MARY’S 100 REASONS TO PARTY
LONG-time local Mary Atkinson has celebrated her milestone 100th birthday clinking champers and eating cake with 45 of her nearest and dearest.
“I had a wonderful day,” said Mrs Atkinson of her celebrations which were held at Tri-Care, Cypress Gardens at Clear Island Waters.
Mrs Atkinson recounted funny stories from her childhood including the time she won a hops picking competition in Tasmania which almost led to Hollywood stardom for the then 15-year-old.
She beat 100 other people to pick the most hops and had her picture on a magazine cover.
“A few months later an American saw the photo and approached my parents to ask if I could go to Hollywood to try out for movies,” she said.
“Of course they said I was too young to go.”
But her hops picking ability must have been impressive as it caught the eye of a “wiry young man”, Alf Atkinson.
He would cycle a long distance daily throughout the following five years to court her while working at the hops field.
The young Tasmanian couple married and honeymooned in 1938 but Mr Atkinson lost his wallet which meant the newlyweds enjoyed a “packet of peanuts” for dinner instead of the planned grand dinner across the Derwent River.
The Atkinsons moved to the Gold Coast in 1978 after enjoying a caravanning holiday here years before.
They had three daughters – Betty, Janet and Helen and 10 grandchildren and 16 great grandchildren, who all live on the Gold Coast.
Unfortunately, Betty passed away nine years ago, with husband Alf passing away in 1999 after more than 60 years of wedded bliss.
Her youngest daughter Helen Free said her mother had spent many of her 100 years of life putting others first.
“Mum was always helping the sick and elderly and our home was always open to those in need,” Mrs Free said.
“Mum has been active in her life right up until about a year ago, even still going to church up until about six months ago.
“I had to have a quiet giggle to myself when I was putting a little crown on her head for her birthday. She said: ‘do you think it will offend the Queen?’,” and I quietly reminded her that ‘the Queen won’t even know’.”
She received a message from the Queen, which daughter Mrs Free said she was “so thrilled about.”
A FEW MONTHS LATER AN AMERICAN SAW THE PHOTO AND APPROACHED MY PARENTS TO ASK IF I COULD GO TO HOLLYWOOD TO TRY OUT FOR MOVIES MARY ATKINSON