Elsie Lange
The world has changed enormously in 100 years – wars, famines and revolutions have taken place since 1922 – and Sunbury’s Sheila Albrecht has seen it with her own eyes.
On Tuesday, May 31, Sheila celebrated turning 100 years old surrounded by her loving family, and said the key to a long life is to “leave your worries” and to think positively.
“Be generous in your thoughts, leave hate behind. Forgiveness is a great thing,” Sheila said.
The centenarian has lived an intriguing life. Her father was a member of the British Army, and because of this she was born in Singapore and lived there until she was three years old. Her family returned to England before making their way to Egypt, where they lived for eight years until 1934.
Back in England in 1935, Sheila recalls hearing former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain declare on Germany in 1939. On her 18th birthday, she joined the Women’s Royal Naval Service (WRNS), serving from 1940 to 1945.
She even had a hand in the historic code breaking at Bletchley Park in World War II, widely thought to have “undoubtedly shortened World War II”.
“I’m proud of my war record in the WRNS and my association with Bletchley Park and the ENIGMA programme,” Sheila said.
She came over to Australia in 1947 to meet her husband, before moving to Lae, New Guinea, in 1952, where they lived for more than ten years. She finally moved to Sunbury in September 1992, which has been her home ever since.
Sheila said the historical event stuck in her mind since is occurred all those years ago was the bombing of Hiroshima.
When asked by Star Weekly the biggest life lesson she’s learnt in her 100 years, she said: “charity of spirit and forgiveness”.
We can all learn something from this brilliant local veteran, happy 100th birthday to Sheila Albrecht.
