Alfie Goldburg calls himself the “world’s oldest paperboy”.
Alfie, 91, delivers copies of the Journal to the rooms of the Dandenong and District Historical Society as often as his health permits.
Shuffling into the society’s rooms in Clow Street, Alfie is greeted warmly by the handful of members who are busy researching, scanning and organising the society’s vast collection.
He has four copies of the Journal to deliver on this particular day.
“I’ve got a bit behind,” he said, removing his red beanie to reveal large divots in his skull where doctors had operated.
Alfie moved to Noble Park in 1956. He was sales manager for Goldberg International, which imported shoes and clothing.
“I got £30 a week plus a car, which was pretty good in those days.”
Alfie and wife Audrey bought their home on Heatherton Road in 1957 for £3275.
Alfie still lives there today.
“My wife’s cousin knew a builder who said houses were being built up there. I went up and said ‘this will do’. We can live in the country,” he said.
“We had a dozen chooks in the backyard, everyone did in those days.
“(Former Dandenong mayor) Maurie Jarvis gave me a few bantams. They used to live up in the trees.”
He remembers Heatherton Road as an unsealed gravel track where residents could leave their cars unlocked at the front of their properties.
“It was a country road in those days.
“I had a company car so I could travel to work. My wife was a teacher. She taught at Dandenong.
“Heatherton Road now is a racetrack.”
Alfie played tennis in the Dandenong Tennis Association, has been an avid supporter of the Bruce branch of the ALP and is a long-serving member of the Noble Park RSL.
He organises the Journals in date order and carefully places them in a tray to be added to the society’s vast catalogue of local newspapers.
Alfie never misses an issue.
“I read the whole lot. I like to see who’s who and what’s what.”
