206 years of living
Four of Andrews House, Trafalgar oldest residents each celebrated more than 100 years of living during a recent afternoon tea to celebrate Aged Care.
Nardi Elsa Ryan is the oldest resident at aged 104 followed closely by Sylvia Hill (103), Lilias Hart (103) and Divina Grigoletto (100).
Andrews House, acting manager Lucy Lewis said each of the women had led busy active lives in their community.
Nardi is a retired piano teacher who taught for more than 60 years. She was born in Yarragon on a dairy farm and recalls a life of hard work rising early in the morning to walk to the bottom of the hill to milk cows before going to school.
Nardi said her joy was her family and doing nothing. “Doing nothing is a wonderful thing sometimes. I can sit here and enjoy a cuppa and it is good.”
Sylvia, who will turn 104 in December said the secret to long life was hard work.
“I was raised in a farming family in Trafalgar and worked long hours. We ploughed, we furrowed, we milked - you name it we did it.”
Sylvia has been an active member of the community and drove until a few years ago. She is proud of her five children, four grandchildren, nine great grandchildren and one great, great grandchildren.
Lilias Hart was born in Ballarat in 1915 and jokes that she has been cold ever since. She has five children and moved to Trafalgar four years ago. Lilias said her tip on living longer was enjoying life and being close to family.
Divina Grigoletto migrated to Australia from Italy in 1936 when she was 19. She married soon after and worked on the family farm in Trafalgar. Throughout her life, Divina loved dancing and being social with her Italian friends and family and was known for her excellent gnocci and pasta dishes.
This year‘s theme for Aged Care Week also included recognition of the positive impact that public health workers within residential care have on the lives of older people.
Lucy Lewis said staff at Andrews House love what they do.
“People enter careers in aged care because they love it and this care shines through. It make such a difference to residents. Staff help to keep residents active, alive and interested and develop really strong friendships with them and their families. It is a nice place to be.”