This is not the first time he has been overseas for a birthday, spending half each year there in recent years, after get married a second time to Irish woman Pauline.
But imagine his surprise when he received not only a special birthday message from Irish President Michael D Higgins but the ‘Centenarian Bounty’ of £2,540 – the equivalent of $5,006.01 (Australian dollars).
Daughter Dianne said it was an unexpected windfall for her Dad who worked in the intelligence unit for the army while stationed in New Guinea in the early 1940s.
After returning to Australia and starting a plumbing and draining business, he married Doris and had Ray, Dianne and Mark, four grandchildren and five great grandchildren, one of whom, Jake, was in Dublin to help Eric celebrate on the day.
Dianne said they were unsure when Eric would be back on Aussie soil.
“He is as sharp as a tack with all of his marbles but it’s getting harder to travel as he gets older,” she said.
“We are very grateful to the Irish Government for its generosity, as is Dad, and look forward to seeing him again soon.”
