Bli Bli World War II veteran turns 101 and reveals tips for long life

A Sunshine Coast war veteran who got shot twice reveals his secrets to a long life as he turns 101, and also marks the first birthday without his wife of 70 years.

A Second World War veteran who was shot twice has revealed his secrets to a long life on his 101st birthday on May 26.

Sunshine Coast resident Allan Page has lived on the same property on Bli Bli Rd, between Nambour and Bli Bli, since he was born in 1922.

The sugar cane grower fought in Papua New Guinea during the Second World War and was at Bougainville when the conflict ended in 1945.

He was 18 when he joined and was sent overseas in 1942 to build airstrips for the Americans.

His son, Neil Page, said his dad would tell a story of the Japanese soldiers surrendering and his dad guarding them before they were sent home.

Allan Page, a Second World War veteran, is turning 101 on May 26 and has shared his secret to a long life.

He said his dad harboured no ill will to the Japanese soldiers.

“I said to Dad ‘did you feel any anger towards the men you were fighting?’” Neil said.

Allan Page joined the Army when he was 18 and fought in the Second World War.

“Dad said ‘no, no, no … we were all young blokes … we were all very tired and just wanted to go home’.”

Allan also remembered the day they surrendered.

“We were surprised, because when they surrendered there was that many of them there,” he said.

“By then, the Americans had packed up to go to the Philippines and when they went to the Philippines they didn’t take all their trucks and things, they just drove them onto the landing barges and dumped them into the sea.”

Sunshine Coast born and raised Allan and his son, Neil Page.

Allan was shot twice, once through the ear and grazed on the back, and he was bandaged up and sent back to active combat.

He said the “Yanks” introduced him to warm Coca-Cola and he introduced them to “bully beef”, or canned beef, and biscuits that were the common rations for Australian soldiers.

Upon returning from the war, Allan married his neighbour Beatrice Page, nee Buckland, and the couple had four children.

Beatrice and Allan Page on their wedding day.

Neil said everything revolved around the sugar cane season, including the wedding, which was scheduled for the end of the harvest.

“It was a different season then because they had hand cutters and horses pulling the cane out,” he said.

Neil, Allan, Beatrice (nee Buckland) and Andrew Page.

Beatrice died last year and the pair also shared the same birthday.

This will be Allan’s first birthday without his wife of 70 years by his side.

The grower has seen incredible changes on the Sunshine Coast and further afield.

Allan Page and his son, Neil, on a tractor on the cane farm.

He would hand cut sugar cane before machinery became the norm.

He also remembered his mum and dad buying their first car from Brisbane when he was a teenager in the 1930s.

“We got bogged on the Bruce Hwy,” Allan said.

Prior to the car purchase, Allan’s family had only used a horse and sulky to travel.

Allan said the secret to a long life was to keep busy.

Neil said his dad always kept fit and active because of his farm life and had an active mind.

“That was his answer to longevity,” Neil said.

“He hasn’t had time to think about ill health or anything like that and even today at 101 he’s sort of busy … he’s still interested in what goes on around the place.”

Allan will celebrate his birthday on Sunday, May 28, at the Nambour RSL with loved ones.