Surprise party is handy

By Melissa Donchi
LONG-time Upper Yarra resident George Driver turned 80 this month with his friends and family throwing him a surprise birthday party at the Warburton Senior Citizens Club.
It was an interstate affair with some family jetting in from Queensland and Sydney while others came from Colac, Melbourne, Wandin and Monbulk.
His sister Margaret Healy organised the party as a surprise for her brother as well as a reunion for their extended family.
“I figured we hadn’t seen each other in a long time so we might as well make it now before it gets too late,” she said.
“We had at least 55 people there, including our stepbrothers and sisters and their families.”
Mr Driver moved to Warburton when he was 13 years old and later moved to Yarra Junction.
A well-known ‘handyman’ about town, Mr Driver has worked with printing companies, driving taxis and trucks as well as being a good mechanic.
As his only sister, Ms Healy said she still have a close relationship with her brother despite the 10 year age gap.
“We often meet down the street and talk about things,” Ms Healy said. “He likes to get issues off his chest and I like to tell him how it is.”
Ms Healy said he was very surprised by the party and thanked everyone for coming.
“He knew I was behind it, though,” she said.
“He told me he knew I was up to something.”