Family, food and fitness behind Betty’s 102 years

Ask Elizabeth (Betty) Carse what’s her secret to living well at 102 and she’ll tell you it’s simple; faith, good food, exercise and hobbies. These simple things have kept her well into her golden years.

“Any exercise is good, but I have always done chair exercises,” she said.

“And I love indoor Bowls, Bingo, Hoy, armchair travel, music concerts.  

“I also read lots of novels each month.”

The Keperra Sanctuary aged care resident has called the northside home ever since moving to Kedron when she married late husband Herbert.

Not to start debate (she says), the Brisbane born and raised centenarian grew up south of the river at Morningside, where she attended Morningside Primary School alongside her two sisters Norma and Alma.

After leaving school in Grade 7 to look after her mother, Betty worked in the Nestlé office until she married Herbert, later staying home to raise their four children.

“Raising my children is one of the proudest things I have done in my life,” she says.

“Now that I am older, I feel very lucky to be close to my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren.”

Upon celebrating her 102^nd birthday on 12 March, Betty has one other pearl of wisdom to pass on to the younger generations.

“Always keep a level mind,” she says.