101 not out good innings

Last year when he celebrated his 100th birthday, Oamaru resident Arthur Wilson had his lawn mowing contract renewed for five years by his nephew Don Hay.

But almost a year later, Mr Wilson had to break the contract because he was leaving Oamaru.

Today Mr Wilson is celebrating his 101st birthday in Culverden, where he shifted a few weeks ago to live with daughter Lee Geange.

"I'm having to mow my own lawns now," Mr Hay said yesterday.

His uncle had settled in at Culverden after a short, unsuccessful stint in an Oamaru rest-home when he left his Waitaki District Council community housing unit in Swale St.

Mr Hay said Mr Wilson was still active and enjoying life.

Mr Wilson was born in Christchurch, and started work as a cowboy on Longslip Station near Omarama in 1926.

Later, he also worked on the Waitaki dam while the hydro project was being built.