LAURIETON veteran Maxwell (Max) Ramsey celebrated his 102nd birthday on 6 May.
Born in 1924, Max grew up on the land across Pambula, Bimbaya and Toowoomba, where early life was defined by dairy farming, sheep, and the demands of rural work.
By the age of 12 he was already running his own team of 16 bullocks.
He describes this experience as formative, teaching him patience, problem-solving, and practical resilience far beyond his years.
At just 16, he lost his mother, before going on to serve in World War II for four years.
Like many of his generation, he returned carrying the emotional weight of war, shaped by loss and hardship, but also by a determination to keep moving forward.
After the war, Max married his wife Shirley in 1948, and the pair shared 71 years together.
Reflecting on their life, Max says their enduring partnership was built on perseverance and commitment, navigating life’s ups and downs side by side.
One of their fondest memories was relocating to Laurieton in the early 1950s, a chapter Max still recalls vividly for its simplicity and sense of new beginnings.
A skilled tradesman, Max went on to become a Master Builder, developing a lifelong passion for working with timber.
“The timber is always alive!” he says, describing his dedication to craftsmanship.
He also worked as an Aircraft Instrument Technician, a role that reflected his technical skill and curiosity.
Now almost 102, Max continues to stay mentally and physically active, maintaining a strong belief in daily exercise and lifelong learning.
When asked the secret to a long and happy life, Max is clear: “Communicate, converse at every level with your spouse – it is the most important advice I can give”.
Max now resides at Whiddon Laurieton.
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