Meet the 102-Year-Old Australian Veteran Who Refuses to Retire

May 16, 2022

An Australian war veteran has refused to retire and, in fact, pursued a new profession at “very old age”.

Seating home watching TV was not Hodgson’s cup of tea.

Instead, he decided to pursue a pastime and has since shown that you can learn a new skill and begin working no matter your age.

Hodgson worked as a barber during the 1930s before going to war. His second job was as a sales representative.

He took a short retirement in 1962, but he quickly decided he didn’t want to sit around and “watch television,” so he set about finding another job despite being in his 60s.

Woodworking he discovered to be his love and passion.


He’s since gone on to work for the Sutherland Shire Toy Restoration Centre, where he has been repairing and restoring kids’ toys for the past 15 years.

“The shop was founded by retired Sutherland shire worker Ted Brooker in 1975 and joined by Dot Hopwood Repairing and recycling of toys by senior members of the community, for distribution to needy families in the Shire,” according to its Facebook page.

Since his wife died five years ago, Hodgson has lived alone. The 102-year-old veteran now spends his days building “miniature dolls house furniture,” and describes his profession as a “bit of fun.”