Beloved Toowoomba woman Beryl Schloss celebrates remarkable 105th birthday

From her days milking cows to dazzling at the county dance, Toowoomba’s Beryl Schloss won’t let age slow her down as she celebrates another milestone birthday.

Beryl Schloss celebrates her 105th birthday, Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

At 105 years young, Toowoomba woman Beryl Schloss does not let age get in the way of life.

“I’m still pretty independent, I think some people get a bit annoyed with me but I like to do things for myself,” she said.

Days after celebrating her aunt’s 105th birthday, niece Glenys Gregory said you would never know the strong-willed former dairy farmer had well surpassed her centenary milestone.

“She said she wouldn’t make it to 100 and now she’s made it five years past that,” Ms Gregory said.

“It’s only recently that she’s got more full time help, within the last year. She still does all the cooking, we go to the shops every week.”

A framed photo of a 29-year-old Beryl Schloss.

Self-proclaimed country girl Beryl grew up milking cows on her family’s farm near Jandowae before taking on a dairy farm of her own with her husband, later transitioning to crops.

“No one taught me how, it comes naturally when you live on the farm,” Beryl said.

“But there’s not much money in cows,” she joked.

A multifaceted woman, Beryl was as comfortable and awe-inspiring in farm boots as she was in ball gowns, with one of her proudest achievements being the night she won Belle of the Ball at the country dance.

“I won that in Dalby, they picked girls from all around the country,” she said.

“The man I was with didn’t get recognised, only me!”

Beryl Schloss celebrates her 105th birthday, Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Clear to anyone who visits her home adorned with intricate paintings framed by the teak wood piano, dancing was just one of her many artistic talents.

“She used to have an old studio where she used to paint, made her own clothes and knitted sweaters,” Ms Gregory said.

“She taught herself to play piano,” she added.

“I learnt to paint at school and took time to go from there,” Beryl said.

“I like music but the music you get today is not what I like – I like mostly things you can dance to.”

But Beryl’s true lifelong love was one of a furrier nature.

“As long as I can remember she’s always had a cat around the place, they’d go from house to house and there would always be a cat with her,” Ms Gregory said.

“Cats were the only thing I loved,” Beryl proudly declared.

“I spoiled my cats.

“But all I have now is a teddy bear!”

Beryl spent her birthday surrounded by her loving nieces, friends and favourite nursing staff.

Beryl Schloss displays her letter of congratulations from King Charles as she celebrates her 105th birthday, Tuesday, October 22, 2024. Picture: Kevin Farmer