Cade Lucas
Werribee’s Michael Crawcour looks and sounds a lot younger than he is.
“I’ve gotta pull my wallet out to show people when I was born because they don’t believe that I’m getting on 90” said the remarkably spritley 87 year old.
Fitting, his car does too.
“We bought it 35-36 years ago at least” Crawcour said of the blue 1956 Morris Minor, which at 67 years old, is only 20 years his junior.
Unsurprisingly, neither travel too far these days, the result of a crash both were in years ago.
“I was in a car accident in the Morry and I’ve got bone on bone on one leg and an ACL on the other leg” said Crawcour of the injuries he suffered, which makes household tasks like putting out the rubbish that much more difficult.
Thankfully, he still has the car on hand to help.
“If the bins are full I put them on the back of the car and off I go” he said with unerring optimism he credits for his longevity.
When not towing wheelie bins down his driveway in a car built the year of the Melbourne Olympics, Crawcour cares for ailing his wife, Phyllis, who sadly hasn’t aged as well.
“She’s 83 and 80 per cent bed-ridden ,heart problem, kidney problem, diabetic and now fighting blood cancer” he said, managing to remain upbeat while describing her grim prognosis.
“I’m one of those very fortunate people who unless it’s a matter of life and death they don’t worry.”
When it’s pointed out that this is maybe one of those moments, Crawcour is undeterred.
“She’s gonna be with us for a while yet” he said.
Michael and Phyllis’ ability to overcome adversity is what brought them to Werribee 15 years ago, after losing their home in a failed investment.
Forced onto the aged-pension and in need of cheap rent, the parents of three sons and two grandkids moved west and haven’t looked back.
“I love it, absolutely love it” said Crawcour of Werribee.
As for any tips or rituals, he assured me he wasn’t religious, but said he started everyday the same way.
“I wake up every morning and thank God that I’m awake.”
