How can you live to 105? Five Cairns ladies tell you how they did it
If you want to live longer, come to Cairns — home to five women aged 105. Eileen Tayler is the latest to join this exclusive club.
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EILEEN Tayler joins an exclusive club today and it’s one most of us will never be part of.
She is the fifth woman in Cairns to reach 105 in the past year and hovers halfway between the status of centenarian and super-centenarian, reached at 110.
The Woree mother of three, grandmother of seven, great grandmother of five and great great grandmother of two says every year is a blessing and one she never expected to have.
“Not in my wildest dreams.”
Born on August 21, 1914 just after the declaration of WWI, home was Georgetown, where her father worked in a store.
Four years later, they packed up their horse-drawn wagons and made the arduous trip to the Atherton Tableland, where her father turned timber cutter at Danbulla, now a mere memory under Tinaroo Dam.
“I didn’t start school until I was 11 and only went for four years,” Eileen says.
She was up at 3am to milk the cows before school, walked 3km there and 3km back and was always home in time for the evening milking.
“I loved school. That’s all I wanted to do. I wanted to be a teacher,” Eileen says.
But by 15 she was working full-time on the family farm – milking the cows, doing the housework and cooking.
The family of 10 saw the Depression out on their dairy farm with a good supply of fresh produce and became neighbours to the 9th Division of the Australian Army when WWII broke out.
Eileen worked at the Barron Valley Hotel in Atherton and took charge of the laundry at Atherton Hospital before meeting and marrying timber cutter Andrew Tayler.
Eileen says good food may have been the key to her long life, but granddaughter Lilly Tayler has another theory.
“She used to say about my daughter, I just want to live long enough to see her in a school uniform. She’s 26 now and had kids of her own. Nanny’s goal was to stay around to see these kids. In return, she is the matriarch everyone still looks to.”
Eileen will celebrate her birthday today with friends and enjoy another celebration with family, including her 92-year-old sister, on Sunday.
MEET THE OTHER MEMBERS OF THE FAR NORTH’S 105 CLUB
RITA POGLIO, 105
Gordonvale
Born: Ayr, September 7, 1913
Family: 5 children, 19 grand children, 35 great grandchildren, 12 great great grandchildren
Secret to a long life: Smile, be happy with what you have and don’t be jealous of others.
Rita’s story: The ever-smiling Rita has lived through wars, the Depression and never baulked at hard work. She grew her own food, milked her own cows and made her own butter. She also sewed, crocheted, cooked and baked and had plenty of time for others, including swaggies who called in for a cuppa.
SANTA VASTA, 105
Westcourt
Born: Italy, February 16, 1914
Family: 4 children, 12 grand children, 16 great-grandchildren
Secret to a long life: Eating well, walking everywhere and family.
Santa’s story: Growing up in Italy in WWI in a family of eight children was tough for Vasta, who lost family in the war. She married Giovanni Vasta in 1947, immigrated to Australia in 1949 and they made their home near Tully. Family is Santa’s life. But she also loved music, dancing, gardening and cooking. Still active at 100, Santa has a deep respect and love for her family.
IRIS FORNO, 105
Edge Hill
Born: Roma, July 23, 1914
Family: 3 children, 5 grand children, 8 great grandchildren
Secret to a long life: Be kind to others, eat well, keep active, interested and enjoy your family.
Iris’ story: Even at 105, Iris Forno is a member of three local groups and still goes to meetings regularly. A mishap in the garden earlier this year has set her back, but she loves cooking, makes lunch for her family and has never taken medication in her life. “She’s an inspiration to me and to many others,” says daughter Heather Mitchell.
BERYL JAMES, 105
Mount Sheridan
Born: Brisbane, July 25, 1914
Children: 3 children, 9 grand children, 21 great grandchildren, 9 great great grandchildren. Secret to a long life: Friendships and homegrown food.
Beryl’s story:Beryl smoked for nearly 60 years, but ate well, loved dancing, played golf and tennis, and was a great cook. She also sewed, knitted and has lived a generous, caring life. Her brothers and parents lived to their 90s, her sister passed 100. “We didn’t have a lot growing up, but we enjoyed what we had,” says Beryl.
CENTENARIANS ON THE RISE
CENTENARIANS are on the rise — with women far outnumbering men.
Ten years ago, there were around 455,000 centenarians in the world. By 2050, they should exceed four million.
America has the most with 80,000, followed by Japan with 70,000, most of them women. Australia, France, Canada and the UK also have high rates.
Here’s why.
Access to a good health system, clean water, safe food, less disease, improved sewerage, low mortality, better education and lifestyle choices.
Australia’s 4400 centenarians and super-centenarians (110 plus) were teenagers in the Great Depression, middle-aged during the 1960s and have known hardship and loss.
But studies show they did things in moderation, generally had a good diet and didn’t take too many risks.
Good genes, a positive attitude and luck also played a part. Most weren’t smokers, had a healthy weight and retained their independence.
In Japan, 88 per cent of centenarians are women.
Italian super-centenarian Emma Morano lived to 117, Japan’s Yone Minigawa died at 114, Australian WWI veteran Jack Lockett died at 111 and Agnes Kluckhenn is the oldest living Australian at 110.
To be among the next generation of centenarians, here’s how to live longer: Avoid smoking, eat well, maintain a healthy weight, remain positive, keep your mind and body active, stay close to family and friends, retain your independence as long as possible and keep a sense of humour.
1914: A SNAPSHOT
Outbreak of WWI
Panama Canal opens
Australian population 4.9m
Head of State: King George V
PM: Joseph Cook, Andrew Fisher
First Coles store opened
Wages: £2 9s 3d a week for males, 19s 5d for females
Surfing came to Australia
Neck-to-knee bathing suits
Full-length tennis skirts
Australia had a thriving film industry
First Australian airmail delivery
Born: Joe DiMaggio, Alec Guinness, Joe Louis
Originally published as How can you live to 105? Five Cairns ladies tell you how they did it
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