Jim’s Anzac Army visit

As the most senior veteran in Australasia, 108-year-old James ‘Jim’ Easton was thrilled to meet with one of the most senior members of the Australian Army, Major General Gregory Novak today.

Maj Gen Novak and his colleague, Sergeant Shaun Hackett, were in New Zealand for Anzac commemorations this week but made a point of visiting Jim at Grace Joel Village to present him with some very special gifts.

As always, Jim’s legendary sense of humour did not disappoint: “Now I’ll tell you right from the start,” he told the uniformed men. “I am not joining!”

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It was a second visit for Maj Gen Novak, who first met Jim in February 2023 when he was Brigadier of the Army’s Signals regiment. This was the regiment Jim served in during World War II before he was captured by the Japanese in Singapore and held for three and a half years.

Since then, Jim has welcomed the company of Australian Army representatives at his 107^th and 108^th birthdays, and proudly displays photos of the occasions and his various gifts in his room.

Maj Gen Novak said he couldn’t pass up another opportunity to pay Jim a visit, this time during the regiment’s centenary year.

“Because I’m here in New Zealand, I wanted to make sure I took the time to see you and keep that connection going,” he told Jim.

He presented Jim with a commemorative regimental centenary AU$1 coin, plus a book detailing the history of the Signals regiment and an 8DIV Signals Corps colour hat patch in a special frame.

Jim tells Major General Greg Novak and Sergeant Shaun Hackett the secret to his long life - no smoking and no drinking!

The book was inscribed with a special message to Jim written by Maj Gen Novak, who is now in charge of all of Australia’s space capabilities, on behalf of the Australian Corps of Signals.

“If you get the chance to read the book, you might find it interesting, but hopefully it will be something to remind you of your time in the Corps and our visit,” Maj Gen Novak told Jim.

Scottish-born Jim migrated to Australia with his family and spent his formative years in the Hunter Valley, where the behaviour of the miners put him off alcohol for life.

“As soon as the miners got off work they’d go straight into the pub and then an hour later there’d be a dozen of them bashing the crap out of each other,” Jim said.

“I said to myself when I grow up I’m not going into any of those places.”

He has stood true to this pledge since then, never drinking a drop of alcohol or smoking a single cigarette, and is certain that this is the secret to his longevity.

Sergeant Shaun Hackett (left) and Major General Gregory Novak (right) give Jim some special gifts during their Anzac visit to New Zealand.

After the war, he came to New Zealand looking for work, and spent more than 60 years working in ‘showbusiness’ – setting up equipment for A&P shows which involved travelling up and down the country twice a year and building a loyal crew who visit him each week in the rest home at Grace Joel Village.

“I’ve had a bloody wonderful life, it’s been interesting. I did well and I’m happy,” he said.

Grace Joel Village Manager Murray Parkes said Jim’s role in the village Anzac Day commemorations was pivotal, as he usually reads the Ode.

“Jim is a unique individual who has never let his incredibly difficult experience during the war dull his enthusiasm for life, his sense of humour or his will power,” Murray said.

“Speaking on behalf of the team here at Grace Joel, we are all very proud to play a part in looking after him in his later life.”