BETTY Bruce (nee Shaw) celebrated her 95th birthday on Friday, May 15 with a spectacular celebration with her closest friends.
Her birthday festivities included a party at Mandalay Retreat with her family and a luncheon with friends she has known since joining the Capalaba Bowls Club in 1987.
She thought the group were to have lunch together, but was pleasantly surprised by the party they organised for her.
"You can't trust these women. I have known them too long," she said.
Betty recalled how all the women met at the bowls club.
She said they would take turns in the small kitchen to make lunches and sell goods to raise money for the fledgling club in the 1980s.
"Life revolved around bowls and I have wonderful friendships with the people I met," she said.
Party host Amy Glade said Betty had a tough time when her husband died in 1995 and the women were there to support her through her grieving process.
"All who know Betty were amazed at her coping skills when she was widowed," she said.
She said all the ladies still met up for movie nights, monthly luncheons or go to Mandalay Retreat to visit Betty.
"She managed her own home, garden and social activities with an inner strength that surprised all."
