General News
27 March, 2026
Jack Kranz's 100 year celebration
Warracknabeal's Jack Kranz turned 100 surrounded by family and friends at the Warracknabeal Golf Club on Sunday, March 15.
Among those attending the special event were his youngest and only surviving sibling, Olive, and his long-time friend, 103-year-old Ian McRae from Dimboola.
Jack Kranz has led a remarkable life, and even just a small glimpse into those 100 years explains why he needed a century to accomplish what he has already and yet he still has many more pursuits and interests up his sleeve.
Jack was born in Beulah, John Kenneth Kranz, on March 15, 1926, and has led a life making memories.
'When re-telling his experiences, he is known to begin with, "Now this is a true story," and so we begin.
This is a true story!
Jack's son David welcomed the 100-plus people gathered, saying how fortunate it was to be celebrating such a milestone.
"Welcome to this once-in-a-lifetime event for Jack. You are all distinguished guests for a distinguished man," he said.
"Dad has done so much in life and created many stories in his lifetime. The fact that he still retains a sharp mind to retell them is a wonderful thing."
March 15 marked a remarkable milestone for the Kranz family. Jack not only celebrated his 100th birthday, but according to family records, he is the first Kranz to reach a century since their records go back to 1830, making the day historic in more ways than one.
Jack had nine siblings: there were three brothers and six sisters.
“Dad has done so much in life, it’s hard to know where to start,” David said.
Jack joined the army after WWII but never left Australia; however, he learned the discipline and skill associated with the service.
While Jack had many interests, his main loves were the four F's: farming, footy, family, and friends.
In 1950, he married Doris Schneider, whose father was particularly keen on the union.
According to David, it may have had something to do with securing Jack for the Warrack footy team!
However, Jack and Doris went on to enjoy the family they created, David, Kenneth, Rodney and Judith.
Sadly, they lost Rodney in 2004, and Doris passed away in 2018.
Jack farmed for 60 years.
There were many stories told about the storyteller on Sunday.
One story involved 28 sheep.
"One particular day, whilst droving a mob of sheep from one property to another, an extra 28 sheep were discovered during the head count upon arrival at the destination property.
Always known to be a fair and honest man, rather than keep them, Jack donated them to Woodbine, which contributed to their funds after the sale of the errant sheep.
After six decades on the farm, Jack moved from the farm at Ailsa to Warracknabeal in 1995.
Jack has always been known as a gentle man, and again, the best way to describe that part of his character is through the retelling of the plover story, which describes that well.
Jack was working the soil on his tractor one day and came across a plover sitting on eggs in her nest.
He stopped the tractor and gently moved the nest, mother, and eggs to a safe space in the paddock. The mother plover never moved; she just sat on the eggs until she was safely back on the ground.
Detail was important to Jack; his meticulous rainfall recordings at the family farm, Ailsa, continued on from Doris' forefathers to record over 100 years of readings that are now archived at the Bureau of Meteorology.
Football
Footy was high on his list of priorities, and he was a proud Warracknabeal Lions Life Member. He played 211 games proudly wearing the number 2 and was part of the club's 1953 premiership side.
He was awarded three best and fairest at Beulah, one winner of southern Mallee B and F, and was once the runner-up before moving on to play in Warracknabeal.
While in the army, one of the perks was being able to take a trainer with him; he selected or commandeered his best friend to the role of trainer.
But, due to the lack of expertise of his trainer, he had to apply his own band-aids for a while until his trainer reached that level of expertise!
He slipped out of base camp to play a with a game in Mornington and got a write-up in the Sporting Globe under an assumed name. That would have been notorious, so he only played the one game.
Back in Beulah, but pursued by Warrack, a car, fuel and meals were provided for him to travel, train and play with Warrack.
He did need to ride his bike for three miles or so to get from the farm to the car dealers, though.
An opportunity to play for Richmond came his way, but was foiled because Beulah wouldn’t give him a clearance.
