BALNARRING resident Milton Perry has celebrated his 100th birthday with a surprise helicopter ride and a celebration at Arcare Balnarring.
Perry celebrated the milestone on 21 September, surrounded by family, friends, fellow Arcare residents, and local community members.
The celebrations included a surprise helicopter ride over the local area, including the nearby Navy base.
Perry served in the Navy for two years, in 1945 and 1946.
Navy representatives attended the celebrations and presented Perry with gifts for his service, including a letter from HMAS Cerberus Commanding Officer Ben Esler RAN.
Perry worked as a hospital administrator in Kew before moving to Balnarring in 1988.
“I used to come down with others that I knew, and we played a lot of golf,” said Perry.
“And as a result, I’ve got to know the area.”
He bought a block of land and built his home, where he lived for decades alongside his wife, Helen.
The pair were married for around 65 years prior to her death shortly before COVID-19.
“We agreed on most things,” said Perry.
“And if we couldn’t agree, we didn’t argue; we would talk about it and work it out.”
Perry said he believes some of the habits and lifestyle choices from his generation contributed to him reaching 100.
“A lot of the things that people used to do, I think, are more healthy than some of the modern things,” said Perry.
Perry spends a lot of his time at the local bowls club, having played the sport for over a decade.
“It’s competitive, it’s exercise, and it’s interesting,” said Perry.
Perry was presented with a card signed by everyone at the bowls club, as well as a plaque from Bowls Victoria.
Perry said he never expected to make it to 100.
He said he grew up in a time when many of the conveniences and technologies people now take for granted were not easily accessible.
Perry said local kindergarten children will often visit Arcare, and he enjoys telling them about what it was like when he was growing up, helping them appreciate what they have now.
Perry said having so many people there to help celebrate his 100th birthday was a nice reminder of the life he has built.
“It makes me realise I’ve probably done more good than harm,” said Perry.
“I haven’t done too many bad things, and if we all just sort of went through life like that, it would be a lot better off.”
First published in the Western Port News – 30 September 2026
