Saying yes keeps Amy on track for 100 years

In achieving the milestone, Amy follows in the footsteps of older sister Lily who lived to be 102-years-old and who she shared a double wedding with.

Born in Lardner and living at various locations before returning to Warragul and Drouin in her later years, Amy celebrated with family and friends at Lyrebird Village.

Being a great bush dancer in the past, her birthday wish was to see younger generations singing and performing. Another highlight was a piper heralding the arrival of the birthday cake.

Amy was born on family farm “The Grove” in Hamiltons Rd, Lardner. She was the youngest daughter and second youngest of six children to the Wheeldon family.

She enjoyed school, attending Lardner State School and staying on for two years of high school before, as many of her generation did, leaving to hand-milked cows on the farm.

A trip with her sisters to check out the relieving bank teller in Drouin saw Amy meet her future husband Wallace Smith. Alongside sister Lily, she married in a double wedding at the age of 20.

Wallace was transferred to Albury where they had three daughters – June, Meryle (dec) and Lynette.

Due to war and petrol rationing, she saw little of her family over the next seven years.

When Meryle required ongoing medical treatment in Melbourne, the family moved to Box Hill and spent more time visiting the district.

“Every couple of years thereafter, we moved around. She had a lifetime of setting up a new home every couple of years very successfully,” said daughter Lynette.

“She was a very active community member and belonged to about 13 different organisations. She had a very busy life.”

The church was one such organisation as it was “a great way of us being absorbed into a new community”.

Amy and Wallace retired to Warragul a year before his death.

Two years later, Amy met fellow traveller George Linnegar on a bus trip to the Kimberley.

They were married in 1982 and had a happy 18-year marriage living in Warragul.

In 2007, Amy moved into Lyrebird Village and, Lynette says, has been “a happy resident there every since. She has received great care”.

Amy has six grandchildren and nine greatgrandchildren.