Cheslyn – Swinging Through 100 Years of Life

Cheslyn from Riverside Gardens in Nambucca Heads NSW has reached 100 years of age, marking a century shaped by music, family and curiosity.  

Born in1925, Cheslyn remembers a childhood that moved at a slower pace. Life was quieter, and the world felt more settled than it does today. His advice for reaching 100 is as simple as it gets: “Keep breathing.”

As a young man, Cheslyn dreamed of working in radio broadcasting, and he did just that, spending ten years behind the microphone.

It was a job he enjoyed and one that suited the rhythm of the time.

In 1952, he married the love of his life – Joan. Their years together remain among his most treasured memories. If he could go back to any moment, he says he would choose being young again. 

Cheslyn lived through many major events, but the beginning of the war remains vivid. He says everything feels like it wasn’t that long ago, a reminder of how quickly a century can pass.

He is proud of the life he built, especially the animals he cared for over the years and the family he raised. His favourite music is swing, “not today’s noise,” he says with a smile.

If he could change one thing, he wishes he had travelled outside of New South Wales. “I ran out of time,” he says, though he speaks without regret.

His advice for others is simple and steady: enjoy time.

When asked what Respect means to him, Cheslyn reflected on the importance of being treated well and feeling at ease, something he has found at Riverside Gardens.

Happy 100th Birthday Cheslyn!