And now she's about to celebrate a big milestone when she turns 100 on Sunday.

Mrs Mitchell said she remembers growing up in a tiny town with a population of around 10 people.

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"I was born in the real Australian outback," she said.

"I remember it being very, very flat, not a hill in sight. It was a tiny town called Nevertire and it wasn't close to any big cities.

"And because the town was so small, I had to do my schooling by correspondence and learn from a radio."

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Her father retired young and after living through the devastation of WWII, her family moved to the big smoke of Sydney when Ms Mitchell was 15-years-old.

It was then she found her passion - being on the stage.

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"I had gotten into dancing lessons from a young age and adored it," she said.

"So once we moved to Sydney, there were auditions for the Tivoli circuit and I knew I had to try."

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For the next two years, Mrs Mitchell spent three days a week dolled up on the big stage, the place she felt most at home.

"I really loved it," she said.

"We had the chance to perform in vaudevilles. Whether it be a drama or comedic performance - we did it all."

Little did she know, she would meet the love of her life one night during a show.

Reg Mitchell met his future wife at the back stage door and the rest, they say, is history.

Mr and Mrs Mitchell moved to Ascot Vale in Melbourne where they started a family, which has now grown to three children, seven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren.

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"Mum taught herself a lot of different trades, including hat and upholstery making and she even designed their houses in Melbourne and later Bendigo once they moved there 32 years ago," daughter Ros Mitchell said.

After her husband passed away in 2003, Mrs Mitchell lived at their home in Flora Hill until two years ago.

Nowadays, she enjoys living at Royal Freemasons Flora Hill, reminiscing about the "wonderful life" she has had.

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And what's the secret to getting to the big 100?

She said it's all about timing.

"You just need to be born at the right time," she said.

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"July, 1921 was a good time to come into the world and I'm thankful for the life I've had since."

Ms Mitchell will celebrate her birthday surrounded by family and other residents in Flora Hill.

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