Livingstone Shire resident Charles Randell going strong after 100 years

He may be 100, but life is still there to be lived for Capricorn Coast resident Charles Randell.

Charles Randell celebrating his 100th birthday with family. Pic supplied

At 100 years old, you’d be forgiven for taking life easy.

Yet, according to people who know him, Pacific Heights (Livingstone Shire) resident Charles Randell still has the same enthusiasm and zest for life that has carried him through to celebrating his milestone centenary birthday earlier this month.

Charles was born on May 11, 1925, and raised on his family’s cane farm at Carmila, south of Sarina with his four siblings.

He left his parent’s home at the age of 16 to go horse breaking at Daunia Station near Nebo.

His most treasured memory was when he first sighted May, who would become his wife and life partner, on the other side of Saltwater Creek.

In a case of love at first sight, Charles said he knew straight away he would marry the then 14-year-old May.

At the time he was still only 16-years-old.

Charles Randell pictured on his wedding day with wife May. Pic supplied

May had had a rocky start to life with her parents passing when she was just a baby, resulting in her being raised by her grandparents.

After a beautiful courtship, the couple were married in 1947 at 21-years-old and 19-years-old respectively and went on to be happily married for 73 years until May’s passing in 2021.

After his stint horse breaking Charles worked for Queensland Railways at St Lawrence before becoming Stationmaster at Carmilla for a further 10 years.

He and his wife had three beautiful children; Charlie, John and Beverley.

The family would eventually extend to include five grandchildren and nine great-grandchildren

The happy young family purchased a butcher’s shop and slaughter yards at Koumala.

Charles said it was a partnership in every way with May taking care of the books while he took care of the more manual duties the business required.

In time they moved to a 28,000 acre property at Mount Stuart, Capella, where they ran cattle before moving again to a 105,000 acre property adjacent to Burdekin.

They trained and bred horses at Mount Stuart for mustering and racing.

After working hard his entire life, Charles and May retired to Pacific Heights in Yeppoon.

Charles Randell winning the Carmila Cup in 1938. Pic supplied

Charles said it was a natural move as it was closer to his roots.

His great grandfather was one of the first settlers in Queensland, setting down around the Shoalwater Bay area where he was ultimately buried.

Building started on the couple’s new home in 1999 and they moved in two years later in January 2001,

It was the first house on Pacific Heights and, at the time, the house cost $270,000 and the block was $65,000.

Though May has since passed away, Charles still lives relatively independently in Pacific Heights.

According to his great-granddaughter-in-law Siobhan Randel,l he is doing well for his age and still loves to get involved in bull sales as well as going out to the two family properties.

“He is very out there, and still a very capable man at 100,” she said.

Asked what she enjoys doing most with Charles, Siobhan said it was listening to his stories.

“He has a memory you wouldn’t believe at 100,” she said.

Keppel MP Nigel Hutton said celebrating 100 years of life was a huge milestone and he congratulated Charles with a birthday card and certificate to mark the occasion.

“Charles family has an amazing history across the Central Queensland region and I feel honoured he was happy to share a small snippet from his life with us,” Mr Hutton said.

“It is the brilliant life stories such as Charles that we are able to record and preserve the legacy of our forefathers.

“I wish Charles all the best for his birthday and look forward to hearing more of his family history.”