

“When I retired at 59, I said ‘I’m going to remain physically fit and mentally active’, and I’ve been active all my life,” he said.

He played tennis “till my boys beat me, then I gave it up”, played bridge which was “marvellous”, and bowls for 46 years, retiring at 86-years-old.

“People used to say it was an old man’s game, but you had to be fit to play a full afternoon,” he said.

“I say it was an old man’s active game, because you’ve got to be active to do it.”

Surrounded by love, Mr Blucher created a family with his late wife Marj, who he enjoyed 64-years of marriage with.

“We were very compatible, we had a very good life,” Mr Blucher said.

“We’ve been very lucky.”

Barry said she was a “lovely person”.

“She was a big part of his life, and helped him in his career,” he said.

The couple had two sons, two daughters, 11 grandchildren, 14 great-grandchildren, and four great-grandchildren.

His celebrations will continue, with another planned by his family at a bowling club.

“It’s quite a milestone, it should be celebrated,” Barry said.

Residents at Estia Health Strathalbyn will also enjoy another celebration for his birthday on May 27.