IMAGINE turning 90, and to celebrate your milestone birthday, you start the day off participating in your 406th parkrun.
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Well, for Etienne Hibbert, he didn’t have to imagine this as it was exactly what he did leading up to an eventful weekend with family and friends.
For Hibbert, those are the things most dear to him in life – family and parkrun – so on his birthday on July 13, there was no better way for him to celebrate.
Joining his local family and friends in the birthday celebrations were his youngest daughter, who flew in from New York, and his nephew from Sri Lanka to start the day at the uMhlanga Parkrun, followed by brunch and birthday cake at home. He ended off the weekend by watching the Springboks match, making it the perfect birthday for Hibbert.
Speaking about his love for parkrun, he said it was only in his 80s that he learnt about it and joined – something that has had a significant impact on him.
“I wasn’t sporty at school but did jog occasionally. It was during my time as a meter reader in Germiston that I took an interest in running, joining the Germiston Callies Harriers Club, where I ran with Wally Hayward, Frans Mare and Jackie Meckler. I used to cover vast distances for work, and one day, while we were out on a training run, I jokingly started fast-walking, at the same pace as the runners were jogging at, and then became a competitive racewalker, placing third in the 50-mile race-walking event at the 1954 South African Athletic Championships. I then pursued other interests and wasn’t part of any running clubs for many years. Fast forward a few decades, I moved to Durban and used to train around the neighbourhood and in Virginia Bush. Just before my 80th birthday, I joined the North Beach Parkrun before changing to uMhlanga,” he said.
The Glenashley resident has led a colourful life, visiting and living in numerous countries and looking for the thrill in everything life has had to offer him.
“I enjoy the outdoors and anything to do with adventure. I’ve participated in spearfishing provincially, I love boating and hiking, and I have travelled around Africa in my 4×4 through all sorts of terrain, often in remote areas. I have loved every moment of it,” he said.
He studied industrial engineering and then ran his own businesses in Bilene (formerly Sao Martinho), in Mozambique, consisting of a hotel, bakery, shop, bar and restaurant.
“Later, I ventured into productivity consulting, and before I retired, I was in human resources training,” he added.
When asked what he does with his free time now, Hibbert jokingly replied: “Try to stay out of trouble, but it’s not working.”
“I enjoy reading, watching nature and survivalist programmes as well as listening to music, particularly that of the 50s to 70s. I love anything related to flying and, in my younger years, also had my pilot’s licence. Although I don’t spearfish or go boating anymore, I still love the sea,” he said.
Hibbert’s advice on life is to look on the positive side, eat well, drink moderately and keep fit and healthy.
“Don’t spend money unnecessarily – try and stay out of debt. Personally, I chose to spend money on travel and experiences and not branded or expensive items. I have lived a simple but full life and within my means which allowed me to do what I love,” he said.
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