100 reasons to celebrate for Lucy
GOOD Shepherd Home resident Lucy Flanagan has joined an exclusive club by celebrating her 100th birthday this week.
Mrs Flanagan has already received birthday wishes from the Queen, the Governor-general and the Prime Minister.
Born in Herberton, she said her secret to a long life was a nip of whisky each evening and a nip of apple cider vinegar every morning.
Up till four months ago the great great grandmother was still living independently at Carlyle Gardens but loves her new digs at the nursing home.
Mrs Flanagan has lived in
Townsville for the past 16 years but had spent a lot of her life in other parts of Australia.
“I have travelled a lot but I always seem to come back to Townsville,” she said.
Apart from Townsville she has called Toowoomba, Maryborough, Rockhampton, Benora Point, Hobart, and Umina home.
Married to Michael Flanagan, who has passed away, the couple had five children.
At the latest count her family has five generations including 10 grandchildren, and 10 great grandchildren and two great great grandchildren with the youngest aged two, the oldest grandchild 53.
Her daughter Kerri Flanagan said there was a big party planned for Saturday night with more than 30 going.
“Chinese food is her favourite so we are going to the Sundoo Restaurant on Saturday night to celebrate her 100th birthday,” she said.
Her daughter said her mother was a renowned seamstress and had her own business called the Fashion Centre in Ravenshoe.
“Mum has been a fantastic seamstress all her life making wedding dress and all of our clothes. “She used to make all of our kid clothes and we all used to go show wearing the same outfit, little velvet vests.
“There were three girls and we all had the same outfits.”