Ocean Grove resident celebrates 90th birthday in the sky

EVEN at 90 years of age, Ocean Grove resident George Weinmann knows how to keep himself young.

Mr Weinmann, accompanied by family from all over the country, completed the first skydive of his life this morning (Sunday, October 13) on his 90^th birthday, jumping out of a plane at Skydive Great Ocean Road in Barwon Heads.

Immediately his successful landing, Mr Weinmann said it was everything it lived up to be, and the latest in a litany of adventurous he has completed in recent years.

“It was a lot of relief to finish that jump, I had never felt anything like that before.

“I’ve jumped off a bridge before bungee jumping, but this was a totally new experience, I hope I can do it again one day.

“The freefall was by far the best part, not having anything around us, it was a new sense of freedom.”

Mr Weinmann is no stranger to adventure and trying new things.

In the past few years alone, he has gone cage diving with great white sharks, climbed mountains, trekked around and travelled the world, all of which have been since the passing of his wife Erna.

Mr Weinmann credits an active lifestyle to reaching his ninth decade of life, doing 40 minutes of daily exercise and keeping a clean diet.

His stepdaughters Petra Rockinger and Petra Lovey said the morning provided an opportunity for the family to celebrate Mr Weinmann and his never-ending achievements in life.

“We’re so proud of him, the way he keeps himself fit and takes on challenges like this, it’s inspiring,” Ms Rockinger said.

Mr Weinmann was also lucky enough to have his great-stepdaughter Taylor Sweeney participate in the jump with him, a moment he will cherish forever.

Having ticked off another incredible feat in his life, Mr Weinmann said he is not done either.

“I’ve just renewed my passport for the next five years, so that will keep me good for the next bit.

“I’m planning next year to do the Danube River cruise from Budapest to Amsterdam, but apart from that, we’ll see how I’m feeling.

“There’s also an extreme fitness session in Borneo, which Petra (Lovey) is doing, but we’ll see later on if that’s something which could suit me. I’d also love to go there to see the orangutans.”

The Danube is the world’s second-longest river in Europe, after the Volga in Russia.

It runs through Central and Southeastern Europe, from the Black Forest and into the Black Sea.