Mackay WWII veteran Peter Holack celebrates 100th birthday

Mackay WWII vet Peter Holack grew up living in a dirt-floor shack at Mt Bassett. His daughter says he probably shouldn’t have survived to turn 100. Read his incredible story.

Peter George Holack is a “resilient” and “stubborn” man who cheated death to celebrate his 100th birthday as his family members will tell you.

“He’s been to the war, he’s been run over by a truck, he’s driven his wheelchair off his stairs, he’s pulled a cupboard over and every single time, he probably should have gone but he didn’t,” daughter Robynn Newman said.

The World War II veteran turned 100 on August 20 and until recently had lived independently in his Howland Street home he shared with his late wife Eileen.

“If he could walk, he’d still be there,” Ms Newman said.

Growing up on a Kolijo cane farm, Mr Holack was the eldest of four brothers: himself, Bill, Joe and Tom.

The family later moved into a dirt-floor shack in-between the weather station and the cemetery at Mt Bassett when their dad, also named Peter Holack, found a job at the quarry.

Young Peter trekked 4km back-and-forth each day to Mackay North Primary and also worked at the dairy before and after, which later became Bayersville Zoo.

Ms Newman said her dad left school at age 13 to join his father at the quarry to contribute to the household.

“He worked on the trains carrying the rocks out to the harbour,” Ms Newman said.

“His story is he built the original harbour wall by himself.”

At age 20, he enlisted for World War II, a war that forever scarred the family.

“I ask him, ‘Why did you enlist?’” Ms Newman said.

“(His) first answer was, ‘Everyone else was’ and I said, ‘That’s a bit stupid.’ He said, ‘It was the right thing to do.’

“They were babies when they went and some of the things that happened to him I go, ‘How did you do that?’

“He was unloading a ship and the Japanese bombers came in and dropped bombs.

“Dad was blown overboard and they thought he was gone.

“His mates jumped in and saved him.”

The Lance Corporal also jumped off a wharf in the pitch black of night to rescue a mate and contracted malaria four times.

The three Holack brothers from Mackay who enlisted for World War II: Joe, Peter and Bill. Peter served with the 2/2 Port Operating Company and attained the rank of Lance Corporal. Picture: Contributed

“The other really sad thing, his younger brother Bill joined up at the same time as Dad and Joe did too,” Ms Newman said.

“They were all in New Guinea at the same time but in different places.

“That’s when Joe was on duty, he actually dropped his rifle on changing guard duty and shot himself through the neck.

“He died at 19.”

And while the boys served, their dad died and their mum Frances Tandridge moved into a nursing home.

Mackay World War II veteran Peter Holack married the love of his life Eileen on August 31, 1942 during five days' leave from the war. Daughter Robynn Newman said because of the two families’ religious differences, he could not marry her until he was 21. Picture: Contributed

But with death there was also new life as Peter married the love of his life Eileen during five days’ leave in Australia, the pair having three daughters: Linda (Macklin), Glennis (Breckell) and the youngest, Robynn.

“(Dad) would do anything for family,” Ms Newman said which included joining the marching band and eventually becoming the chief instructor in the 50s and 60s because Linda and Glennis were involved.

She said her dad loved music especially Andre Rieu and could play the harmonica and piano accordion, although she had never heard him do so.

“And apparently he has a beautiful voice but I’ve never heard him sing,” she said with a laugh.

“We are just so proud that he made it to 100.

“Somewhere I read people who live long, long lives do so partially because they’re experts at dealing with loss — which is kind of negative — but he has.

“His hasn’t had an easy life.

“When mum died we thought that would be the end, he cared for her and she passed away 12 years ago.

“Resilience, he just keeps doing what has to be done.”

Peter Holack is a Mackay RSL sub-branch member.