ARARAT resident Don Weston is turning 90 this Friday and if we all look like him when we get to that age, we’d be doing extremely well.
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Don has lived in Ararat for an estimated 65 years, having moved to the town with his wife, Audrey and her family from Glenferrie in Melbourne.
“I said to them “would it be alright if I put my single bed in the back of the truck?”,” Don joked.
“Old Charlie (Audrey’s father, although he became more like my father in the end) and I used to fishing and everything. We enjoyed life together.”
Don and Audrey raised four children together, two girls and two boys (Graeme, Elaine, Glenn and Jill), who are spread around the state. One lives in Halls Gap, another near Maryborough, one in Beechworth and the eldest, Elaine, lives across the other side of Melbourne in Glen Waverley. Don will spend his special day in Melbourne at Elaine’s house.
The upcoming nonagenarian is well-known in the region for his illustrious running career. Don took up the sport at the age of 43 (“I was quite old”) after having played football and cricket as well as dabbling in boxing and archery.
He competed in the one-mile races at the Stawell Gift carnival, winning three times before he switched from track running to marathons.
Don travelled to Alice Springs eight times to compete in the Masters Games and at his last campaign in 2008, brought home six medals including gold in the 82-84 year age group shot put event.
The Stawell and Ararat Cross Country life member also claimed gold in the Australian Veterans Marathon Championships during the 1980s. Don was also part of a successful team event that included the unlikely Australian sports hero Cliff Young and George Purdon.
His running career took him to places around the world, including Italy, Germany, England, New Zealand, Fiji and Bali. Don used to train in Bali along the beach with local physical education teachers. He hasn’t been there since the 2002 Bali bombings that occurred in Kuta. He sadly lost a few mates in the tragic event.
Don’s running career ended at age 83 due to a hernia condition although he is in good health overall.
“Well, I’m still going!” he responded when asked about his health.
Don has appreciated living in Ararat for all these years and while the town hasn’t changed a lot, he believes it will experience future growth due to the construction of the nearby wind farm.
“It (living in Ararat) is better away from the rush and tear of Melbourne. I can’t bear it down there,” he said.
“It’s a quiet little town. There haven’t been many changes, the shops are practically the same. I enjoy it here.”