Audrey Fakes, of Seaforth, celebrates her 100th birthday and a life well lived

A northern beaches’ woman with a cheeky sense of humour who just celebrated her 100th birthday says her motto for living a long life is to have a positive attitude and ‘keep breathing’.

Audrey Fakes (centre), of Seaforth, who has just celebrated her 100th birthday, with three other generations of her family. (Left to right) Granddaughter Alice Kenyon, holding great granddaughter Elke, 5 months, Audrey, with her daughters Debbie Kenyon and Robbie Stuart. Picture: Supplied

A northern beaches’ woman who has led an exciting international life — living in series of exotic locations from India to Venezuela — has celebrated her 100th birthday in her own home at Seaforth.

Her family say Audrey Fakes was part of a “powerhouse couple” with her husband Neville, a senior figure in the Shell oil company.

While they hosted dignitaries such as Prince Phillip and Prince Charles, long before he became the King Of England, as part of her husband’s roles with Shell, Audrey likes to keep things a bit more simple now.

Her daughter Debbie Kenyon says her mum’s nightly ritual involves a nice glass of sherry and a packet of chips while watching DVDs of Dutch violinist Andre Rieu.

Neville and Audrey Fakes were married in Chatswood in 1946. Picture: Supplied

“Mum’s motto for living a long life is ‘keep breathing’,” Debbie said.

“Her positive attitude to life is reinforced by the words to a song titled ‘Look For the Silver Lining’.

“She is still positive, caring and has a cheeky sense of humour.”

Debbie said Audrey was much more than just a wife to Neville when he was a senior executive with Shell that included stints in London, Venezuela, Kuala Lumpur, Singapore and as president and chairman of Shell Pacific, based in Tokyo.

“She had a demanding role had to take on to support her husband in his demanding and successful career with the Shell company,” she said.

Neville and Audrey Fakes celebrated 65 years of marriage in March 2011.

“Together, they were a real powerhouse.”

Audrey was born on September 9, 1923 at Strathfield before the family moved to Eugowra, near Forbes. When the Depression hit they were forced to move back to Summer Hill where her parents, Frank and Mary, ran a shop selling eggs, called “The Nest”.

Audrey met Neville, as a young teenager, through family friends. He left the family sheep farm near Glen Innes to become an aeronautical engineer and spent part of World War II as chief aerodynamicist at the De Havilland Aircraft Co in Sydney.

Audrey Fakes, of Seaforth, celebrated her 100th birthday on September 9. Picture: Supplied

They were married at St Paul’s Church, Chatswood, on March 23, 1946, before making the first move overseas to London.

Their two daughters, Debbie and Robbie, were born in Venezuela.

Audrey and Neville’s final six-year posting was to Japan.

Audrey Fakes, of Seaforth, received a Certificate of Congratulations from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese. Picture: Supplied

Audrey Fakes, also received congratulations from King Charles and his wife Camilla. Picture: Supplied

“ Mum worked tirelessly supporting dad in his very demanding and difficult role,” Debbie said.

“They had to meet, entertain and host many dignitaries such as Prince Phillip and Prince Charles.”

In 1971 Neville was awarded a CBE for his services to Shell, by Queen Elizabeth. Two years later the Japanese Government awarded him the Order of the Sacred Treasure for his pioneering work in establishing liquefied natural gas as a stable energy source in Japan.

Photographs of Audrey Fakes, of Seaforth, who celebrated her 100th birthday on September 9, 2023, with her late husband Neville and his CBE and Order of the Sacred Treasure. Picture: Supplied

When Neville retired, the family returned to Sydney and made a home at Seaforth.

Audrey still lives there.

As well as being a proud mother to her two daughters, she is a grandmother to James, Thomas and Alice as well as a great grandmother to Macsen and Elke.