Sutherland Shire's Blanche Steinbeck celebrated her 106th birthday with a family lunch at Ramsgate RSL recently.
Mrs Steinbeck lives at Juliana Village, Miranda, where she is part of a "100 club" of residents who are all centenarians.
Blanche Rendall was born in Sydney on December 14, 1913. An active young lady, she enjoyed swimming, hiking and ballroom dancing.
After leaving school, she attended secretarial college, before commencing work for the General Accident, Fire & Life Assurance Corporation at 16.
She married William Byron (Barney) Steinbeck in 1939. They had a baby girl Judith who was born on Christmas Day 1940.
When World War II broke out, her husband enlisted and Blanche and Judith moved in with Blanche's parents.
With staff shortages during the war, Blanche was asked to return to work, and she remained for many more years, eventually staying with the same company her entire working life alongside her daughter and several cousins.
When Barney eventually returned from the war, they built a home at Bardwell Park.
Over the years they travelled to Europe and visited Japan several times.
Blanche later took up bowls later in life and played competitively until she was 90.
She moved to a self-care unit at Juliana Village when she was 75 and has remained in the same apartment ever since. She still goes on village-run bus trips, and enjoys going out for coffee and meals, her cousin Madge Doust said.
"Blanche needs a walker to assist her, but is very aware of current affairs and enjoys discussing the 'state of the nation'," Ms Doust said.
"She also enjoys keeping abreast of family affairs."
Judith dies of cancer in 2017 at the age of 77. She has two grandchildren, Deidre Hodges and Jack McCord, and three great-grandchildren.
She celebrated her birthday with a family lunch at Ramsgate RSL on December 14.
"Blanche credits her long life to keeping fit, eating good food, having a healthy lifestyle and good genes," Ms Doust said.
"I have known Blanche all my life and have always called her Aunty Blanche.
"She has always been a very elegant woman and dresses beautifully."
