South Australia’s oldest WWII veteran celebrates 107th birthday

South Australia’s oldest surviving World War II veteran has celebrated his 107th birthday.

Colin Wagener said he didn’t feel a day older than 90. Still living on his 24-hectare Adelaide Hills property, Mr Wagener continues to ride his motorbike and chop his own wood – though he does use an “electric saw*” instead of an axe these days.

“I haven’t got anything wrong with me, no use-by date … all I am doing is slowing down,” he told The Advertiser.

“(A while back) I had to have an X-ray as I’d had done my hip in from kickstarting too many motorbikes … the fellow said to me, ‘Your bones don’t match your body, they are a lot younger than they should be’ … I was quite pleased about that.”

Mr Wagener was born during WWI and lived through the Great Depression* and 25 prime ministers. He said arriving home to Adelaide from WWII on Christmas morning in 1945 was a standout memory.

“After six years at war, I will never forget it … we arrived home about 10.30am after a ticker-tape parade* in Brisbane and it was the best Christmas ever,” he said.

One of his happiest childhood memories was being given a motorbike by his dad for his 16th birthday, which he rode to his inner-city school just once.

“It had a beautiful chrome tank on it, the schoolkids loved it and all gathered around me but I saw the headmaster, who was stuck in the horse and buggy days, frothing at the mouth,” he said with a cheeky glint in his eye.

Luckily there were plenty of “goat tracks by the Torrens at the back of the zoo” for him to ride on instead.

At 17 he decided to build himself a car – a look-alike MG – as “there weren’t many around”.

His love of all things car-related has lasted a lifetime and taken him around the globe to compete in rallies. He has driven all sorts of vehicles, including an Austin 7 and an early model Bugatti.

Mr Wagener, who wed his late sweetheart Peggy in 1941 on a four-hour leave from the army, said he had always been captivated by the radio and had made his own as a young fellow.

“We made everything. I am sorry for the kids now, because they can’t do that, they don’t know the thrill of making a radio … you had to buy a valve (amplifier) and make your own coils,” he said.

He reflected on a memorable road trip as a nine-year-old with his family to Canberra for the opening of the nation’s original Parliament House in 1927.

Mr Wagener is proud to have opened Adelaide’s first motel, the Princes Highway Motel on Glen Osmond Rd in 1962, before a flurry of roadside hotels were opened.

Funny and quick-witted, Mr Wagener quickly won the hearts of customers at the Essence Cafe, who joined in singing “happy birthday” and gave him flowers during his interview with The Advertiser.

SA’s Minister for Veterans Joe Szakacs planned to visit Mr Wagener to wish him happy birthday in person.

“His dedication, bravery, and commitment to both his country and community have left an indelible* mark on South Australia,” Mr Szakacs said. “His life is a testament to resilience, hard work, and a love of adventure that continues to inspire those around him.”

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GLOSSARY

• electric saw: chainsaw
• Great Depression: when unemployment reached very high levels and families across the country struggled to afford the basic essentials like food, clothing and shelter during the 1930s, it was known as the Great Depression
• ticker-tape parade: a parade in the city where shredded paper is thrown from the buildings to create a flurry
• indelible: not easily forgotten, leaving a strong impression

EXTRA READING
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Daughter finds parents’ love notes
Last Dunkirk veteran dies at 102

QUICK QUIZ
1. Which major world event was Mr Wagener born during?
2. What did Mr Wagener visit with his family in Canberra in 1927?
3. What was he given for his 16th birthday?
4. How long did he serve in WWII?
5. If Mr Wagener turned 107 in 2024, what year was he born in?

LISTEN TO THIS STORY

CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Childhood memories
What are some different childhood activities that 107 year old Mr Wagener might have done in his day, compared to the sort of activities kids do in their spare time today.

Childhood activities in 1927 for a 10 year old:

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Childhood activities in 2024 for a 10 year old:

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Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Health and Physical education, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

2. Extension
What are some of the childhood memories that Mr. Wagener reflects upon, that you think kids of today might like to learn and play with?

How do we ensure these types of activities don’t get lost over the years, especially with technology replacements?

Time: allow 10 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking

VCOP ACTIVITY
Wow word recycle
There are plenty of wow words (ambitious pieces of vocabulary) being used in the article. Some are in the glossary, but there might be extra ones from the article that you think are exceptional as well.

Identify all the words in the article that you think are not common words, and particularly good choices for the writer to have chosen.

Select three words you have highlighted to recycle into your own sentences.

If any of the words you identified are not in the glossary, write up your own glossary for them.

Extension
Find a bland sentence from the article to up-level. Can you add more detail and description? Can you replace any base words with more specific synonyms?

Down-level for a younger audience. Find a sentence in the article that is high level. Now rewrite it for a younger audience so they can understand the words without using the glossary.