Working hard, being kind and enjoying each day as it comes is how Marie Ahern said she had lived 100 wonderful years.
Throughout her century, Ms Ahern lived in the Queensland country and city, and made suit jackets for American General Macarthur during World War II.
Born on May 31 1921, Ms Ahern grew up as pioneers on a dairy farm with her mother, father and three siblings in Boonah, and today celebrates her 100th birthday.
Life was not always easy, but Ms Ahern said she and her siblings always had fun together.
"We would wake up every morning and be milking cows and feeding the calves and then suddenly we would be walking to school," she said.
Ms Ahern reminisced about how the four kids would squeeze together while riding horseback on the way to school.
Her father passed away prematurely at the age of 39, and the family left the farm and moved to Brisbane where she worked as a tailoress.
"I could make men's suit coats just not the rest of the suits, the pants and the vests," she said
Ms Ahern made two dress coats for General Macarthur while the Americans were in Brisbane during World War II.
She said it was there in Brisbane she met love of her life, Thomas Ahern, nicknamed 'Dick'.
"We met out dancing, I would go into the valley to dance when I moved to the city,"
They were married in 1942 in the middle of World War II at the Little Flower Church in Kedron, and Ms Ahern said it was just the two of them there when they said 'I do'.
"We wandered home after and had a cup of tea," she said.
She always enjoyed a Friday night at the cinemas and would go with her husband and three children when they had the money.
Ms Ahern has seven grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren who joined her for high tea yesterday to celebrate the milestone.
She moved into the Aveo Cleveland Freedom Gardens nine years ago after the passing of her husband, and she will continue the birthday festivities with residents and staff today.
She said the secret to making the century was staying active and enjoying each day.
"I go for two walks every day, we went on one this morning and will go again this afternoon,"
Emily Lowe
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
Redland City Bulletin journalist covering community, politics, crime and human interest stories. Griffith University Alumni.
