Cronulla RSL was party central on August 3, when Ruth Mary Parker reached triple figures.
Known as Marie, the centenarian marked a life achievement surrounded by family - her 100th birthday.
Born in Southport, England, in 1919, she was a dressmaker, who changed careers to making parachutes during the war.
She met her husband George Parker, who was in the merchant navy, and they married in 1941.
Her first son, also named George, was born with cerebral palsy three years later. When the war ended, Mr Parker was on a ship that brought back prisoners of war from Changi prison.
Marie travelled by boat with 'George Junior' to Sydney to meet up with her husband, and they settled at Bondi with another family.
A daughter, Pam, was born in 1947, and then the couple bought a block of land at Caringbah. They lived in a tent while their property was being built. Their third child, Christine, was born just before the house was finished. Then came another sibling, Peter, in 1958.
Marie's interests included anything that her children were involved in, and she enjoyed travelling around Australia.
"Mum loved to take the road less travelled," daughter Christine Gallagher said.
"She has always loved socialising and welcomed friends, friends of friends and complete strangers."
'George Senior' died in 2010. Marie decided to stay at their Caringbah home, where she held many fond memories of building a family life together.
She contributes her long life to never smoking or drinking, and keeping a positive attitude to life.
She enjoys spending time with her family, and going to the RSL club each week to meet friends for the raffles and throwing in a few dollars in the pokies.
