By JESSE GRAHAM
A HEARTWARMING series of birthday events were held for a long-time Yarra Ranges resident, who celebrated his 90th birthday with friends, family and loved ones.
Gerard Ribberink was greeted by around 50 well-wishers at the Upper Yarra RSL on Sunday 23 March, all of whom had gathered to help him mark his milestone for the following day.
On his birthday, his son, Robert, took him to a special celebration at the York on Lilydale with more friends to mark the occasion, before an afternoon tea at Yarra Junction, where Mr Ribberink now resides.
His daughter, Rhonda Sumner, said that Mr Ribberink got more than one day to celebrate his birthday, and described all of the events as “heartwarming”.
She said that he was overwhelmed when he saw so many people had gathered for his birthday.
“He was really excited about it and enjoyed it all,” she said.
Mr Ribberink first came to Australia in 1950 as a pastry cook, and quickly settled down, setting up a business with his fiancé, Suzette, who he married shortly afterwards.
He worked as a pastry cook for over 37 years and settled down with his wife in Lilydale in 1965, after having four children – Ronald, Robert, Rhonda and Rosemary.
Suzette and his son Ronald are now deceased, and Mr Ribberink has three grandchildren – Jai, Aaron and Zoe.
Mr Ribberink currently lives at Estia Care in Yarra Junction.
