Hi Bill, congratulations on winning Senior Citizen of the Year! Can you tell me about your volunteer work?
I started out at the CFA in 1953 when I was 15. I took a little time off when I retired and we did a few tips to Queensland, NSW (mostly outback areas), to visit my sister and our daughter. But I got back into it. I feel good and I figure if I can do something, then why not do it.
Later in life, I got into Legacy and prison chaplaincy with Catholic Care at Loddon and Middleton prisons. It’s brilliant. We have Mass every second Friday and the men always grow the most beautiful roses. I’ve made some great friends there and when Rosalind was sick they kept asking about her.
I always say, ‘you get back what you put in.’
Chapman is a well-known name in the area, when did the family first move here and how many of you are there?
I’m one of 13 kids. There were three before the war, one brother during the war after dad came home for a visit, and the rest were born after the war finished.
My great-grandpa came here for gold and then dad got into it. I go out with a dish occasionally and so does one of my sons. I’ve found a few nice little-sized bits but it’s mostly throw-away gold.
What did you do for work?
I was a slaughterman by trade. I started out doing it during the school holidays. I did my first apprenticeship at the bacon factory when I was 17, then I worked at the abattoirs, before going back to the bacon factory and working night shifts as the storeman.
How did you meet your wife Rosalind?
“She’s an import,” laughs Bill. “She came from Belgrave.”
“I came to visit once,” said Rosalind. “My mum’s cousin lived in Castlemaine and I came for a holiday and my Aunty Laura did a bit of matchmaking. We were married on September 2 1961 in Belgrave and here we are 62 years later. Although I did crash his prized FJ when he was teaching me to drive and I thought he might not like me after that,” laughs Rosalind.
“We have eight babies, the eldest is now 61 and the youngest is 50. All born in Castlemaine. At one stage we did emergency fostering and had a 14-month-old girl with down syndrome who ended up living with us for six or seven years. She’s living in independent housing now I think.
“I love living in Castlemaine. It was like coming home.
“We’ve lived in this house for 56 years. Bill’s dad built it,” remembers Rosalind.
“Bill’s always been a good ambassador for Castlemaine. He would always take a tin of Castlemaine Rock wherever we went. And he’s always been community-minded.”
“There’s still a tin of Castlemaine Rock on my dad’s grave. It’s been there since 2000. It’s a bit rusty, but it’s still there,” Bill remarked.
62 years of marriage! Any tips?
We learned it all along the way. We pretty much clicked. She’s now 80-odd years and I think she’s still as beautiful as when we first met each other.
Rosalind wasn’t supposed to survive as a child. She had rheumatic fever and they told her parents to leave her in an institute. Now look at her with her own children and grandchildren.
That’s incredible! Is there any philosophy you live life by?
Keep going. Look ahead and do things. And our faith.
Do you have any hobbies?
Trains. I started out with little ones. Then, one Saturday morning I was reading the Castlemaine Mail and there was an ad for a three-and-a-half gauge steam train. I’m up and out of bed and Rosalind said, ‘I’m coming too!’
It was wrapped in newspaper and the man (David Bennet who was a top machinist) very methodically removed the paper and string from the chassis. He had all the other bits too and I said, ‘I’ll take it’. I put it all together and built the boiler. It took four and a half years. My grandson Addison has continued on the legacy with his love of trains.
What are you reading at the moment?
“The Building of St Patricks Cathedral,” replied Bill.
“And I’ve read every book in the place,’ said Rosalind. “I love historic novels and romance.”
What music do you enjoy listening to?
Mostly classical. Andre Rieu is one of my favourites at the moment. We’ve seen a few of his concerts in Melbourne.
Finally, what do you love most about the place you call home?
The tranquility. There’s a lot around to go and look at and relax, like Vaughan Springs.