Echuca’s Bill Hourigan celebrates 97th birthday

By Riverine Herald

May 1, 2025

William 'Bill' Hourigan recently celebrated his 97th birthday. Photo by Supplied

Echuca resident William ‘Bill’ Hourigan celebrated his 97th birthday on Tuesday, April 29.

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His good friend David Lofthouse organised a lunch for the occasion at the Moama RSL on Monday, April 28, and was joined by some of Bill’s closest friends.

Thelma Colquon-Cameron, David Lofthouse, Elaine Tuohey, William Hourigan, Scott Shiels, Colin Walker and Mary Walker gathered around Bill. Photo by Supplied

Mr Lofthouse said Bill had lived in Echuca and surrounds since 1975, and raced many times in the Southern 80 with three-ply boats, skiing slalom, before he moved.

He is a former transport driver from Melbourne, and worked at Coles Echuca when the store opened as the dairy case manager for 25 years.

Once retired, Bill spent countless days mowing lawns and slashing blocks, which Mr Lofthouse joked was an early version of Jim’s Mowing.

He was also an enthusiastic shooter at the Echuca Pistol Club, and played lawn bowls when he found the time after retiring.

Bill is still keen on maintaining his own lawn at his home in Bamawm with a ride-on mower, where he still lives with Thelma.

According to Mr Lofthouse, Bill has a talent for finding ways to fix and make things work for himself and his numerous friends, with his slogan being: ‘Who can — Bill can’.

Mr Lofthouse wished Bill a very happy 97th birthday.