The Churchie Old Boys’ Association is proud to celebrate Ian Hart (1943) as he reaches the milestone of his 100th birthday on 4 December 2025.

After completing his schooling at Churchie, where he developed a love for Chemistry and Physics, Ian enlisted in the AIF at just 18 years old. He served with the Water Transport Company during the Second World War in New Guinea, Manus Island, Bougainville and Borneo, surviving the sinking of an Army vessel near Milne Bay and witnessing the closing stages of the Pacific campaign.

Following the war, Ian and his wife Elaine built one of Queensland’s most progressive rural enterprises at “Oakwood,” pioneering improved pastures and artificial insemination in partnership with CSIRO and DPI. His work transformed cattle breeding and nutrition practices across the region and later extended to establishing one of Australia’s largest private red deer operations.

Ian and Elaine shared 70 wonderful years of marriage and raised four children. Today, Ian is the proud patriarch of a family that includes ten grandchildren and twelve great-grandchildren. He remains active in his community on Tamborine Mountain, attending Probus and the RSL.

We are delighted to share that Ian now holds a very special distinction as the oldest Old Boy in the Churchie OBA.