Alice Springs’ oldest veteran Sydney Kinsman celebrates 100th birthday

Hundreds turned out to wish legendary local Sydney Kinsman a happy birthday from afar. WATCH THE VIDEO HERE.

Alice Springs Sydney Kinsman celebrates his 100th birthday.

ALICE Springs’ oldest veteran, Sydney Kinsman, celebrated his 100th birthday across the weekend as community members, friends and family members gathered to show their love and respect.

Sydney Kinsman.

The legendary local is a World War II veteran, and one of the last living ‘Rats of Tobruk’ – a nickname given to tens of thousands of soldiers who held the Libyan port of Tobruk in 1941.

Sydney and his family had planned on having an open house on Friday afternoon before the Covid-19 lockdown, and his sister and brother (both aged in their nineties) had to cancel their flights.

Luckily family, including grandchildren and great-grandchildren, who live in the area were able to visit.

Daughter Trisha Bruce said a local baker worked on Sydney’s cake for six hours straight to pull it together in time for a family dinner on Friday, and people popped in to wish the legend a happy birthday over the weekend.

On Sunday, residents turned out on the chilly morning to honour the great man during a vehicle procession past his house.

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The event also raised around $900 for Legacy, an organisation close to Sydney’s heart.

Meeting the century milestone also meant Mr Kinsman received a letter from Queen Elizabeth II.

“He was very excited about it and with his military service the letter the queen was very important,” Ms Bruce said.

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