Centenarions Brian Winspear, Eva Roland share their stories

Two Tasmanians who have surpassed 100 years old have shared their secrets to a long and healthy life. Read their inspiring stories.

Tasmanian veteran Brian Winspear says if you want to live to 100, you simply need to step up.

One of the country’s last surviving World War II pilots celebrates his 102nd birthday on Monday and his advice is quite literal.

“You know you live a 17 per cent longer life if you’ve got stairs to climb every day,” Mr Winspear laughs.

He stepped up for military service and was on duty when Japanese air raids started in Darwin in 1942.

In 2020 he flew from Hobart for a commemorative service and was given a standing ovation.

“There were about 10,000 people and they were shouting and clapping,” the centenarian says.

The remarkable and sprightly Mr Winspear lives alone at Bellerive and still drives and plays bowls.

One of the earliest known photos of World War II veteran Brian Winspear with the family dog Clockwork. The photo was taken in the early 1920s.

“There’s not a walking stick of wheelchair in sight,” one of the 60 guests at his birthday lunch quipped.

He just bought his 55th car.

“I’d have to wait too long for a new one, so it’s second hand. I still drive a lot.”

Asked about his longevity he said: “It’s stressful, you’ve got to have parties!”

Brian when he was 19. Picture: SUPPLIED

Due to Covid he was restricted to small family gatherings for his 100th and 101st birthdays.

“It’s just commonsense, I eat half a handful of nuts every day and I’ve got lots of stairs in my place.

“I’m lucky I’ve got a lot of friends.

“Some of them here today are 80 or 90 years old.”

Mr Winspear was a pioneer in the motel and fishing industries at Bicheno and in 1993 was awarded an Order of Australia for service to tourism and the community.

One of the best experiences of his life was flying in a Concorde aircraft, “flying at twice the speed of sound” in 1970.

“I went up to speak to the pilot and after hearing a bit about my Air Force background he said ‘we’ll be landing at Bahrain in 10 minutes, there is a spare seat so join us for landing’.

“So there I was sitting up the front in the cockpit when it landed, it was wonderful.”

World War II veteran Brian Winspear celebrates his 102nd birthday at Hobart. Picture: Chris Kidd

Mr Winspear still flies regularly recently returning from three weeks in Bowen in north Queensland, where he has life membership of the local bowls club and also visiting his daughter who is unwell in Ballarat, Victoria.

In two weeks he will fly to the Warbirds Downunder Airshow in Temora, New South Wales.

“The RAAF will give me a ride in the old Lockheed bomber, it will be lovely,” Mr Winspear said.

His step-daughter Kathie Bradley of Canberra summed up the feelings of everyone at his birthday bash.

“He’s just a wonderful person – he’s an inspiration.”

How 105-year-old took on Covid and won

She is nearly 106 years old but Eva Roland has miraculously survived Covid.

Until last year, Mrs Roland, a widow for nearly 40 years, lived independently at her Margate home before moving into One Care’s Bishop Davies Court at Kingston.

Staff at the aged care facility are amazed at her resilience.

“Covid didn’t affect me at all,” Mrs Roland laughs.

“I had a bit of a cough and a runny nose.

“They packed up my things and moved me into isolation but I was fine.”

Facility manager George Williams said she was the first resident to test positive to Covid in late March.

“Within less than five days, her symptoms had resolved and subsequently her mandatory isolation period ended a few days later,” he said.

“We were all quite amazed at how light her symptoms were and how she remained so positive throughout it all.

“She truly is an inspiration.”

Eva Roland of Kingston who is 105 and contracted covid in March 2022 and now recovered. Picture: Nikki Davis-Jones

Since borders opened last December, 22 residents or about 18 per cent have had Covid at the facility.

Extended care assistant Manisha Maharjan said despite having Covid Mrs Roland had been “in good spirits”.

“It was quite remarkable really, she recovered very quickly,” she said.

“Eva is a very cheerful lady, always smiling and welcoming to all staff and residents.

“She loves to go to the dining room for lunch and dinner as she can meet and chat with other residents.”

“Eva especially likes our bus trips, bingo, the craft and knitting groups and our Tuesday music concerts.”

Her only child, son Graeme Roland, worried when his mother got Covid.

“I spoke to the doctor and he said she would most likely get over it and she did,” Mr Roland said.

Eva Roland when she turned 102. PICTURE CHRIS KIDD

“She had anti-virals and she did very well.”

Born Eva Beadle in Flowerpot in the Channel Mrs Roland was the eldest of 13 children and has three surviving siblings.

She left school at 14 and worked on the family farm, picking fruit and cleaning scallops, in a peg factory and for 21 years in the hardware store.

Mrs Roland puts her longevity down to “hard work”.

“I’ve always worked hard and spent most of my time in the garden and played indoor bowls twice a week (to keep fit).

“I’ve got terrible eyesight but I still won bingo.”

On the wall in her room are letters from Queen Elizabeth and former Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull when she turned 100.

She wasn’t too fazed by the Queen’s death but watched her funeral on television.

Mrs Roland, who will be 106 in December, has one grandson and two great grandchildren.