December 25 an extra special day for Sylvia

This will be Sylvia Livsey’s 100th Christmas. But for this Brisbane resident, December 25 is also special for another reason.

This will be Sylvia Livsey’s 100th Christmas.

The former nurse, who has survived wartime bombing, breast cancer and now a pandemic, treasures every moment with her family of four sons, 14 grandchildren and 13 great grandchildren.

But Christmas is special for another reason.

It was on December 25 in 1963 that Mrs Livsey arrived in Australia from Cardiff, Wales.

Her technician husband Trevor Livsey was brought over by what is now the Prince Charles Hospital to head its new cardiac laboratory.

Sylvia Livsey will celebrate her 100th Christmas on Friday, surrounded by great grand kids including Nash, 10, Albert, 2, Emma, 11, Sam 12, Lily, 9, Isabella, 6, and Quinn, 4, Brighton. Picture: Liam Kidston

“It was a special migrant flight and Father Christmas popped out of the cockpit and gave all the children presents,” Mrs Livsey, 99, recalls.

“And when the plane touched down in 32 degree heat, I promptly fainted.

“For a girl from Wales, it was quite overwhelming.”

Mrs Livsey, who lives with her third son and daughter-in-law in Brighton in Brisbane’s north, is looking forward to turning 100 in April.

Asked her secrets to long life, she jokes: “Don’t die”.

“I used to walk every day, that’s very important, and I have never smoked.”

As for keeping fit these days, Mrs Livsey has taken to tai chi via Zoom.

“I am lucky to be here,” she says.

“During the war (WWII) our neighbours were killed when Wales was bombed, and we only narrowly escaped.”

An only child, Mrs Livsey says there is nothing more important than family.

“To me, that’s what Christmas is all about.”