Documentary producer Nick Heydon and his three-man crew have visited Mr Murphy every three weeks since his 99th birthday.

The filming is for various purposes including a one-hour feature for European television and a cinema piece on what it’s like to reach 100.

“We’ve come down every three weeks and allowed Roland to talk about whatever he’s interested in. It’s very observational, not intrusive and we’re now wrapping up filming. We’ll start editing and look to release in June,” Mr Heydon said.

Mr Murphy said he had enjoyed all the attention, particularly on Saturday when he celebrated his 100th birthday.

“Yesterday was one out of the box. They kept me in the dark and never let me know what was going to happen. They took me around in a sports car and I didn’t want to get out,” he said.

“It was a wonderful day, one I’ll remember for years to come. I feel like I’m 60 and I reckon I can live to 110.

“I don’t smoke, drink in moderation and only go after wild women if I think I can catch them,” he said. Mr Murphy, who was among the first residents at Warrnambool retirement home Gillin Park, said he was enjoying good health after suffering gallstones late last year.

“My pulse is slowing down so I need to avoid exertion and that’s slowed me right up. I like to get into the garden to hoe, dig and plant some plants but this weekend I’ve been getting the VIP treatment from my son and daughter-in-law,” he said.

“I’ve always found if you take your time what you want always comes along. I was married for 60 years and my wife passed away in 1995. I’ve been a bit lonely since then but I have plenty of friends and I’m quite satisfied.”

Mr Murphy said he grew his own vegetables and ate raw garlic daily to ward off colds.

“I haven’t had a cold for three years. I came out from Manchester, England. I left on September 1, 1927 as part of the boy scouts program,” he said.

“My first job was on a farm at Kyabram. I worked in an office in England. I’ve done every class of farming, I’ve been a number of tradesmen’s offsider, striker for a blacksmith, grave digger, I’ve done the lot.

“We bought a farm in Mortlake, we had that for 20 years. I worked at Goodall’s in Mortlake for 20 years. We were married in the Methodist Church in Sydney Road, Brunswick, in 1935 and my first job was at Woorndoo. I also worked for the shire for a number of years.”

Mr Murphy said he was happy with the way his life panned out. “I always worked and always enjoyed it. If you don’t enjoy your job then go and get another job,” he said.