The retired Central Coast boatbuilder remarkably still lives independently on his Wamberal acreage accompanied by his dog Mater. An unfinished Dutch canal boat in yard, retirement project, is reminder of his miracle powers with metal.
Harry’s yachts were serious business, competing over the years in the Sydney to Hobart, Brisbane to Gladstone, Melbourne to Devonport and other ocean races .His first yacht sold in the 1960s, now known as the Cadenza, is still at sea.
These days Harry’s mind is still sharp and he’s an avid reader, but he has mobility challenges and is restricted to a walker.
Hammond Care At Home (HCAH)has provided him with care for nearly five years. HCAH provides a multi-disciplinary team of specialist care workers, nurses and allied health staff to support him six days a week under a Level 4 Home Care Package.
One day a week is for personal care needs.
Harry jokes that he wants to keep to himself his secret for long life, but he hints two soft boiled eggs for breakfast, cooked for exactly three minutes, could be part of the formula.
“I don’t want them peeled. I want to cut the egg myself and spoon it all out. That’s how I like it,” Harry said.
Son Robbert Westerdyk, of Terrigal , paid tribute to his father as a devoted family man who could fix anything, especially if it involved metal. Harry’s offspring includes three children, nine grandchildren and 20 great grandchildren with one more on the way.
Robbert said an ongoing family joke is to rib his dad about his longevity. “Come on dad –you’re making us all wait a bit too long for our inheritance.”
He said the family all feel blessed to see him reach the milestone. “A few years back, we thought we had lost him after a fall in the house,” Robbert said.
Video cameras are now in different rooms so family members can check on him remotely. A duress alarm hangs around his neck.
For the birthday, there will be plenty of family including daughter Maryke from Perth. There’ll be piano singalong of old favourites led by HCAH Specialist Care Worker Darryl Fry, letters of congratulations from King and Queen, Prime Minister and Governor General and, of course, cake.
Born in Leeuwarden, The Netherlands, in 1924, Harry was jailed by the Nazis during World War II. At one point, the Gestapo subjected him to water torture. In 1953he left Wartorn Holland for Burnie, Tasmania with his new bride Wietske, or Vicky and little more than his panel beater skills.
By the time Harry retired in the 1980s, he had fabricated about 30 hulls. Vicky died, aged 79, in 2002. Robbert noted his dad still struggles with her loss.
To learn more about HCAH, visit:www.hammond.com.au/care/home-care-services
