Margaret Keen is hoping to receive a birthday card from King Charles when she turns 100 in December.
The staunch royalist, who lives at Uniting AgeWell Strathdon Community, used to keep a scrapbook of the Royal Family when she was a youngster.
But she says reaching her milestone birthday won’t feel different to any other birthday she’s had over the years.
Uniting AgeWell thought otherwise! Margaret is part of a select group of 31 residents across Uniting AgeWell’s facilities in Victoria and Tasmania, who celebrate their 100th birthday this year.
And they, and the 447 residents who celebrate their 90th birthday this year were honoured for these milestone birthdays with huge bouquet of flowers and framed awards at the annual Celebration of Ageing Well events hosted at all our residential sites. Many staff members also received length of service certificates.
Margaret, who was thrilled with the flowers and the certificate, says there’s no magic secret to living a long, healthy life. “Mum lived to be 102, I think we’ve good genes,” she says. And while her deteriorating eyesight means she is unable to read, Margaret says she’s in pretty good shape apart from “a few aches and pains”.
“I never exercised though I walked a lot, and we always ate healthy meals, lots of grilled meats and casseroles, never fast or processed foods,” she explains. “Mum and I often had a sherry and a biscuit at night too.”
Margaret enjoys the food at Strathdon Community, loves knitting, keeping abreast of the news by listening to the radio and has made good friends.
Margaret, who was born between the two World Wars, grew up in the Caulfield and Oakleigh areas and worked at a number of organisations as a secretary. She stayed at home with her parents, and says she was “peaceful and content,” over the years, which were often filled with the joy of adopting stray cats. Lois also travelled widely across Australia. She gave up work at the age of 50 to look after her Mum.
“There have been so many changes in the world over the years,” she says. “So many new inventions, so many things have happened! It’s a totally different place now to the one I grew up in!”
Learn more about life at Strath-Haven Community