WORKING HARD AND GOOD GENES PAY OFF
HAVING a positive outlook on life, staying active and working hard — along with some good genes — are factors local centenarian Alwynne Farman credits for her longevity.
The Point Lonsdale resident was born in Queenscliff on May 5, 1921.
Mrs Farman celebrated with a lunch on Sunday with about 60 guests, before a dinner on Wednesday night at a Chinese restaurant — her favourite cuisine.
She attributes her long life to playing sport, working hard and good genes — her father lived to 103.
“I’ve always worked my whole life, as soon as I left school I started working. You have to work for things if you want them,” she said.
“I never smoked, I’d have the occasional drink but I never indulged — I’m a social drinker.
“I’ve had a good life, a good husband and lucky enough to have good boys.”
Mrs Farman left Queenscliff Primary School at 13 to start a parttime job in a gift shop. After working various jobs in Queenscliff, she moved to Melbourne before returning when war was threatening.
Mrs Farman then began working on Swan Island, painting and climbing inside mines to connect terminals.
A lot of enlisted men came to Fort Queenscliff during this time, and that was when she met and married her husband Fred Farman before he was posted to Rabaul in 1944.
When Mr Farman returned, the couple had two sons — Alan and Terry, who would become a defender for Geelong in the VFL from 1965-73.
Mrs Farman also opened a fruit and vegetable shop in Mercer Street in Geelong for six years, and lived independently until 2019.
Granddaughter Jane Dalton said she admired her nanna’s “get on with it” attitude.
“She just gets on with things, she is still very capable and is in really good health,” she said. “The only thing she regrets is laying in the sun too much.”