AT 13 Anne "Nancy" Neal left school to take care of her family, and a year later she started work as a machinist for Anthony Horden's in Sydney.
Most usually called Nancy, she has just celebrated her 100th birthday. She was born at Glebe as the sixth child of William and Martha Neal and was a sister to Fred, Bessie, Lily, Bill, John, Ester and Elma.
The Neal family moved to Sans Souci and Nancy became a clothing cutter at Ramsgate, where her knowledge of the industry helped younger employees. She remained there until she retired.
A keen dancer, she used to go to Brett's Hall, Kogarah, where she met Jack Mayer.
The couple married in 1941 at Rockdale. Nancy continued to live in the marital home after Jack died in 1969.
In 2011 Anne moved to Bay Nursing Home, Blakehurst, where she celebrated her big birthday.
