Winnifred Stehbens turns 104 years old in Gympie

Long-time Imbil resident Winnifred ‘Winn’ Stehbens was surrounded by family and friends when she celebrated her 104th birthday this week, and the details of her simple but extraordinary life have been retold. Read her beautiful story:

Robert and Winnifred Stehbens at their wedding in 1945.

Long-time Imbil resident Winnifred Stehbens was surrounded by family and friends when she celebrated her 104th birthday at Lutheran Services’ Cooinda Aged Care on December 18.

Mrs Stehbens was born Winnifred Smith in Brisbane’s Kelvin Grove on December 18, 1920, but later settled in Imbil, 35km south of Gympie, where she dedicated almost 80 years of her life to the town.

Cooinda Aged Care Service Manager Gillian Hyett said Mrs Stehbens is an adored member of the close-knit community.

“The team at Cooinda love occasions to celebrate our special residents and honour the remarkable lives they have lived. Winn has dedicated her life to the service of others and it’s a privilege for us to share in such significant milestones like a 104th birthday,’’ Ms Hyett said.

Winnifred Stehbens aged 21.

After leaving school at 15, Mrs Stehbens began working in the South Brisbane office of North Australian Rubber Mills and in 1940, after the paymaster left to serve in World War II, she took on the role.

Her son Ian Stehbens said his mother thoroughly enjoyed her new responsibilities.

“Mum was responsible for paying the 350-400 employees with cash in envelopes every week while acting as bookkeeper for the company,’’ he said.

“She was also a dedicated Sunday School teacher. As secretary of the northwest Brisbane district of the Christian Endeavour, she coordinated a group to travel by train to Gympie to attend the 1939 Easter convention.

“It was there she meet my dad Robert who always recalled how instantly impressed he was by the young woman who got up and spoke to the group.

Winnifred and Robert reunited in 1945.

“Two weeks later, Dad, who was working in his father’s haulage business for the local timber mill in Imbil, travelled to Brisbane to see mum, arriving unannounced at church on Sunday.

“They later became engaged but vowed not to marry until dad came home from the war. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force as air crew in Britain.’’

During their time apart, Robert sent 244 love letters addressed to “my adorable sweetheart’’.

After their wedding in 1945 the couple settled in Imbil where they raised four children.

“Mum quickly adapted from a city girl to a country woman,’’ Ian said. “She fell in love with Imbil and country living.

“Important areas of her life were the church, the CWA, RSL and the Mary Valley Show Society where she was the steward of the horticultural section.

Robert and Winnifred Stehbens at their wedding in 1945.

“Mum has always considered herself a servant to others and would do anything for the local community. Our kitchen table fed many new arrivals to the town particularly any women who became widowed. She was generous, energic and loved children.

“She also loved travel, learning other cultures and having adventures, and even in her 80s she climbed Pomona Mountain unaided, went ballooning and visited Tonga.’’

After 60 years of happy marriage, she became a widow but continued to live in the family home before moving to Cooinda Aged Care in Gympie in 2022, when 102.

Winnifred Stehbens turned 104 on December 18, 2024.

“Mum says she is grateful for each new day. The quality of care and love she receives from the staff at Cooinda is superb. The community provides her with a wonderful social life that wouldn’t be otherwise available to her because of her lack of mobility,’’ Ian said.

“Her passion for learning continues and she stills reads the newspaper and a variety of books.’’

Mrs Stebhens is the proud grandmother to eight, a great grandmother to eight and a great-great grandmother to four.