SHE may be 95 years old, but Capalaba's Cherry Illa is a force to be reckoned with on the bowling green.
Ms Illa celebrated her birthday on January 28, with the women from the Capalaba Ladies' Bowling Club marking the occasion in style.
"I think I'm the first 95 year old they've ever had at the bowls club so they went overboard," she said.
"They did a card, cake, flowers. They really made a day of it."
Ms Illa's bowls career began six decades ago, when the former tennis player was inspired to pick up the sport by her husband, a keen bowler.
She joined the Capalaba club upon moving to the Redlands in 1984.
Now the social selector, Ms Illa has held almost every one of the club's roles in the past, from senior vice president to catering officer.
"They decided they had to reward me with a life membership," she said.
Ms Illa said bowls kept her active and social, and attributed her fitness to good genes and a positive attitude.
"A lot of women, when they get to a certain age, they think their life's finished," she said.
"There's no secret - you just keep going from one day to the next.
"I don't tell myself I'm too old at 95.
"I'm still driving without glasses."
Ms Illa is admired by club members for her signature upshot, which she said could take a bowl out nine times out of ten.
"You'll hear them from across the green (saying) 'I'm going to do a Cherry'," she said.
"They try, but there's no way in the world anyone else does it the way I do."
Ms Illa plans to retire from competitive bowls but wants to continue playing social games.
"I enjoy the game just as much without the competition," she said.
"When I can only bowl halfway up the green, that's when I'm not playing bowls any more."
