Whitebaiting, whiskey and golf for Connie
Everybody strives for a long, healthy, and fulfilled life and Porirua centenarian Connie Morris, has shed some light on how we can all achieve that goal.
Connie celebrated her 100th birthday two weeks ago and she was joined by four generations of family to mark the milestone.
When asked what the secret was to 100 years of life, Connie said it was about working hard and drinking whiskey.
She recounted her love of a wee tipple, golf, whitebaiting and ‘‘playing up’’ as a youngster. ‘‘It doesn’t mater what you laugh at, as long as you laugh,’’ she said.
Connie’s eldest daughter, Beverly McHalick, said her mother always enjoyed smoking, playing cards, drinking whisky, horse-racing, dancing and blue cod. ‘‘ Not a bad recipe for a long life,’’ she said.
Beverly said her mother was always very independent.
‘‘Aging hasn’t been easy for mum, losing her independence and not being able to do the things she loved like driving and playing bridge,’’she said.
Connie was born in Sandy Bay, near Motueka on August 7, 1914.
She grew up in Sandy Bay but has lived in Wellington all her life, around Brooklyn and Karori.
She spent alot of time at a bach in Waikanae where she would go whitebaiting and bottling fruit.
Connie was a very keen golfer and has a certificate for a hole-in-one at the Miramar Golf Club. She said she played golf ‘‘as much as I could, if I got the chance to get out of the house and go play.’’
Bridge also kept her mind sharp, Beverly said.
Connie has three children, nine grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.