By ALENA HIGGINS
“FLABBERGASTED” is how Warwick’s Fred Hyde describes the moment he was announced the 2015 Queensland Senior Australian of the Year last Friday night.
The 94-year-old admits he was certain fellow nominee and philanthropist Clive Berghofer was going to win and failed to prepare a thank you speech for guests at the gala awards ceremony held at the Queensland Museum in Brisbane.
“I stood up and went up and tried to make a speech,” he recalled on Monday.
“I was a bit flabbergasted but I got them to laugh which is one thing.”
The former engineer, who has spent the last three decades rescuing and educating abandoned children in Bangladesh, triumphed over three other contenders and will now join recipients from the other states and territories as finalists for the National Awards to be announced on 25 January 2015 in Canberra.
But while he acknowledges the accolade rates “reasonably high” on his list of achievements, he has more pressing issues to contemplate.
Having poured all his personal and financial resources into building 45 schools, five kindergartens and teacher training facilities in the most impoverished parts of Bangladesh, the lifetime bachelor is hoping his recent recognition will generate publicity and funding for his not-for-profit organisation, Co-operation in Development, and uncover a capable successor.
“I don’t require anyone of any great expertise,” he said of the position.
“Someone who likes children and can add one and one together and get the right answer as there is quite a bit bookkeeping.”
He said a retiree would be ideal.
“I retired at 57 years of age, which was too young, and in a few months I was bored,” Mr Hyde said.
“There are an awful lot of bored people about and they grow old because they have no incentive to stay young.
“The best thing you can do to stay young is get 12,000 kids around you all wanting something,” he laughed.
“It does keep you going otherwise you just sit back and just wait for time to pass.”
My Hyde will return to Bangladesh next month where he usually spends up to nine months of the year.
