Zoe Moffatt
Goonawarra Aged Care resident Eunice Jefferis turned 100 years old Tuesday, with her daughter citing hard work and love as her secret for ageing.
Eunice , born March 7, 1923, celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family, friends and festive balloons.
Her daughter Margaret McDonald-Kerr said Eunice had a hard life, but loves her family and is always there to lend a helping hand.
“I think she just loves her family, she looks after others and loves her family,” she said.
“She’s always been very good at helping others… she’s there to babysit or cook or do anything.”
Her specialities were her sponges, scones and roast dinners, her daughter said.
Eunice is also known for love of dancing, and received belle of the ball on a few occasions.
“She loves dancing, she used to do a lot of ballroom dancing, a lot of country dances,” Margaret said.
“Probably hard work [is her secret to ageing]… she had a hard life.”
Eunice’s husband died in 1949 and she did housework to supplement her widow’s pension.
“She’s not a drinker or a smoker, I mean an occasional sip of something but it has to be sweet,” Margaret said.
“Almost cordial.”
Eunice received a letter from King Charles, which was read to her at her party.
