500 reasons to say cheers for Frankston’s bubbly centenarians
There were more than 500 candles to be blown out this week in Frankston, as some of the suburb’s oldest residents celebrated hitting the century – and beyond. And the partying bunch shared their secrets to longevity.
South East
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There were 500 reasons to smile this week for Frankston’s centenarians, with the bubbly residents all celebrating a milestone birthday,
Like a fine wine, Frankston’s eldest residents Lewis Wicking 100, Violet Freeman 102, Joy Parker 101, Victoria Bailey 100, and Hazel Clarke, 100, have got better with age, and shared their secret to longevity over cake and champagnes.
Square dancer extraordinaire Ms Clarke, who grew up and raised her family in the Frankston region, was expecting 140 people for her birthday party over the weekend.
The TLC Forest Lodge Residential Aged Care resident owned a local square dancing club with late husband Eric for 40 wonderful years and continues to attend Frankston’s over 55’s club each Monday.
The garden lover is also involved with the Mornington Peninsula Bonsai Society, where she cares for the trees with daughter Jillian.
“I can’t believe (I’ve made it to this age),” she told the Leader.
“I never drank or smoked, I’ve always kept active and travelled around Australia with Eric a lot.
“I would tell people who want to live long not to knock themselves about with beer and Skittles.”
Mr Wicking, Ms Freeman, Ms Parker and Ms Bailey all celebrated at a special 400th birthday bash at Vasey RSL Care Frankston South, where they were showered with gifts and love by dozens of other residents.
World War II veteran Mr Wicking, who served for Australia between 1939-45, joined the army when he was just 19 years old.
“The golden secret (to longevity) is to be happy, drink wine and enjoy every day,” he said.
But Ms Freeman advised people not to be “stupid” about food choices, and was weary of the changes in teenage girls since the ‘40s.
“Be careful with your diet, because you are what you eat,” she said.
“There have been a lot of changes in life, young girls don’t (act) the same way as we did in our day.”
Ms Parker said she had also noticed similar changes, and hoped people would eventually become “less interested in themselves.”
“People are more interested with themselves and how they look these days,” she said.
“All you need is to be surrounded by your children, and with good clothes, food and money.”
As Ms Bailey hit the century, she had her favourite ‘Shandy’ drink in hand, a sweet beverage which combines beer with a lemon-lime flavour.
She worked as an aircraft signal worker for the British army in Egypt, during which she met husband Ron.
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“Everyone should do a bit of reading during the day,” she said.
Lifestyle co-ordinator Ruhan Bogodaarachchige, who has worked at the Overport Rd centre for seven years, said he was thrilled to throw the birthday party, which will continue as another three residents head for the huge milestone in the coming months.
“Everyone is quite happy here, we love having them,” he said.
“We’re mainly concerned about person-centred care, that is most important to us.
“We think about our resident’s lives and how we can fulfil them.”
There are 120 residents at Vasey RSL Care Frankston South, with other branches at Brighton, Ivanhoe and Bundoora.
brittany.goldsmith@news.com.au