Seymour Telegraph

Edie comes of age

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Nagambie’s Edie Perry reaches a spectacula­r milestone today — she has reached 100 years of age.

Born Edith Margaret Welch on September 21, 1916 at Miss Bauds Private Hospital Caringa in Prentice St, Nagambie, she is now the oldest parishione­r of St John’s Anglican Church in Nagambie.

‘‘I was baptised at St John’s Church of England, confirmed there, married there, and I want to be carted out from there,’’ she said.

After schooling at Nagambie State School, she helped her mother and aunts and father with his work rounds.

Edie met Albert Stanley ‘‘Bert’’ Perry at Jinkabout — the original Perry home at Angustown and they were married in 1936, before Bert leased a farm at Wirrate in 1939.

Edie and Bert were blessed with children, Neil, Lorraine and Val who walked to Wirrate State School until the school closed while their other two children, Heather and Bob, came along in the 1950s.

In 1950, Bert purchased a property on the Goulburn River at Mitchelsto­wn where he and Neil farmed sheep and cattle, lucerne and grain crops.

Edie made butter, sauces and preserves, cooked for shearers and had a lovely garden, shot snakes, fed swagmen, and watched her children ride to Tabilk State School on their bikes.

In 1966 the farm was sold to Ross Shelmerden­e and Lady Marigold (nee Myer) to become Mitchelton Winery.

The Perrys retired to a home in River St on Lake Nagambie and in 1970 they enjoyed a world trip.

Sadly, Bert passed away in 1993 and Edie stayed in her home managing very well with daily visits and care by her family until recent years.

She now stays with her daughter Lorraine and husband Jim in Nagambie.

‘‘In 2011, when I was 95, I saw that from our five children we had been blessed with 19 grandchild­ren and 27 great grandchild­ren,’’ Edie said.

Now at 100 years, she still enjoys going to church and being with her family, and is looking forward to her 100th birthday party at Mitchelton Wines on Sunday.

— Diane Grant

 ??  ?? Great age: Edith Perry turns 100
Great age: Edith Perry turns 100

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