“I just wanted to take this chance to wish you all well” was part of the brief thank you speech Harold gave to over 60 people who had just sung him Happy Birthday.
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The fact that he took that opportunity to focus on others comes as no surprise to many of the community members who had gathered at Eloura on Thursday, to help Harold celebrate his 100th birthday.
“Harold Golland is an institution in these parts” said a party attendee, “and that seems to be a fitting thing since many of our local institutions wouldn’t be what they are without him.”
“They named Golland Field after him” said another attendee.
On Saturday Harold will celebrate yet another great achievement in what has already been a pretty remarkable journey.
Harold Golland, who was born in Quirindi on May 27 1917, has lived and worked within the region his whole life and has been part of some remarkable local achievements and developments over the years.
“Almost at every spot along the road between here and Wallabadah has a memory attached to it about something that was important to me in my life” Harold said in his speech.
Harold has held many executive positions on various committees in Quirindi and Wallabadah District. He has been a member of Quirindi Rotary since it was formed in 1945, and has now been a member for 72 years.
Harold is a Paul Harris Fellow, which is the highest honour that can be bestowed upon a Rotarian, and he received this in 1984. Harold has served in every capacity of the club during this time.
Harold received an OAM in appreciation of services to Local Government covering a period of 22 years as a Member of Tamarang Shire for the period of 1965-1980 and Quirindi Shire Council for the period of 1981-1987.
When asked, Harold said that his proudest accomplishment was his family, especially his 67 year marriage with his late wife “Dear Eva, who I still miss a lot”.
