Still green at 90

By Simon Brunsdon
Updated November 7 2012 - 12:40pm, first published February 18 2010 - 11:21pm
STILL GOING: Leslie Weston will turn 90 in April this year and says he plans to be greenkeeper at the Tarcutta RSL club until the end of his days.
STILL GOING: Leslie Weston will turn 90 in April this year and says he plans to be greenkeeper at the Tarcutta RSL club until the end of his days.

TARCUTTA sporting legend and bowling club stalwart Leslie Weston is likely to become the oldest greenkeeper in the world when he reaches a milestone 90 years of age in April this year.The energetic octogenarian has been volunteering his greenkeeping skills at the Tarcutta RSL and bowls club for the past 14 years and says he has no intention of giving it up any time soon.Weston has lived in Tarcutta off and on since 1930 after being born not too far away at Boorowa.He has enjoyed a fulfilling and interesting life so far, having spent four and a half years in the Australian Navy before coming back to the land and working on a number of properties around the local area.He then bought his own property in Tarcutta and settled down to start a family.Now that his eight children have dispersed to other parts of the country, including Melbourne and Brisbane, Mr Weston now lives by himself in Tarcutta across the road from the club."I have only ever been greenkeeper at this club," he said."I do it voluntarily, because they couldn't afford to pay anyone."Greenkeeping is a very interesting job, it's really interesting and I enjoy it."I do it all by myself, but when there is a big job on we have special working bees and things."As well as tending to the greens, which he spends around 15 to 20 hours a week doing, the great-grandfather also plays twice a week.He said he has been playing bowls since 1972 and before that he also enjoyed tennis.In the past Mr Weston has been president of both the Tarcutta RSL and bowls clubs, and is a life member of both.He was president of the Southern Highlands District Bowling Association for two years, and was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his services.In 1999, Mr Weston was announced as Tarcutta Citizen of the Year.He said the number of hours and work varies from day to day around the club house."I usually do four or five hours each day, today (yesterday) I've got quite a bit to do," he said."I have to mow twice a week, and today I'm doing the surrounds."I'll keep on working her 'til I keel over."

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