As with all of Jack's pursuits, there is a story, a true story.
Once he arrived at the gate for an important football match, he realised he hadn't brought his ticket to get in. Producing his No 2 jumper and explaining who he was still did not get him in the gate.
Spotting a good friend inside the grounds, he told the gatekeeper he was sure his mate would vouch for him, but unfortunately, his friend, knowing Jack's sense of humour, decided to say," Never seen him before in my life!"
It took a few years and possibly a decade or two, but Jack got him back.
He played 10 consecutive years with the Wimmera Football League representative side, playing in the centre position.
He was named in the Wimmera Football team of the 50’s.
Member of the WFNL 200 games club, invited to play with the following VFL clubs: Collingwood, Richmond, Geelong, Footscray, Hawthorn, Carlton, and Fitzroy.
Jack ripped the sleeves off his football jumper; it was witnessed by a Melbourne umpire, and the concept went back to the VFL in the fifties and was adopted soon after in Vic and SA.
Cricket
Jack played cricket with the Kellalac Cricket Club, where he was captain for many years and was awarded life membership.
"He was a very good batsman with one or two centuries to his name and an excellent slip fielder but trashy bowler,” David said.
Jack played with his son Rod for many years.
Late in his career, when he was 50-plus years old, he made a 90.
A fond memory for David was a shared 100-run partnership that Jack made at Sheep Hills.
Politics
Jack spent 25 years with Wimmera Shire Council, from 1960 to 1985. He was President twice during this time.
"During his time in council, so was his friend and fellow former councillor and centenarian, Ian McRae, who is here today and who would certainly have some stories to tell, I'm sure," David said.
"Jack was invited to serve in government twice, I believe," said David.
"Once a limo even arrived at the farm... he probably got his entrance drive graded for that."
Lloyd Peters nicknamed him the 'Senator,' but really, the farm and family were foremost in his decision not to pursue Canberra.
Jack was also involved with many community services, the church council, the Lutheran units, school committees, justice of the peace, the library, and wheat quotas!
Jack also fitted world travel into his life; he travelled to every state of Australia, including Flinders Island and Kangaroo Island.
He climbed Uluru at 75 years young, visited New Zealand several times, Hungary, Germany, Switzerland, Austria, Poland, Thailand, Bali, Canada, USA, many places and states, including: Washington, New York, Mexico, California, Nevada, Grand Canyon, Las Vegas, Massachusetts, Florida, and Hawaii.
Guest Speakers
Warracknabeal Golf Club president David Stewart described Jack as having a sense of humour, a wit and charisma that left an incredible impression on people, including himself.
"He had and still has a personality that will live on forever," he said.
David said the day he met Jack is fixed in his memory.
"He shook my hand with such a firm grip I thought every bone in my hand was broken.
"Long live the legend that is Jack Kranz."
Congratulatory letters from the Warracknabeal Eagles and the Wimmera 200 Game Club were read out, and congratulations from the current and past committee members of the football and wider community were expressed.
Jack served as president of the Golf Club in 1986, 87 and 88. He served as captain from 1980 to 1981. Scored a hole in one on May 13, 1975 and December 5 1993, at the Dimboola Golf Club, an 18th hole long par 3.
Among his sporting achievements were three holes-in-one (one of which ricocheted off a tree), Football Best and Fairest on many occasions, and being the first golf life member to reach 100 years old.
Jack began his football career in 1948, wearing the number 2 jumper, and after a stellar career, he retired with 211 games and 94 goals under his belt.
Mick Marchment represented the Bowls Club and Mary Massey, the golf club. They both shared many fun times and wonderful memories of playing with Jack.
Family accolades came from his great-granddaughter, Abigail Steig and grandson, Nathan Howie.
As the guest of honour, Jack had the last word, as he should.
After a few jokes and a heartfelt thank you to everyone attending, he explained his simple philosophy in life - to treat others as you'd like to be treated - and said it had worked well for him.