Lifetime Dragons member Donald Patterson was able to show his team a century of support when he turned 100 today.
A resident of the Homewood nursing home at Bexley, Mr Patterson, also known as Russ, is a lifetime member of the St Georges Leagues Club.
After a lifetime of support, he is still is an avid Dragons fan and continues to watch every game and cheer them on.
And he has every membership badge mounted and displayed with pride in his room.
Mr Patterson was born in Forbes on July 27, 1918.
As a young boy he enjoyed studying classical music, particularly playing the piano.
When he was in his early teens, an operation on his adenoids and tonsils resulted in the loss of his hearing.
This led him being unable to pursue music as a career.
In his mid-teens, Mr Patterson became an avid cyclist, winning numerous cups and trophies. He also enjoyed playing cricket in his spare time.
When Mr Patterson settled in the St George are as a young man, he quickly became an avid fan of the Dragons.
Mr Patterson married at age 28 and went on to have three children. He worked at Johnson and Johnson for more than 40 years.
He started as a factory hand and, following an operation to rectify 50 per cent of his hearing loss, worked his way up to administration level.
Mr Patterson described himself as a family man, working hard to provide a good life for his family.
Later in life, he found a passion for growing orchards and watching and helping his many grandchildren growing up.
He celebrated his centenary surrounded by family and friends who watched him cutting a Dragon’s themed birthday cake.
