29/04/2026
What a fantastic project: Celebrating the Lives & Stories of Australian Centenarians
Arthur Walker, born in 1925, shares his compelling real stories from a life that began with a one night stand and immediate foster care.
Arthur spent much of his childhood moving between foster homes and boys’ homes around Victoria during the Great Depression — growing up without stability, electricity, or certainty about where he belonged. It wasn’t until he was 65 years old that Arthur discovered the name on his birth certificate wasn’t the name he’d used his entire life. He doesn’t dwell on it, but when he talks about those years, there’s no mistaking how hard they were. What stayed with him most wasn’t anger — it was the feeling of not belonging anywhere.
When he was finally reunited with his mother as a teenager, it changed everything.
Arthur reflects on a century of change: from kerosene lamps and community singing at the Regent Theatre, to serving in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II, flying training missions and surviving crash landings. He talks about work, love, loss, blended family life, footy loyalties, and what he believes helped him live to 100.
Family grew around him over time — children, step-children, grandchildren, and even great, great grandchildren. To everyone, he is simply “Pa”.
Discover more inspiring stories from Australia’s centenarians on The 100 Project.
