By Melissa Meehan
STAYING happy and healthy is the key to life, says Springvale resident Albert Blashki.
Mr Blashki celebrated his 90th birthday on Monday surrounded by family and friends.
“It was a great day, the whole family was there,” Mr Blashki said.
“Which is pretty good considering some of them came from Cairns and the like.”
Having lived in Springvale for 50 years, Mr Blashki said he had seen many changes.
“I have seen a terrific number of changes,” he said.
“Many of them were good.
“I’ve seen Springvale grow from a rural town to a city, the highway made into dual lanes, and the shopping centre go from strength to strength.”
He said the multicultural flavour of the town had also changed.
“That’s another thing that has changed for the better,” he said.
“People ask me why I still live in Springvale … I say why not? What is wrong with Springvale?”
Raising six children and opening a business in Springvale, Mr Blashki said it was a great place to live and raise a family.
He still goes to work at his company, Ace Wire Works Victoria, two days a week.
“I like to think I have a hands-on approach, talk to workers and sign a couple of cheques,” he said.
“My son Phillip runs the business now, but I still like to have that kind of attitude towards it.”
The business has grown from humble beginnings.
Mr Blashki started the business in a shed in 1954, before moving to a factory in Springvale. In 1998 the company grew too big for the Springvale site and has since moved to Hallam.
He said the secret to his life was staying busy both mentally and physically.
“My wife and I are members of a lot of community groups,” he said.
“We have lived an interesting life and that’s why we are healthy.”
