Daphne’s zest for life at 101

Daphne Carruthers is a lady who could teach people a thing or two about what life is all about.

At 101-years-old, Daphne’s zest for life is evident from the moment you start talking to her.

She’s lived through watching her husband go to war, the landing on the moon and times so hard that staples like butter and sugar were scarce and rationed.

Born Daphne Helvia Howell in Waiuku in January 1916, her father’s work as a carpenter took the family to many different places, eventually, leading the family to Te Aroha.

Daphne decided to finish school and started working at the Te Aroha West Dairy Factory, where they produced Pixie Cheese.

A job came up with the tourism department as the ‘‘washer lady’’ at the Cadman Bathhouse.

‘‘You had to shovel coal into the copper and push the long barrow up to the clothes line,’’ she said. ‘‘It was hard work!’’ After a while, Daphne was offered a job as a bath attendant.

‘‘I spent some of the best days of my life in Te Aroha,’’ she said.

One of her lasting memories was swimming across the Waihou River.

‘‘You had to go quick because you didn’t want to be swimming with the eels. They were huge!’’

Te Aroha lived up to its name and was the place where Daphne found the love of her life, Milton Carruthers.

‘‘I didn’t have to worry about where he was, he was drinking at the Palace Hotel,’’ he said.

They were married in 1940 and decided to move to Rotorua to settle.

The house that Daphne lived in, still stands in Te Aroha, but a lot has also changed, as has the world.

‘‘Life is one big convenience these days. Fast cars, fast food, everything is fast,’’ she said.

‘‘Back then we used to look after one another.’’

There are a number of things Daphne attributes to her long and fulfilling life including walking everywhere.

She also credits her longevity to being out in her garden, watching the All Blacks and enjoying a beer every night.

‘‘You know, I look around some times and think ‘Godfather! these people don’t even know they’re alive!’.

‘‘You have to keep going. Life is for living.’’