One of the Highlands oldest residents celebrate another milestone on April 22.
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Ernie Walker of Penrose racked up his 104th birthday, but the day was not all it could have been due to the COVID-19 pandemic restrictions.
His daughter Joy Jorgensen said the greatest disappointment was that Ernie couldn't celebrate with family because of restrictions on travel and group gatherings.
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"Because of these restrictions family members could only help him celebrate via telephone," she said.
But the family took positives from the situation.
"Although our 'siege' came slightly earlier, back in 1941 Dad was under siege at Tobruk from April 109 to November 27, thus a total of 241 days," Ms Jorgensen said.
"If we think we are 'doing it tough' we are certainly not experiencing the 'day to day' of the Rats of Tobruk - 900mls of water daily (for drinking, cooking and washing/bathing); having to crawl from place to place to avoid detection; constant rattle of machine gun fire and increasing shelling on their defence lines.
"In early July they were subjected to more than 2500 shells per day as well as the local conditions - dust, sand, flies, snow, cold heavy rain, icy winds and sleet, and burning heat.
"832 Australians lost their lives and 941 were taken prisoners.
"Dad is enjoying his 'current siege' much more."
Ms Jorgensen said one of her father's greatest disappointments during the "currnet seige" was that he wasn't able to lead the Anzac Day Parade at Moss Vale as all services were cancelled.
"Here's hoping the 2020 disappointments for him, due to Corona, will spur him on to be around this time in 2021 for his 105th birthday," she said.
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