Historical information
John Henry Lockett OAM (22 January 1891 – 25 May 2002) was the oldest man ever in Australia when he died aged 111 years, 123 days. As one of the last surviving veterans of World War I, he was acclaimed as a national hero during the last decade of his life. Lockett was born in the small Victorian town of Waanyarra, near Bendigo. He left school aged nine to work on a local farm. Later, he worked for his uncles in the Mallee. On 24 March 1916, he travelled to Mildura to enlist in the Australian Imperial Force. He served in France with the 38th Battalion, earning promotion to sergeant and was discharged on 20 September 1919. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jack_Lockett
After the war, Jack returned to The Mallee and selected a 640 acres (260 ha) block of land in Linga, Victoria, deciding to make his living as a farmer. In 1923, he married Maybell Ingwerson and they had four children together. In 1963, the couple retired to Bendigo, leaving the farmland (which now covered more than 130,000 acres (53,000 ha), in the care of their children and grandchildren.
Bet Bet became a shire in 1864 with Dunolly in its centre. On 20 January 1995, the Shire of Bet Bet was abolished, and along with the City of Maryborough, the Shire of Tullaroop , was merged into the newly created Shire of Central Goldfields.
D. W. Paterson Co 1907?- 1961Winfield Building, 495 Collins Street, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Physical description
A coloured certificate on white paper from the Shire of Bet Bet for service in the first World War. An Australian Coat of arms at the top with 1914 THE GREAT WAR 1919
Printed and handwritten underneath between an image of a sailor and a soldier
FREEDOM Shire of Bet Bet JUSTICE
The President, Councilors, and Ratepayers of the Shire of Bet Bet hearby place on record Thanks and Appreciation for the Conduct of J Lockett who served his King and Country in the Great War. In Witness Whereof the Corporate Seal of the Municipality is hereto attached in the presence of Arthur Green President H E Clancy Secretary. Dated 4 AUG 1921
HONOUR TO THE BRAVE
D. W. PATERSON CO. PTY. LTD. 495 COLLINS ST. MELB.
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