Mary McPherson, of Narwee, celebrated her 100th birthday with a lunch that brought together four generations of family and friends.
Mary Letitia Boulding was born on February 13, 1921, to Elsie and Stephen Boulding in Royal Melbourne Hospital.
She was the couple's third child after sons Clarence and Walter, and it took three days for word to get through to her father who was on the family farm at Croydon, Victoria.
She went home with her mother via steam train and they were picked up from the station by horse and dray.
She spent her childhood on the farm and recalls hand-milking the 'house cow' for milk and churning butter.
She met her husband Colin, a World War II RAAF veteran, at a church dance in Croydon. They married on November 18, 1944, in the same church where they met.
In 1946 they bought a block of land in Grove Avenue, Narwee, and Colin and his mates built the house where Mrs McPherson still lives today.
At the time it was surrounded by farmland accessed by dirt roads.
Mr McPherson ran his own printing business and Mrs McPherson worked in a millinery business while raising three children, James, Ian and Meron.
The couple was involved in the children's schools, Scouts and the Highland Society & Pipe Band, where both filled senior positions and attended parades, piping competitions, marches and recitals.
They would attend weekly Scottish gatherings for different clans. Mrs McPherson credits the weekly dances for keeping her fit.
An avid gardener to this day, she studied flower arranging and artificial flower-making. She eventually taught both at Ultimo and Bankstown TAFE campuses.
The couple travelled extensively for up to three months at a time around the world to different, exotic locations.
Son, Ian, said his mother has described a "fulfilling, happy and active life". She believes in getting what you deserve and working hard.
"She is a calm and social personality, who still loves getting out and about, and loves a chat," he said.
He said she still enjoys reading the Leader.
She celebrated her birthday with a lunch at Sealevel Restaurant, Cronulla. The next day she attended a service at St Paul's Anglican Church at Burwood, which was followed by a morning tea in her honour.
