VETERAN Roy Day celebrated his 100th birthday on 26 October 2026, joining the ranks of local centenarians, amid plenty of celebrations before and on his special day.
Roy served as an Air Force medical orderly during World War II, and last year was presented with a special Governor-General’s Commander-in-Chief medallion on the 80th anniversary of Victory in the Pacific Day.
A week before Roy’s actual 100th birthday, Roy and his wife Lynnette were whisked away by fellow members of the Tea Gardens RSL sub-Branch for a ‘mystery’ driving tour, taking them off in true classic convertible style for morning tea and the first of many ‘100th’ cakes.
“We picked up Roy and Lynnette in two convertibles from the Tea Gardens Hawks Nest Motor Club, and saw the smile on Roy’s face and the excitement of riding in his favourite Red Austin Healey, the same one he rides in each ANZAC day,” said TGHN Motor Club President David Jones.
“They flew past several other RSL sub-Branch members along the freeway heading out to Markwell to a member’s property where everyone enjoyed morning tea and the first of Roy’s Birthday cakes overlooking the scenery of the valley and lush green hills.
“Even the Air Force came to the party with an impromptu fly past of a PC-21.”
Roy was treated to his second cake of the day at Myalla Magic in Bulahdelah.
“Roy Day is our only WWII ex-serviceman in the area, and attends all the RSL meetings and outings along with all the commemorations, he is always good for a story from his very colourful past and a much-loved member of our sub-Branch,” Mr Jones said.
Roy and his wife Lyn moved to Tea Gardens Grange back in 2001, after many years spent near Strathfield and Hurlstone Park in Sydney’s inner west.
Tea Gardens Grange arranged a special 100th birthday celebration on the 26th October, Roy’s actual birthday, complete with around 100 well-wishers and yet another massive ‘100’ cake.
Special guests included the State Member for Port Stephens Kate Washington, MidCoast Councillor Thomas O’Keefe, Superintendent Dan Meijer – District Manager of Hornsby/Ku-ring-gai NSW RFS District, several members of the Berowra RFS brigade where Roy volunteered with the RFS for 33 years and was Captain for eight, as well as members of the Pindimar-Tea Gardens RFS brigade, according to Julie Woolard, Village Manager at The Grange.
“We even had NBN news come along, and were told it would air later that night,” she said.
After WWII, Roy and Lyn happened to work in the same Post-Master General’s office in Sydney, she as an accounting machinist, he as a clerk, and they ended up working together in the office of the PMG’s telephone department.
“We only went out three times, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, and then he asked me to marry him,” Lynnette told NOTA.
“People said it wouldn’t work.
“We’ve been married now for 66 years.”
Along the way, they have raised together a wonderful family including three children, and continued an honourable tradition of giving generously to their community through volunteer work, from firefighting north of Sydney to Hawks Nest Meals on Wheels, where both Roy and Lyn also delivered locally and made plenty of friends along the way.
“We moved to Tea Gardens 25 years ago and have never regretted it, this is such a lovely spot to be,” Lyn said.
“I’ve never been this old before,” Roy told the room at The Grange.
“Thank you to everyone for coming.”
By Thomas O’KEEFE
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