Chic, originally from Yugoslavia, left school at the age of 15 to become an apprentice fitter and turner.

Chic joined the Yugoslav army at the age of 19 to finish his compulsory 18-month service when World War Two broke out in Europe.

He was captured and was a prisoner of war in Hamburg, Germany, where he spent the next four years making pumps and snow-clearing blades for the German war effort.

After the war he joined the occupying British Army, but Chic saw no future in the army and decided to migrate.

"I did not want to go back to Yugoslavia because it had become a communist nation,” he said.

Chic decided to go to Australia.

Chic was in a Bathurst migrant camp in 1950 and from there he went to Melbourne to work as a fitter and turner.

After the compulsory 18 months obligation as a migrant, Chic joined a friend in Oberon at one of the eucalyptus oil factories set up in tents in the bush surrounding Oberon.

"We all worked hard. We would cut trees, and strip them of leaves to eventually get a drum of oil, which we would bring to town,” he said.

"This eventually dried up and I found work repairing farm machinery.

"I married Daphne in 1952 and eventually set up my engineering business, which is still known today as Oberon Engineering."

The business is now run by Chic’s son Garry and his daughter Dianne.

Chic has been in Oberon for 65 years and still, to this day, goes to work at 7am to open up the shop for the early morning customers and factory demands.

"Yes, I'm here to get the heaters going and I come in on Saturdays to help out,” he said.

"I live a solitary life - just how I like it. I eat a lot of fruit and vegetables and like the odd glass of wine."

Chic said he had travelled Australia at least six times, but those days are over.

"I have sold my campervan and I prefer to stay at home and help my children with the business."