Bush-loving adventurer turns 100

HIGHTON’S Jean Burrows got cards from the Premier, Prime Minister and Governor-General to mark her 100th birthday yesterday, but there was one card she treasured above all others.

“She just loves the Queen,” said Leanne, an employee at Opal South Valley nursing home, where Jean lives.

The card from Her Majesty took pride of place at yesterday’s birthday celebrations, where three generations of Mrs Burrows’ life gathered.

Born at Birchip hospital on January 16, 1919, shortly after World War I ended, Mrs Burrows s grew up on her family’s farm near Tempy.

An avid horseback rider, she loved the outdoors, and later explored Australia’s s vast bushland.

At 20, Mrs Burrows ws trained to be a nurse at the Mildura Base Hospital, where she met her future husband, Cliff Burrows. He fought at Tobruk in 1940 and El Alamein in 1942. The couple had three children, Roger, Bronwyn and Brian.

A keen embroiderer, Mrs Burrows was an active member of her community and l local church. She returned to n nursing in the late 1 1960s but eventually had to resign to care for her husband. After Cliff died in 1982, Mrs Burrows b began travelling, vis visiting Kenya, the UK, Sweden and New Zealand Zealand. She made a habit of exploring Australia’s outback every year. “Life has not always been easy, but it has always been faced with strength, a positive outlook, and a great sense of humour,” Bronwyn said. “This much-loved, amazing woman has been an inspiration to all who have known her.”