Reaching 100 years of age rarely comes without its challenges.
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For Joan Bolitho, a significant challenge came aged 99 following a fall which resulted in a broken hip.
And while the physical challenge still lingers, she soldiers on for her family.
“I feel 200,” the avid Sydney Swans fan joked, surrounded by birthday cards from various state and national politicians.
“I’m alright up in the mind, I know everything that’s going on,” she said, adding the aged care centre staff were astounded by her memory.
The key to her longevity?
Keeping herself busy, whether it be cooking, cleaning, socialising, or indeed, playing sport.
Ms Bolitho, who turns 100 on Thursday, was born in Poole, England, and travelled to Australia as a two-year-old.
After living in Melbourne, then near Faulkner, Joan – along with husband Ben – moved to Bendigo in 1956.
She has two sons, Jeff and John, the latter sadly passing three years ago, “it should have been me”, Joan said.
Her five grandchildren and 11 great grandchildren are her inspiration to reach such a landmark.
Asked how often she thinks about turning 100, Joan said, “I haven’t been thinking about it, I think its more of a milestone for my family”.
Joan will celebrate her birthday surrounded by family and what remaining friends she has at the aged care centre, because, as she says, she’s outlived most of her pals.
From a World War, to women’s suffrage, Joan has experienced a lot in her 100 years.
She said the advent of technology and the self-imposed financial demands placed on people has made society a less social place.
“We used to know our neighbours next door, but nowadays they don’t have chance, they’re busy out working all the time.
“They buy these big houses and have a mortgage – and we just used to settle for what we had.”
Feeling safe on the streets was a dramatic change noticed by Ms Bolitho.
“The whole world’s altered to what it used to be, when i lived in Melbourne you could go out and do anything, but down there now there’s always murders and things going on.”
One constant, however, is her love for Sydney Swans.
She tries to catch as many games as she can, to watch her favourite Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin.