COOLOOLA’S ROSS GOING STRONG AT 90
By Phillipa Collins
A very popular member of Cooloola Coast Bowls Club since 2004, Ross Aird, recently turned 90 years young and is still a keen bowler. He manipulates a bowling arm extremely well and enjoys the weekly social competition.
Born in Brisbane on January 14, 1932, Ross has led a full life so far. His family moved to the Sunshine Coast where Ross was educated at the local Montville school. He later joined a Nambour Bank as a teller where he met a “very stunning, blond girl” who came into the bank to do her firm’s banking. A year later the happy couple, Ross and Avis, were married.
Ross has had a fascinating work life. He left the bank to take on a milk delivery business, then joined the thriving family footwear business in Nambour. Their leisure time was taken up watching their two daughters growing up and enjoying a variety of sports. Avis played golf and Ross sailed competitively. During 1966 and 1967, the highlight for Ross was being selected to represent Queensland in the Australian Lightweight Sharpie Championships in Hobart. During 1969, Ross and Avis welcomed a new baby daughter.
Unfortunately, from 1982 to 1992 Ross suffered serious health problems and while a complete early retirement was out of the question, they sold their share of the business and hit the road, working in a variety of jobs including as manager to clubs, hotels and motels all over the state. They owned and operated a fishing trawler aptly named ‘Kismet’, worked in the charter boat Industry in the Whitsundays and owned and operated a sapphire claim on the Central Queensland Gem fields. To keep in close contact with everyone at the gem fields, they always visit at least once a year.
During 1999, the happy couple decided that their caravanning days were near an end, and, after visiting Tin Can Bay many times over the years found their home in this little sleepy town. Ross joined the Senior Citizens Club where he was the treasurer for many years, then both Ross and Avis joined the Cooloola Coast Bowls Club in early 2004.
