Cheers to a lucky life

By Kath Gannaway
ROBERT Hill has three tips for anyone aspiring to reach 100… as he did on Sunday, April 29.
One is highly achievable. For the past 60 years or so Mr Hill has enjoyed a gin and tonic each evening.
Not too hard!
The others? “Make sure your parents come from a family which has a history of longevity, and be born under a lucky star.”
It’s a recipe certainly which has served him well.
As a volunteer at the Judith Eardley Save Wildlife Centre in Healesville, Mr Hill is continuing to enjoy life and is making a difference.
“He is a great inspiration,” said the centre’s manager, Peter Hannaford.
“We are so pleased to have Robert working here.
“Apart from the fact that he is so gracious, he is very good at what he does.”
For Mr Hill’s part, he is in his element. Having been employed virtually all his working life in the printing and publishing industry, to be surrounded by books and meeting new people is part of what he says has been a good life.
That long, lucky, life has included a beautiful wife and daughter, playing cricket at Lords against the likes of Kenneth Farnsworth and Leslie Aimes when he was in the RAF, the opportunity to come to live in Australia and then, 15 years ago, to move to Healesville.
“I have been terribly lucky,” Mr Hill said.
“Dad always said I was born under a lucky star and looking back I must admit I have been so fortunate in every way – health, jobs and the people I have met.”