Aileen Calley is still whipping up batches of her famous scones for friends and family and enjoying watching sport on the telly as she counts down the weeks to her 100th birthday.
The Frankston South live-wire is a one-eyed Cats supporter. Over the last few years, she’s had two budgies both named after Geelong players. The first was Gary Ablett who a few years ago fell off his perch mid-season and died. The other was Tom Harley who had a vocabulary that an AFL coach would be proud of. Aileen taught him a few choice phrases including “come on Geelong” and “kick the damn thing.”
“I’m sure the players would have loved to have met the birds, but it never happened,” laughs Aileen, who makes sure she dons her scarf and has a glass of Baileys and a few crisps when she watches the footy on TV.
Her other great sporting love is cricket. She wrote a poem about the first test in the 1946 Ashes mentioning the famous Keith Miller. One of her sons, Steve, knew Keith and mentioned the poem to him. The next thing it was sent to Keith who was bowled over at its beautiful rhythm and promptly signed it. The signed poem is now framed and hangs on the wall of her spacious unit.
Aileen has written 50 poems over the years and at one stage joined a poetry club. Words are her tools of the trade –coupled with a delightful turn of phrase peppered by her wickedly funny sense of humour.
She has six children – four boys and two girls. Aileen laughs as she relays a humorous meme she’s thought up about her sons. “My oldest is a bookmaker, so I can get some tips on betting on the races. My second son was a police officer, and if he ever arrested me I would get my third son, who was a lawyer, to get me off! Then if I fall and get hurt I can call my youngest son, who is a paramedic, to revive me. I’ve got all my bases covered!”
Aileen has also written her memoir. It’s in two parts – the sad and the happy halves of her life. “It’s reflective of the blackboard of my mind,” she says. “You can’t erase these memories, so it’s good to put them down.”
The first half was losing her mother at the age of five and being raised with her seven siblings by her father and her stepmother on a farm in country Victoria. “I had a sad, horrible childhood,” she says baldly. “All of us kids did. But it made me determined never to let history repeat itself when I had a family of my own one day.”
Her life changed when at the age of 18 she went to the Olde Time Parish Ball in Murchison. “I felt like Cinderella,” Aileen says. “I was in a pale blue evening gown, with silver shoes and an evening bag. They were playing the song ‘Blueberry Hill’ and all of a sudden this fantastic knight in shining armour came over towards me and asked me to dance. Of all the beautiful girls there, he chose me!”
That was Farmer Les. And it was love at first sight. “He had nothing, I had even less, but we had everything because we had each other,” Aileen says.
They were married for 59 wonderful years, mostly spent on their dairy farm at Stanhope where they raised their six children. Happy, busy years where Aileen effortlessly turned cream into butter and problems into opportunities as she enveloped everyone with her kindness and love.
“Our house was called ‘The House of Slice’ because there were always delicious slices in the fridge and Mum was always cooking up roasts and sponges for all of us and our friends,” recalls her daughter Julianne. “They were very happy years”.
Aileen and Les sold the farm and relocated to Shepparton, and about 28 years ago moved to their spacious unit in Frankston South to be closer to family. All the while they carried on enjoying life and ballroom dancing! Les passed away 16 years ago and Aileen still misses him.
She is grateful to be living in the home they shared with wonderful memories warming all the rooms.
“It’s difficult to explain how much I love my home,” explains Aileen. “The sea air is beautiful and fresh, the area is lovely and I am very happy here. I am where I want to be.”
However, even tough farmers need a bit of help, and about six years ago Aileen’s family explored the options of a home care package through Uniting AgeWell to enable their beloved matriarch to live well and safely at home for as long as she wants to.
It has made all the difference.
“I wouldn’t be here in my home talking to you about my 100th birthday party on the 19th of June if it wasn’t for Uniting AgeWell,” the great-grandmother says firmly. “They are absolutely marvellous. I get on so well with all of them, they are all different but all so nice and caring. We always have a good laugh and a chat together. I look forward to seeing them.”
Aileen is also determined to share her story to tell other older people what this experience has taught her. “There’s help out there for us to live well at home. Why not just explore your options and find out what it is all about? These services have certainly changed my life.”
In more ways than one, say her family. Aileen underwent heart surgery at the age of 99, and recovered exceptionally well. “She’s one determined lady and very resilient,” says Steve.
Aileen believes if life has taught her anything, it is to be compassionate and to help others.
“I have great faith in God,” she says. “I believe I’m here for a purpose, to offer help to those who need it.”
Her mantra to her family is: “Always remember me loving you.”
Test Cricket
They had come from merry England with enthusiasm high
To play the game of cricket or at least I should say try,
The Aussies went to meet them full of vim and zest
And so the challenge started at Brisbane’s first big test
Australia won the toss up, good luck to them I’d say
And took up their positions to start the first day’s play
Barnes and Morris had opened, from every over scored a run
‘Till Edrich bowled a googly Morris missed, his wicket won
The crowd no longer silent at once began to roar
As Bradman made an appearance to carry on the score
Crompton took over the bowling but his arm began to ache
And he yelled to frisky Ikin, “Come here for goodness sake!”
Rock them on old timer, wear the champion down
But Bradman wasn’t worried it was Hammond that wore the frown.
Wright dashed around like a schoolboy, Yardley to the boundary had gone
Edrich was doing his best, his place at silly mid-on
The wicket keeper Evans could not set eyes on the ball
‘Cause the Aussies hit everything bowled them, googlies, yorkers and all
Smithy was taken with illness and missed when leaving the field
Hutton getting impatient “Get them out you fellows” he squealed.
Washbrook was puffing and panting, Bedser was out like a light
But Bradman and Barnes batted onward with a second century in sight
The rest of the boys played super, on every face a grin
‘Till Australia declared the innings and the Englishmen went in.
Miller’s terrific bowling bought wickets down with a crash
Lindwall doing the hat trick left the pitch in an absolute hash.
Johnson knocked down a couple and it was look out for McCool
The cricketer from Queensland who proved he wasn’t a fool
When all the English wickets had fallen with faces looking so glum
They drowned all their sorrows together on whiskey, wine and rum
Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, three grand cities you’ll say
Saw test cricket played no doubt in the dinkum Aussie way.
Now should you always remember when its cricket you talk about
Give a word of praise to the team that travelled way out
Oh England merry England your boys have gone home sad
‘Cause we have taken the victory from them, so we must admit we’re glad.