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20 Local News Thursday, June 17, 2021 Bogangar’s Heather Johansen turns 90
By Jo Kennett THE JOHANSEN clan were out in force at the Cabarita Beach Sports Club to help celebrate the 90th birthday of well-known Bogangar resident Heather Johansen on Sunday, June 13.
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Heather’s daughter Margot Ricketts, who shares a birthday with her mother on June 14, said it was a wonderful event.
“We played barefoot bowls and Mum joined in because she’s fairly agile.
Heather is well known in the community for her 45 years running the Bogangar store and post office with husband Don, from 1960 to 2005.
The couple were known jokingly as the Mayor and Mayoress of Bogangar.
Heather was the unofficial and unpaid postmistress until the Australia Post bureaucracy realised how unfair that was and established a bona fide post office.
The Johansens eventually had a petrol bowser installed out the front and Heather even started a line of women’s fashions and held a fashion parade.
The store was affectionately known as ‘Heather’s’ and was the hub of the community for many years.
It was the place locals went for supplies and to pick up the mail, and catch up with friends and local news.
Heather and Don were renowned for their hard work and sense of service to the community, including being foundation members of the Cabarita Beach Sports Club.
Heather was one of the driving forces in having the local school named Bogangar Public School rather than Cabarita, which was the name of a new development in Bogangar.
Heather Johansen (beside her birthday sign) celebrating her 90th birthday with family.
Heather worked from 7am to 7pm seven days a week with rarely a day off until she and Don took their first holiday after 21 years.
“We went for six weeks with my brother Trevor and his wife Yvonne to Europe and Singapore in 1981,” she said.
The Johansens sold the shop in 2005 – it’s now the site of Woolworths.
After they retired, Heather and Don spent years travelling around Australia and overseas to places like Alaska, Egypt, Canada, China, Europe, Great Britain and New Zealand.
Don passed away in 2014 but Heather is as busy as ever.
She has three children, Neil, Ian and Margot, ten grandchildren and six greatgrandchildren.
“She is very involved with the whole family,” Margot said.
“She’s an active, busy person; She was a keen and good golfer and won quite a few trophies and she’s a very good artist. “She did an art course at the sports club and then she came home and painted a mural on the whole back wall. She has artwork everywhere.” Heather said she has had a happy life. “I’m still having a happy life,” she said. “Family is the most important thing, but when you have to work for a living, you have to keep yourself busy no matter what. “I believe sport is important, it was a great part of my life and my husband’s. “You have to have an interest in the community who support you; we are still friends with a lot of the people that were there at the start of our business. Heather described her birthday as “the greatest day.” “It was absolutely amazing,” she said. “The bowls club put up the marquee and we had the fun park for the kids. “I put up a prize for the first person who hit the jack three times and so they all came out and my granddaughter’s husband won. “I just want to thank everyone for their love and attendance on the day.”
Tweed Valley Weekly Locals Supporting Locals Never too old to fly
By Sharon van Wingerden A BIRTHDAY gift has changed the life of a Crystal Creek woman and her 82-year-old-father and fuelled her passion to assist our older generation.
Susi Thomas was so overwhelmed by the wind tunnel flying experience she received for her 56th birthday, that she took her dad to the same indoor skydiving centre, iFLY Gold Coast, when he visited her recently.
“I was so excited to try something new, and the opportunity to feel like I am flying,” Ms Thomas said.
“You couldn’t get the smile off my face, I had done something I had only dreamt about.
After seeing the video of her flying experience made by the centre, her father Alf Poefinger was keen to have a go too.
“My dad loved it and the same thing happened to him. He couldn’t get the smile off his face all day,” she said.
Ms Thomas, who operates a business to assist older people keep active, fit and healthy, said that age was no barrier and people from three to 103 could fly.
“Older people think they can’t do this – can’t do that, but this is just like floating on air.
Even people who are in wheelchairs can experience the feeling of flight Ms Thomas said.
“People who have never been able to walk can feel the freedom that birds have when they fly.
Ms Thomas is passionate about ensuring older people get the most out of living.
As part of her business, Best Programs, she has developed a circuit course to assist older people with their balance and agility.
The course is held at Knox Park netball courts each Wednesday from 9.30am to 10.30am.
Superman dad Alf Poefinger
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