Donald Bunnett, seated, with his son Keith at the Masonic Centre in Belgrave.
By Russell Bennett
HILLS Freemason Donald Hugh Bunnett knows the secret to long life but doesn’t plan on giving it up any time soon.
Mr Bunnett will celebrate his 100th birthday at Glengollan Village retirement accommodation in Ferntree Gully on 22 September.
“I wouldn’t have a clue what I’ve done to get here,” Mr Bunnett said with a mischievous grin.
“No, it’s my secret. I’m not going to tell anyone.”
Mr Bunnett, known to his friends and family as ‘Hughie’, was born into a family of eight children in Fairfield in 1910. Sadly, two of his siblings died as babies.
He grew up in western Melbourne where he later met the love of his life, Inez (Iney). They married and had two children, Beverley born in 1937 and Keith in 1940.
Mr Bunnett’s work – “as a very precise tradesman” according to Keith – kept him in the inner suburbs until his daughter developed the debilitating lung disease bronchiectasis.
“He was advised in 1944 that she should live in a healthier climate in the mountains,” Keith said.
“The only mountains Hughie had ever seen came from an occasional glimpse of the Dandenongs, so he said ‘we’ll go and live near there’.”
Mr Bunnett still commuted from his home in Croydon, and later Ferntree Gully and Boronia, into the city to work.
He ultimately decided that was no longer practical and took jobs closer to home as a bread delivery man, road worker, and orchard hand.
Mr Bunnett joined the Freemasons in the 1960s when he decided he was a little too old for orchard work.
He became Master of Boronia Lodge in 1969 before joining Blue Dandenongs Lodge where he is still a member.
“He has always been a regular attendee and was well known for the quality of his ritual,” Blue Dandenongs member Robert McGregor said.
“The warmth and sincerity with which he could present it was worth being there to hear.”
Mr Bunnett moved into Glengollan Village after his wife died and has been there for the past 16 years.
“He used to enjoy helping out some of the ‘little old biddies’ – the nice ladies in their 70s,” Keith said.
Mr Bunnett couldn’t understand why he has outlived so many of his loved ones but said he plans on being around a while longer.
“My wife, brothers, sisters and cousins – they’re all gone,” he said.
“Here I am like a shag on a rock and I wouldn’t have a clue why.
“I will say this, I’m going to live to 110.”
