Joondalup Health Campus chaplain Jim Reid still shepherding the flock at 95

WHY retire when you can start a new job at the age of 80?

That’s what Reverend Jim Reid did when he joined the pastoral care unit as a chaplain at Joondalup Health Campus (JHC) 16 years ago.

And the 95-year-old is still there today, albeit these days, having recently retired, it’s as a volunteer one day a week .

Ramsay Health, which runs JHC, has identified the Scottish immigrant as its oldest employee in Australia.

Mr Reid, who served in Britain’s Royal Air Force in World War II, began his tenure at JHC in 2000.

In more than half a century with the church, Mr Reid could have retired long ago and looked back on a distinguished career. So why continue?

“I saw the benefits patients received from a chaplain’s visit,” he said. “I feel honoured that Ramsay are still willing to employ me and very grateful that my health allows me to continue the work.”

He has represented the Church of Scotland, St Andrews Presbyterian Church in Perth and now the Uniting Church.

He was formerly the Presbyterian principal air chaplain with the Royal Australian Air Force and is credited with establishing Perth’s Christian Television Station as well as the McNess Memorial Hall in the CBD.

A JHC spokeswoman said Mr Reid provided counsel and care to many sick patients.

“Jim holds the honour of being our oldest member of staff and is certainly one of our most treasured,” she said.