Highton’s Jean Reynolds celebrates 108th birthday

A lifelong Geelong resident has celebrated her 108th birthday. See her secret to a long and happy life.

Highton’s “sassy” 108-year-old Jean Reynolds says walking a lot and staying active are among her secrets to a long and happylife.

The lifelong Geelong resident, who celebrated her latest birthday on Tuesday, was born at a home in Fyans St, South Geelong, in 1916.

Mrs Reynolds has three children, five grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and five great-great-grandchildren and has been married twice.

Throughout her life, she worked as a florist and at a laundromat.

She also managed a milk bar on Minerva Rd in Herne Hill and owned a fruit and vegetable shop on Upper Skene St in Newtown.

Mrs Reynolds is a lifelong Geelong Cats fan and said her current favourite player was skipper Patrick Dangerfield.

She remembers attending the 1925 grand final when Geelong defeated Collingwood.

Her son Neville Burge said his mum used to catch the bus from Autumn St, Herne Hill, to Noble St, Newtown, with her sisterand walk to Kardinia Park to watch her beloved Cats play. He said she was “rapt” when the team won the premiership again in2022.

Mr Burge said his mum was “always happy” and a “very active person”.

“She gets around with her walking frame and she just dances along, she is always smiling,” he said.

“Sassy is a good way to describe her, she is always poking fun at me.”

Jean Reynolds with her son Neville Burge. Picture: Brad Fleet

Mrs Reynolds walked to every job she ever had and never owned a car.

“The only time she drove a car was when I bought a sports car when I was 16,” Mr Burge said.

“I showed her how to drive it, to put her foot on the clutch and put the car into gear.

“But I didn’t tell her how to stop the car, so she went straight into a brick wall.”

Mrs Reynolds has lived at the Highton Gardens Care Community for 18 years.

Mr Burge said his mum was an “inspiration”.

“She can communicate so well, her hearing is a bit hard but she is very sassy,” he said.

Originally published as Highton’s Jean Reynolds celebrates 108th birthday