In 2010, we published an article on Professor Atkinson, a Manchester graduate who emigrated to Australia in 1953 and became a Professor in the Melbourne Dental School, describing how he had reorganised and rescued the Melbourne Dental School Museum and was still working there two days a week at the age of 97.
On Monday 20th August 2012 “The Melbourne Age” carried an article on its front page of Professor Atkinson’s (Atky to his friends) 100th birthday which was also covered on TV. He continues to work in the museum one day a week and is described in the article as one of an increasing number of people in their 70s, 80s and 90s still working in Australia, although it conceded that he is the only centenarian that they are aware of amongst that number. He, himself, puts his longevity down to “playing soccer in his youth, growing his own vegetables, keeping a wide range of interests and remaining socially and intellectually stimulated”, others may say he had chosen his parents carefully.
He said he has no plans to retire from the museum which was named after him in 2006. “It’s been a tremendous amount of fun” he told colleagues at his birthday party.