Coiffured look for Joan’s 100th
For more than 35 years, it has been a weekly treat for Joan Peterson of Warragul to have her hair done. On Friday, the hairdresser took a little extra care to ensure her coiffured look was perfect for her 100th birthday.
by Yvette Brand
For more than 35 years, it has been a weekly treat for Joan Peterson of Warragul to have her hair done. On Friday, the hairdresser took a little extra care to ensure her coiffured look was perfect for her 100th birthday celebrations.
Mrs Peterson turned 100 on Friday so her weekly appointment at the same salon every week was perfect timing for her “hairdo” in readiness for her party on Saturday.
While Mrs Peterson isn’t a wrap for the heat, particularly temperatures in the 40s like Friday, she said her mother always told her she was born in a heat wave - so little has changed 100 years on.
Mrs Peterson was born Evelyn Joan on January 19, 1918. She has three children Lynette (Earl) of Warragul, Stuart of Cranbourne and Noel who lives in Newcastle.
Her ever growing family also includes 10 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
Mrs Peterson was one of four Victorian girls to be sent overseas during World War II as a nurse with the RAAF. On reaching Townsville, the Minister for AIR said no WAAFS would be allowed to leave Australia.
She stayed in Townsville nursing at Garbutt at the RAAF hospital living on the base. It was here that she met Flight Sergeant Stanley Peterson in late November 1943.
After a whirlwind romance on Magnetic Island, they travelled by troop train to Melbourne and were married in January 1944. Her parents met Stan at the door of the church. They returned to Townsville a couple of weeks later.
They couple lived in many places before moving to Warragul 37 years ago. One of the first jobs on Mrs Peterson’s list was to find a hairdresser.
She found one in Palmerston St and has been going there weekly ever since to have her hair done, admitting she has seen many owners, name changes and apprentices practice on her weekly hairdo.
“I always have the same style, although one day I went purple (by accident) and it took two to three weeks to wash out. My friends didn’t know what to say,” she said laughing.
Mrs Peterson served as a nurse at Bendigo Base Hospital and while living in the war service area of Springvale, there was no trained kinder teacher for the local kinder, so she was encouraged to run it.
Mrs Peterson taught Sunday school for many years at different churches near where they were living. She also was a Girl Guide District Commissioner, Division Commissioner and later Assistant Region Commissioner for Diamond Valley Region.
She was in CWA for many years, as well as RSL and Legacy.
Since living in Warragul, Mrs Peterson has attended many concerts at the West Gippsland Arts Centre, particularly the Morning Melody Concerts which she and her friends never missed.
The group of friends still attend Morning Melodies at the Downtowner and meet for lunch there every Thursday.
Mrs Peterson attends Warragul Church of Christ each week with her family.
Determined to live as independent as she can, Mrs Peterson lives in a “granny flat” at the home of her daughter and son-in-law Lyn and Ray. With many of her grandchildren and great grandchildren living locally, she loves having them popping in to visit.
Mrs Peterson has always been a keen knitter. At 90 she began doing latch hook rugs to keep herself busy and has a great collection.
But, she also boasts that almost everyone, from the adults to the babies in her family, wear her hand knitted socks.
“I keep all my family in socks. I made a pair for my son-in-law and now they all wear my socks.”
After her husband’s death in 1991, Mrs Peterson began going on bus trips with a small group in Warragul. They travelled to many places around Victoria and interstate. She stopped travelling when the new buses began to have very steep steps making it hard to get in.
Three years ago, disappointed she had never returned to Townsville, her granddaughter Wendy Tilling planned a trip to take her back there.
With the help of her son Noel and daughter-inlaw Patsy, they flew with them from Brisbane to Townsville where they stayed. Their son Jason who was in the army and living in Townsville, organised for her to visit Magnetic Island and also visit on the base where she could see the house she lived in whilst nursing.
Mrs Peterson was also part of the 70th ANZAC celebrations and travelled with Noel (49 years in RAAF and an OAM) in a car during the parade. She had her official photo taken with Noel and Jason for the records in Canberra.
So what is her secret for reaching 100 in such a fit and healthy state? “Just take one day at a time. But don’t keep saying you’re getting old because once you start thinking you’re old, you’re old.”
Mrs Peterson celebrated her birthday with about 100 family and friends at an afternoon tea at the Warragul RSL hall on Saturday. Some family travelled from Rockhampton, Perth, Newcastle, Canberra and Northern Victoria.