Border Watch (Mount Gambier, SA : 1861 - 1954), Saturday 3 July 1915, page 4


INTERESTING CENTENARIAN.

VIGOROUS AT 105 YEARS.

Mr. John Bodey, an early South Australian, who resides with his youngest son, Edward, iit Cainpcrdown, Victoria,

celebrated about a week ago, the 105th. anniversary of his birth. He is the father of Mr. Geo. Bodey, of Glencoe, late member of the House of Assembly for Victoria and Albert. The cx-member is on the Royal Commission 011 Main Roads and. at their meeting on Thursday the Commissioners decided to send a message to the father of Mr. George Bodey expressing .their congratulations and best wishes. Just before his 104th anniversary the Main Roads Commission, during their visit to Victoria, called upon the 4 venerable colonist, who agreeably sur

prised them with his marvellously retentive memory, especially of events of half a ccntury or more ago in South Australia. Mr. John Bodey was born in Ireland, and brought his wife 1 and family to South Australia in tlvc

early fifties. There were in all eight sons and one daughter, live of whom camo from the old' land, and four were born here. All the sons are alive, the eldest being Mr.-Jlathew Bodey, who resides at Hamilton, Victoria, in ids JiOtli year. Mr. George Bodey, one of the youngest members of the family, ! was born at AVoodsidc, Mr. John

Bodey retains his faculties toi a remarkable degree. Intellectually he is almost as keen as ever. When spoken to about his father on Saturday last, Mr. George Bodey remarked: -"I don't think lie has ever had a doctor in his life, and shaves himself with a razor. He reads his newspaper without the aid of glasses, and is quite abreast of all that is going 011 111 the great world. He takes a very keen interest in polities at'home and abroad, writes to his sons frequentlyI regularly get letters from him-and lie can walk ami get about with the aid of a stick." Jt is many years since Mr. Bodey rotired from active business life. H is eight sons have large families scattered over Australia, and when any of lvis children goes to see him lie enquires after all Ills family and all Ills grandchildren, and even mentions them by name," remarked Mr. G. Bodey. The old man is an inveterate smoker, anil the fact, too, that he is not a total abstainer, docs not appear to have in any way shortened his life.-"Advertiser."