Elsie Lange
The formidable Jean Emmie Hitch will be welcomed into the ranks of Macedon Ranges centenarians on July 1.
The Gisborne Oaks Aged Care Facility resident has lived a colourful life, working in broadcasting and in a doctor’s office before diving headfirst into farming in the Macedon Ranges. She was born in Elsternwick, and grew up while the second world war raged across the globe.
When Jean left Australia in 1947, she spent years overseas in Holland and Indonesia, and travelled through Europe. When she returned in 1954, she settled in Brisbane before moving back to Victoria.
In 1965, Jean bought property in Kerrie, even though she knew very little of farm life. After buying her first hundred sheep, she never looked back.
She ran the farm on weekdays, up at the crack of dawn to check on her flock. After eight years, it was time to upsize, and she impulse-bought Glenbrook, a 1200 acre established property near Kyneton. With 1500 sheep, and a herd of cattle to calve, drench, muster and get off to market, she was kept very busy.
Her greatest joys in life are her three children, and it’s with a little smile and a wink that he says the biggest life lesson she’s learnt is to “grab every opportunity you can”.
“Don’t ever believe you cannot do something, you can do anything you want to,” she said, and considering all the hats she’s worn, she knows.
